Mental Health Billing Q&A #4: Can I Bill Multiple Intake Sessions
We strongly recommend against billing multiple intake sessions using CPT code 90791. This is because, most often, this CPT code would be inaccurate after the first session, constituting possible insurance fraud, but most likely a denial of the claim.
If a patient has seen a different therapist during that billing year, we advise you to bill the intake code for your first session regardless, as it is your first session with the patient.
If you see another family member, then feel free to bill for the intake for that date of service as well.
Our general rule: only one intake session, the first session, per patient.
What is the length of time between visits that an intake can be used again for the same pt? I thought it was 3 years. That rarely comes up but it occasionally happens.
It’s every year based upon the active date of their coverage. When their coverage restarts, normally on a calendar year, the ability to do an intake restarts.