CPT Codes for Psychological Testing
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Using the right CPT code for psychological testing is an essential part of being a mental health clinician, especially for supporting a diagnosis and treatment plan and for accurate insurance billing and reimbursement.
Understanding the healthcare coding system, knowing the difference between CPT and HCPCS codes, and knowing the correct CPT code for psychological testing to use can make your administrative tasks more efficient.
This guide provides an overview of CPT codes for psychological assessments and testing, so you’ll feel confident knowing how to use the right evaluation codes.
What are CPT codes?
The American Medical Association (AMA) created Current Procedural Terminology, or CPT codes, to describe healthcare procedures, surgery, and diagnostic services.
Providers, including mental health clinicians, use CPT codes to ensure the use of standardized language around the globe. This improves accuracy of clinical documentation, streamlines reporting, and allows data tracking to identify health trends.
Behavioral health clinicians use CPT codes for documentation, insurance reimbursement, and for treatment planning. Even if a clinician doesn’t bill insurance, a CPT code can be used to provide clients with superbills to submit a claim to their insurance for reimbursement.
CPT codes for psychological testing
There are numerous CPT codes for psychological testing and evaluations. Codes vary depending on the type of clinician, duration of the test, and setting in which they are used.
For instance, only a psychiatrist or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) would use code 90792, as this CPT code for psychological testing can only be used by a licensed medical professional.
Here is a list of common CPT codes for psychological testing:
96110
This is the code for developmental screening and testing or developmental testing per standardized instrument.
It’s used to evaluate developmental milestones like speech and language in children.
96112
Developmental test administrator of language, fine/gross motor skills, cognition, social, memory, and executive functions.
Includes screening and subjective data from the child’s observer. This is typically 60 minutes in duration, however, the modifier 96113 may be used for every additional 30 minutes.
96105
Assessment of aphasia and cognitive performance. Includes administration of test, scoring, and interpretation.
96125
Used by speech-language pathologists, this code is for cognitive performance testing.
96116
This is the code for neurobehavioral status exam, a face-to-face assessment of the patient's thinking, reasoning, and judgment. This code includes the testing, interpretation, and preparation of a report.
96130
Psychological testing, interpretation, clinician decision making, treatment planning, and interactive feedback.
This code is for 60 minutes, but clinicians may add modifier 96131 CPT code for every additional 30 to 60 minutes.
96132
Psychological testing, interpretation, treatment planning, and discussing the outcome with the client and their family members.
The 96132 CPT code defines an hour of testing, interpreting the results, and producing a report, before being in discussion with the patient and their caregivers. However, code 96133 can be used for each additional hour.
96137
Psychological or neuropsychological tests.
The use of the 96137 CPT code denotes administering two or more tests and scores, and requires an additional 30 minutes beyond the first 30-minute assessment.
96138
Neuropsychological tests administration scoring by a technician for the first hour. Additional hours may be billed with code 96139 for each additional hour.
CPT codes for psychological assessments
CPT codes for psychological assessments differ from evaluations and testing. These codes specify the clinical setting, type of provider, and duration.
For instance, if a mental health therapist provides an assessment in an outpatient setting, they would use code 90791, whereas an occupational therapist can use the 96130 CPT code, which includes providing feedback with the patient and family.
Here’s a list of CPT codes for psychological assessments:
| CPT code | Explanation |
| 90838 | Individual psychotherapy with evaluation and management services. 60 minutes. |
| 90833 | Individual psychotherapy with evaluation and management services. 30 minutes. |
| 90836 | Individual psychotherapy with evaluation and management services. 45 minutes. |
| 90791 | Psychological diagnostic evaluation. Performed by a psychologist. |
| 90792 | Psychiatric diagnostic evaluation with medical services. May include medication management. |
| 99202 | Evaluation and management services for a new patient with minimal concerns and assessment (outpatient). 15-29 minutes. |
| 99203 | Evaluation and management services for a new patient with low complexity, limited assessment (outpatient). 30-44 minutes. |
| 99204 | Evaluation and management services for a new client with moderate complexity, moderate assessment (outpatient). 45-59 minutes. |
| 99205 | Evaluation and management services for a new client with high complexity, extensive assessment (outpatient). 60-74 minutes. |
| 99212 | Evaluation and management services (outpatient). Existing client (10 or more minutes on a single encounter). |
| 99212 | Evaluation and management services for a new client with minimal complexity and assessment (outpatient). 10-19 minutes. |
| 99213 | Evaluation and management services for a new client with low complexity and limited assessment (outpatient). 20-29 minutes. |
| 99214 | Evaluation and management services for a new client with moderate complexity and assessment (outpatient). 30-39 minutes. |
| 99215 | Evaluation and management services for a new client with high complexity and extensive assessment (outpatient). 40-54 minutes. |
| 96127 | Brief emotional and/or behavioral assessment, such as ADHD, depression measures, scoring, and documentation. For assessments in children and adolescents. |
Potential add-on and modifier codes
Behavioral health modifiers may be added to denote the type of clinician, status, and billing information, as illustrated below:
- 95: Synchronous telehealth session
- GT: Synchronous telehealth session (Medicare)
- AJ: Licensed clinical social worker
- AF: Psychiatrist
- AH: Clinical psychologist
- 25: Separately identifiable evaluation and management service by the same clinician on the same day as the service
- GN: Services delivered by an outpatient speech pathologist
- H9: Court ordered
- HA: Child/adolescent service or program
- HB: Adult program or service
- HE: Mental health service
- HG: Opioid use disorder treatment program
- HF: Substance use disorder program
- HQ: Group setting
- HR: Family/couple with client present
- HS: Family/parents without client present
- U2: Licensed professional counselor/Medicaid level of care 2
- SA: Used when billing on behalf of a supervisor e.g. a social work associate billing under an LCSW
- UT: Describes attending to a patient in crisis
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