Billing and coding

The most common psychiatry ICD-10 codes

Simplify your psychiatry ICD-10 coding with clear guidance from Headway that helps reduce errors, save time, and ensure accurate billing and documentation.

ICD-10 codes for substance use disorder

Learn the ICD‑10 codes for substance use disorders, including alcohol, opioid, and stimulant addiction.

ICD-10 codes for grief

Learn the ICD‑10 codes for grief, bereavement (Z63.4), and prolonged grief disorder (F43.81) — and understand when grief becomes a diagnosable mental health condition.

ICD-10 codes for OCD

Discover OCD’s ICD‑10 code (F42), subtype variations, related mental health codes, and why precise coding matters for treatment and billing.

What to know about place-of-service codes for behavioral health

Learn what place-of-service codes are, why they matter in medical billing, and how to use them correctly — especially for telehealth and outpatient care.

ICD-10 codes for gender dysphoria

Make gender identity documentation easier. Get the gender dysphoria ICD-10 codes and tips you need — all in one clear, time-saving resource for providers.

How to use CPT code 99050

Learn the differences between CPT codes 99050 and 99051 and how to bill them correctly.

How to use CPT code 99051

Learn how to properly use CPT code 99051 for sessions outside of a traditional weekday schedule.

How to use CPT code 90863 for psychiatric care

Learn how to properly use CPT code 90863 for pharmacologic management with psychotherapy.

How to use CPT code 90845

Learn how to bill CPT code 90845 correctly, along with critical information like reimbursement rates, timeframes, and billable types in this guide.

ICD-10 codes for impulse disorders

Learn about impulse disorder ICD-10 coding with our guide, including overviews of classification for proper documentation, treatment planning, and insurance claims.

ICD-10 codes for dissociative disorders

Navigate dissociative disorder ICD-10 codes with our guide. Learn about coding for diagnosis, billing, and insurance reimbursement for mental health providers.

ICD-10 codes for phobias

Explore our guide to phobia ICD-10 codes for diagnosis and billing. Learn about F40 categories and streamline your mental health practice.

ICD-10 codes for personality disorders

Personality disorders fall under ICD-10 F60, or “specific personality disorders.”

ICD-10 codes for manic episodes

Manic episodes can fall under the F30 and F31 codes. Here’s what to know.

When and how to bill a secondary insurance

Learn how to optimize secondary billing processes, reduce claim errors, and maximize reimbursements with our comprehensive guide for insurance professionals.

When you should use unspecified ICD 10 codes (and when you should not)

Learn when to use unspecified ICD-10 codes to ensure proper reimbursement, avoid claim denials, and maintain ethical coding practices in your therapy practice.

ICD-10 codes for adjustment disorders

In the ICD-10, adjustment disorders fall under the F43 category, or “reaction to severe stress, and adjustment disorders.”

ICD-10 codes for bipolar disorder

Navigate bipolar disorder coding with confidence. Our guide helps you master ICD-10 codes for BPD I, BPD II, and subtypes for easy documentation.

Your guide to timely filing appeal letters (with examples)

Wondering how to write one? Here’s what you need to know.

What is an ERA in insurance billing?

Discover what an ERA is in insurance billing and how electronic remittance advice streamlines payments for mental health providers.

The differences between CPT codes and HCPCS codes — and why they matter

Confused about CPT vs HCPCS codes? Learn the key differences, structure, and when to use each for accurate billing and insurance claims.

Your guide to ICD-10 F codes

Learn more about how to use ICD-10 F codes for mental, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental disorders.

How to bill insurance as a prescribing psychiatrist

Here’s our step-by-step guide for how to bill insurance as a prescriber while avoiding common mistakes and streamlining the process.

How to bill insurance under a supervisor's credentials

Learn about supervisory billing with Headway’s in-depth guide and FAQs.

What you need to know about billing for telehealth

Here's how to bill for telehealth appointments, which CPT codes to use, and more.

ICD-10 codes for autistic people with lower support needs

A client on the autism spectrum will most commonly be diagnosed with a specifier code that provides detail about how their symptoms present.

Here’s how to find the CPT codes you need

CPT codes can seem complex at first, but they simplify the process of coding and billing.

How to use CPT code 90838

Code 90838 represents an add-on for at least 53 minutes of psychotherapy with an E/M code.

How to use CPT code 90836

Code 90836 represents an add-on for 38-52 minutes of psychotherapy with an E/M code.

How to use CPT code 90833

Code 90833 represents an add-on for 16 to 37 minutes of psychotherapy with an E/M code.

How to use CPT code 99215

Code 99215 represents an existing patient appointment that’s at least 40 minutes in duration.

How to use CPT code 99214

Code 99214 represents an existing patient appointment that’s at least 30 minutes in duration.

How to use CPT code 99213

Code 99213 represents an existing patient appointment that’s at least 20 minutes in duration.

How to use CPT code 99212

Code 99212 represents an existing patient appointment that’s at least 10 minutes in duration.

How to use CPT code 99205

Code 99205 represents a new patient appointment that’s at least 60 minutes in duration.

How to use E/M codes for evaluation and management services

Within behavioral health, billing and documentation for E/M codes can sometimes be confusing.

How to use CPT code 99204

Code 99204 represents a new patient appointment that’s at least 45 minutes in duration.

How to use CPT code 99203

Code 99203 represents a new patient appointment that’s at least 30 minutes in duration.

How to use CPT code 99202

CPT code 99202 represents a new patient appointment that’s at least 15 minutes in duration.

What you need to know about behavioral health billing

With the right tools and resources, billing can become second nature.

Billing group psychotherapy with CPT code 90853 & 90849

Here’s how to properly document and bill group therapy sessions.

How to use CPT codes 90839 and 90840: Psychotherapy for crisis

CPT codes 90839 and 90840 both reflect treatment for a crisis, but represent different time frames.

What is the difference between CPT codes and ICD-10 codes?

The two most important coding systems in medical billing are CPT codes and ICD-10 codes. Both have their own distinct purpose, and you’ll need to understand each of them if you’re working with insurance.

How to use CPT code 90785 for interactive complexity

CPT code 90785 is an add-on code used to reflect communication difficulties during a psychiatric procedure, such as a psychotherapy session.

ICD-10 codes for PTSD

The ICD-10 includes one general code for PTSD, along with specifier codes that include a greater level of detail.

ICD-10 codes for anxiety

There are many ICD-10 codes associated with anxiety disorders. Generalized Anxiety Disorder is most common, but there may be a more precise code that documents your diagnosis more effectively.

ICD-10 codes for depression

Here are some of the most common ICD-10 codes associated with depressive symptoms, with different criteria for frequency, severity, and other features.

ICD-10 codes for ADHD

A client presenting the symptoms of ADHD will most commonly be diagnosed with a specifier code that provides detail about how their symptoms present.

How to use Z codes in mental healthcare

Z codes are an important tool for identifying the social needs of a patient population. Here’s how to leverage them effectively and compliantly.

How to use CPT code 90847

Code 90847 represents a session where the identified patient actively participates, giving the provider important visibility into the ways family interactions can contribute to or alleviate a patient’s condition.

How to use CPT code 90846

Family therapy can be a covered benefit for many care-seeking couples and households, but you should understand how to leverage code 90846 effectively for clinically-focused sessions.

How to use CPT code 90832

If your client demonstrates a clinical need for shorter therapy sessions — or you need to end a session earlier than planned — 90832 might be the right way to bill.

How to use CPT code 90834

The “45 minute” session is a core element of mental health care, so it’s vital that every provider knows how to apply the 90834 code to their work.

How to use CPT code 90792

Because 90792 can only be billed by psychiatrists and nurse practitioners, it’s a less commonly used code for intake assessments, but has many of the same expectations.

How to use CPT code 90791

Code 90791 is officially deemed a “diagnostic evaluation,” but you might know it better as an initial assessment. It typically happens in your first session with a client.