http://ct.counseling.org/2007/07/pri...mpany-billing/Insurance company billing
Robert J. Walsh and Norman C. Dasenbrook ------- An example of our superbill is available in The Complete Guide to Private Practice for Licensed Mental Health Professionals. We will also send it to those who request it (e-mail walshgasp@aol.com).
BILLING EQUINE ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPYLinda Pucci: "Yes, Interactive psychotherapy was the code we used and that was reimbursed. But it varied by Insurance company. Some paid 100%, others nothing. We did not accept managed care plans because the contracted rates were too low to be able to pay for the expense of the session with 2 providers. Most of our therapy sessions were individual and family with only one insurer being billed."Leah Gunter Lucas: "My understanding is that psychotherapy CPT codes (i.e. 90834, 90837, etc) are reimbursable provided that the location which you are providing services has been approved by the insurance provider. There is no CPT billing code for cognitive behavioral therapy, emotionally focused therapy, play therapy, etc.- it's all psychotherapy."Leah Gunter Lucas "The EAGALA community site (for members) has an entire section dedicated to insurance. Lisa Wheeler is the POC." Risė VanFleet "It's been a long time since I did anything with Tricare, but my question parallels that of others here. For AAT or EAP type work, I typically bill it as individual, family, or group psychotherapy, not by any specific methodology. ALL of my skills as a psychotherapist are used when I do any type of animal-assisted work, and it seems misleading and opening Pandora's box to begin to bill for really specific modalities. I am conducting the psychotherapy, not the horse or dog or whatever, so if I am skilled at what I do, then it shouldn't matter if I involve an animal, toys, other props, etc. (not to suggest that animals are props - of course they are not). I think, especially in the equine world, there is a lot of focus on how the horses do the therapy (not from you, Ilka, but from many others). I think this is misleading and negatively influences perceptions of the value of the therapist in the picture. I always create a treatment plan with the client, and typically that treatment plan includes a variety of interventions to help us get there. The animal-assisted work is one of either a few or several methods that might be used. There are many interventions that are not on the evidence-based list that are reimbursed by insurance. Furthermore, when I involve animals in the work, I am still using one of the more "major" modalities of practice - cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, psychodynamic, etc. and THAT is the intervention. The animals assist or facilitate, but they don't conduct..."Joy Nussen Timsit "I have recently become a Tricare provider and I was a licensed clinical case manager for United Healthcare for 10 years authorizing Behavioral Health treatment services. Providers can see a client wherever they want for treatment... under a tree, in Vivo treatment doing DBT related activities in the community, in a horse Arena. Insurance doesn't authorize interventions they authorize psychotherapy. It is the determination of the licensed psychotherapist as to where and what treatment consists of. That being said, when the day comes that I get my first Tricare referral, and if I decide that Equine Therapy is an appropriate intervention that is clinically justified, I will process all out of office interventions when we do meet in the office, as I do meet with all Insurance paying clients in the office. This is standard for therapists who take a walk with their client and they're not billing for walking therapy. The list goes on and on." Joy Nussen Timsit "In addition to my previous comment, my insurance based client referrals come from a well respected long-standing psychological group that I am an associate of. I am on the insurance panels under their tax ID. They are hundred percent ethical and legal." https://www.facebook.com/ibparent/po...92509825641769
Can you please tell me what code you used for equine therapy and the place of service code? Thank you so much!
There is not a code for equine therapy. The CPT codes for individual, family or group therapy are used.Originally Posted by marconv
https://www.facebook.com/groups/eaga...2%3A%22O%22%7D
Lisa Wheeler
November 3, 2014 · Asheville, NC
Hi EAGALA members,
I wanted to share a couple of things:
1) please try and avoid the use of the term "Equine Therapy". We practice mental health using the Equine Assisted Psychotherapy model. Specifically we use the EAGALA Model.
In the reimbursement world "Equine Therapy" is a very specific code for Hippotherapy and Therapeutic Riding: S8940. This is generally NOT reimbursed.
However, the work we do: mental health--is reimbursable using the appropriate MH billing codes.
If you are elsewhere in the world similar language may exist.
2) please consider, regardless of the country you live in, joining the Network Group Compliance and Insurance. I regularly post info on staying on compliance and getting the work we do reimbursed (and FYI---it is!!)
I admit--boring stuff--like watching paint dry on wall more exciting than compliance and insurance. BUT its necessary and I do try and make it meaningful and a little fun...Also, as I get valuable information from any country, I try and get it up as soon as possible.
Thanks for your time!
Lisa Wheeler, MS Ed, PA-C, Director of Compliance and Insurance for EAGALA
136You, Juanita Culbert Mckinney, Delena Austin and 133 others
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