Updates to HCA’s audio-only behavioral health codes list, retroactive to January 1, 2023

Washington State Health Care Authority sent this bulletin at 02/16/2023 04:19 PM PST

February 16, 2023

Apple Health (Medicaid) Provider Alert

Attention behavioral health providers:

This message is intended as a follow-up to the August 1, 2022, publication of Health Care Authority (HCA) Issue #29453 regarding HCA publishing audio-only telemedicine billing codes related to behavioral health procedure codes.

What is happening?

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a code update in late November 2022 with an implementation date for January 1, 2023. To align with this CMS update, HCA has revised the Apple Health (Medicaid) audio-only behavioral health codes list, retroactive to January 1, 2023. This list may be found on HCA’s Provider billing guides and fee schedules webpage under Telehealth.

Note: These changes are applicable to the Service Encounter Reporting Instructions (SERI) guide and Part II of the Mental Health Services Billing Guide.

What changed?

Retroactive to January 1, 2023, HCA made the following changes to the list:

Deleted CPT® codes: CPT® codes 99324 through 99328, CPT® codes 99334 through 99337, and CPT® codes +99354 through +99357
Added HCPCS codes: HCPCS codes +G0317 and +G0318
Updated HCPCS code: HCPCS code +G2212 now states that the FQ modifier is allowed for users of Part II of HCA’s Mental Health Services Billing Guide and HCA’s Substance Use Dependency (SUD) Billing Guide.

About the Health Care Authority (HCA)

The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) is committed to whole-person care, integrating physical health and behavioral health services for better results and healthier residents.

HCA purchases health care for more than 2.5 million Washington residents through Apple Health (Medicaid), the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) Program, the School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) Program, and the COFA Islander Health Care Program. As the largest health care purchaser in the state, we lead the effort to transform health care, helping ensure Washington residents have access to better health and better care at a lower cost.

Please do not reply directly to this message. For more information, visit the HCA website, where you'll also find contact information.

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The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) complies with all applicable federal and Washington state civil rights laws and is committed to providing equal access to our services. Visit HCA’s website to view complete nondiscrimination statements.