Private Insurance and NEW CPT (Current Procedural
Terminology) Codes:
•Terminology
•Review contracting with insurance
•Review old and new CPT’s
•Summarize differences between old and new CPT’s
•CPT
= Current Procedural Terminology
•In Network = provider that accepts an agreement with an
insurance company
•Out of Network = provider that sees patients, but does not have a
contract with an insurance company
•ICD 9 – International Statistical Clarification of Disease version 9
•QHCP – Qualified Healthcare Provider
•Rendering Provider – the healthcare provider that actually saw the
patient.
•NPI – National Provider Identifier
•DOI – Department of Insurance
•AMA – American Medical Association
•Best Fit CPT – a cpt used as a best fit when there is no AMA code.
•Claim – a billing form submitted to insurance for services provided
•Technician
= a person who is not a BCBA or BCaBA but practices
under supervision. Also called a para or therapist.
•CAT III CPT – a temporary code set used to gain data on utilization
of services. Used to determine if formal cpt codes are needed for a
given medical service.
•UNR – usual and reasonable rate. (according to an insurance
company)
•Max Allowable Fee – Same as UNR. The maximum the insurance
company will pay for a given service.
•Unit – cpt’s are based on time units. Some are 15 minutes per unit,
some are 1 hour per unit, some are not time specific but product
specific (like a progress note). The AMA determines the cpt’s unit,
not the insurance company or provider.
•Services
can be provided as an “out of network”
provider, but there are limitations.
•If there are other in network providers in the area
(within 50 miles) you will be subject to their negotiated
rates despite what you charge.
•In network usually allows easier claim submission and
access to the companies website for claim info.
•In network is subject to lower out of pocket cost for the
patient.
•Going
in network involves the “Contracting”
department of the insurance company.
•You will need to fill out a complete application as an
individual provider (just you), or a group provider
(your company, but you will bill for other providers)
•Rates are offered in what is called a “fee schedule.”
Even if the insurance company says the fee schedule is
not negotiable, it usually is.
•The exception is if there are multiple providers in the
area, then the rates are pretty much established.
•How
do you know if there are providers in the area?
Go to the companies “Provider Directory.”
•Or have the member call and ask for a Board Certified
Behavior Analyst.
•When there are no providers in a 50 mile radius, you
can request a single case agreement. This is only for the
1 patient, but you can request to be treated as “in
network” if the company doesn’t have another provider.
•This helps lead to negotiations.
•Deductibles:
Much higher for out of network
providers.
•Deductible amounts are specified in the
individual’s policy.
•In Network vs. Out of network reimbursement.
***If there are no in network providers, the
health care company must treat out of network
providers as in network.
Sample Comparison: $100 for a service
•In network: pays at 100% plus $40 co-pay
•Out of network: pays 80%, benefits do not start
until a $2000 out of pocket deductible is met.
•In network: client pays 40 dollars per day. No
deductible. Insurance company pays $60
•Out of network: patient is responsible for the
first $2000, then $20 per hour of service.
Insurance pays $80 per hour.
•Companies
not using the NEW AMA CPT’s will
continue to use “best fit” codes.
•Common cpt’s to Humana and United:
•H0031 – Assessment development of treatment plan. 1
hr unit
•H0032 – Supervision of paraprofessional. 15 min unit
•H2012 – Day Treatment, direct services 1 hr unit
•H2019 – Therapeutic behavioral services 15 min unit
•Humana
Only:
•90889 prepare patient psych report
•United Only:
•H0032 for graphing, report updates, revision to
plan.
•In
July of 2014, the AMA put out new cpt’s for
ABA services.
•The new codes are “temporary” codes that are
being used to establish the need for further
development.
•Insurance companies, and providers are NOT
MANDATED to use these codes.
•Unless you are in network, and agree to use
these codes.
•New
cpt’s are much more specific, and require
separate codes after the first unit of service.
•The new codes do allow billing for services that
weren’t always billable.
•The new codes do not allow billing for some
services that used to be billable (supervision).
•The new codes do not require billing by the
technician, but rather the QHCP.
•When
you negotiate a rate with new cpt’s, the technician is
considered a practice expense.
•That means, you bill the same amount if a technician sees the
patient as a BCBA, in regards to treatment cpt’s.
•Some cpt’s are only billable by the BCBA (0359T – behavior
assessment).
•0359T
– Behavior Identification Assessment (flat rate 90 minutes).
For initial assessment/FAI/interview/initial observation.
•0360T – Observational behavior follow-up. First additional 30
minutes needed for direct observation and data collection. (ABC
data, Baseline Measurements, direct assessment methods).
•0361T – Each additional 30 minutes of direct observation.
•Notice that what used to be billed as H0031 for most companies is
now billed under 3 different CPT codes.
•0362T – Exposure behavioral follow-up assessment. This is for a
Functional Analysis or modified functional analysis. Used for
severe challenging behaviors. Administered by BCBA and at least
one or more technicians.
•0363T
– Each additional 30 minutes of follow up exposure
assessment.
•0364T – Adaptive behavior treatment by protocol. First 30 minutes
of treatment. Requires protocol or behavior plan.
•0365T – Each additional 30 minutes of treatment by protocol.
•0366T – Group adaptive behavior treatment by protocol. First 30
minutes
•0367T - Additional 30 minutes of group adaptive behavior
treatment by protocol.
•0368T – Adaptive behavior treatment by protocol with
modification. First 30 minutes. Used to modify the protocol. Data
indicate that the protocol is not resulting in the expected behavior
change.
•0369T
– Additional 30 minutes of adaptive treatment with protocol
modification.
•0370T – Family adaptive behavior treatment guidance. Can be
used for consulting/training family members or caregivers. Patient
does not need to be present. 60 Minutes.
•0371T – Multiple-Family group adaptive behavior treatment
guidance. 90 Minutes. Supposed to be used when you can train a
group of parents/caregivers on behavior procedures.
•0372T – Social Skills Group. 90 Minutes. Up to 8 patients max.
•0373T – Exposure adaptive behavior treatment with protocol
modification. 60 minutes. Requiring 2 or more technicians.
•0374T – Additional 30 minutes of exposure adaptive behavior
treatment with protocol modification.
•The
new cpt’s are much more specific to the type of service you are
going to render.
•Most treatment cpt’s require an initial 30 minutes cpt, then 30
minutes follow-up. This could mean that you have to use the initial
cpt 0364T, then 0365T for each additional 30 minutes for that day.
•Some companies have said they will use the initial cpt 0364T for the
first unit of service, then 0365T for each additional 30 units per
authorization period (usually 6 months).
•0364T, 0365T seem to overlap with 0374T, 0375T.
•The main difference was the word “Exposure.”
•Exposure seems to apply to more systematically contrived
treatments, and is described as being more appropriate when
treating more SEVERE problem behaviors (aggression or SIB).
•New
CPT’s will require a lot more planning when trying to do a
prior authorization.
•Hard to know when you will need “Adaptive Treatment Protocol
Modification,” ahead of time, so a new authorization request may
be needed if treatment data are not meeting goals.
•New CPT’s may require billing 2 cpt’s per day of treatment, or the
initial and follow-up cpt per authorization period (will vary by
company).
•Not all insurance companies will use the new cpt’s. Sometimes the
same company may use the new cpt’s in one state but not in
another state.
•Do not use the new cpt’s unless you are contracted to do so.
•Writing of reports and behavior plan is not a billable service.
•New
CPT’s include recommendations to bill all services under the
QHCP or BCBA. This is good because it eliminates billing
technicians, and can minimize claim denials as duplicate services
when 2 therapists work with the client on the same day.
•New CPT’s allow insurance company have a more clear picture of
exactly what service you are will provide.
•It is not yet clear how an insurance company will determine
medical necessity for treatments such as family training (0307T).
•It is not yet clear how an insurance company will determine
medical necessity for modification of treatment protocol.
•It is not yet clear how fee schedules should be adjusted to include
for training of the technician and report writing. There are NO
cpt’s anymore for staff training or writing up the modification to
the protocol.
•Consider
carefully how the use of the NEW cpt’s could impact
your business or practice. Factor in costs.
•We will see in a few years if these CATIII temporary CPT’s become
permanent cpt’s. That review will be done by the American
Medical Association after they have data on CPTIII use.
•Read and review the resources on ABAI’s website regarding the
new cpt’s.