Behavioral health coding & billing reference
A working clinician's quick-reference to the procedure codes, modifiers, and diagnoses that show up most in New Hampshire community mental health — so you spend less time hunting through the manual and more time in the room.
Verify before you bill
This is an educational quick-reference, not billing advice, and it is not exhaustive. Codes, covered units, prior-authorization rules, and reimbursement rates change and are payer-specific. Always confirm against the current CPT® and ICD-10-CM code sets and the NH Medicaid billing manuals and fee schedule(or the relevant commercial payer's policy) before submitting a claim. CPT is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association.
Where to find current NH rates
New Hampshire publishes reimbursement rates on the state fee schedule rather than a fixed figure per code — rates vary by provider type, program, and managed-care organization. Start here:
Common procedure codes
A + marks an add-on code, billed alongside a primary service.
Diagnostic evaluation
90791Psychiatric diagnostic evaluation (no medical services)
Intake by a non-prescriber (LCSW, LCMHC, psychologist).
90792Psychiatric diagnostic evaluation with medical services
Intake by a prescriber (MD/DO, APRN, PA).
Individual psychotherapy
Timed codes — bill by the face-to-face time actually spent, using the CPT time thresholds.
90832Psychotherapy, 30 minutes
16–37 minutes.
90834Psychotherapy, 45 minutes
38–52 minutes.
90837Psychotherapy, 60 minutes
53+ minutes.
90839Psychotherapy for crisis, first 60 minutes
Use for an urgent, high-complexity presentation.
+90840Crisis psychotherapy, each additional 30 minutes
Add-on to 90839.
Add-on codes (bill with a primary service)
+90833Psychotherapy, 30 min, with an E/M service
Prescribers pairing therapy with medication management.
+90836Psychotherapy, 45 min, with an E/M service
+90838Psychotherapy, 60 min, with an E/M service
+90785Interactive complexity
Communication difficulties that complicate care (e.g. an interpreter, involved caregivers).
Family & group
90846Family psychotherapy without the patient present, 50 min
90847Family psychotherapy with the patient present, 50 min
90853Group psychotherapy (other than a family group)
Screening & testing
96127Brief emotional / behavioral assessment
Standardized instruments such as the PHQ-9, GAD-7, or PCL-5, with scoring & documentation.
96130 / +96131Psychological testing evaluation services (first / each additional hour)
96136 / +96137Psychological test administration & scoring (first 30 min / each additional 30 min)
HCPCS Level II — common in NH Medicaid community programs
State Medicaid plans lean on HCPCS 'H' and 'T' codes for community-based and rehabilitative services. Coverage, units, and prior-authorization rules are set by NH Medicaid.
H0001Alcohol and/or drug assessment
H0004Behavioral health counseling & therapy, per 15 min
H0015Intensive outpatient (substance use), per diem
H0031Mental health assessment by a non-physician
H0032Mental health service-plan development by a non-physician
H0038Self-help / peer services, per 15 min
H2011Crisis intervention service, per 15 min
H2015 / H2017Community support / psychosocial rehabilitation, per 15 min
T1016 / T1017Case management / targeted case management, per 15 min
Modifiers & place of service
Frequently used modifiers
NH Medicaid also defines state-specific U1–U9 modifiers for certain programs — check the manual.
95Synchronous telehealth via real-time audio & video
93Audio-only telehealth (where the payer allows it)
HQGroup setting
HAChild / adolescent program
HOMaster's-degree-level clinician
HNBachelor's-degree-level clinician
AJClinical social worker
AHClinical psychologist
Place-of-service (POS) codes
POS 10 vs 02 can change the telehealth rate — confirm the payer's current policy.
11Office
10Telehealth provided in the patient's home
02Telehealth provided somewhere other than the patient's home
See also our NH telehealth billing guide for parity and modifier detail.
Common ICD-10 diagnoses
The diagnoses seen most in community mental health. Always code to the highest documented specificity — many of these families have additional digits for severity, remission, and specifiers.
Depressive disorders
F32.0 / .1 / .2Major depressive disorder, single episode — mild / moderate / severe
F32.9Major depressive disorder, single episode, unspecified
F33.0–F33.9Major depressive disorder, recurrent
F34.1Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia)
F43.21Adjustment disorder with depressed mood
Anxiety, OCD & trauma
F41.1Generalized anxiety disorder
F41.0Panic disorder
F40.10Social anxiety disorder (social phobia), unspecified
F41.9Anxiety disorder, unspecified
F42.9Obsessive-compulsive disorder, unspecified
F43.10 / .11 / .12PTSD — unspecified / acute / chronic
F43.23Adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety & depressed mood
Bipolar & psychotic disorders
F31.81Bipolar II disorder
F31.9Bipolar disorder, unspecified
F20.9Schizophrenia, unspecified
F25.0Schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type
F29Unspecified psychosis not due to a substance or known condition
Substance use disorders
The 4th character marks the substance; .10 ≈ mild, .20 ≈ moderate–severe. Add specifiers as documented.
F10.10 / F10.20Alcohol use disorder — mild / moderate–severe
F11.20Opioid use disorder, moderate–severe
F12.20Cannabis use disorder, moderate–severe
F17.200Nicotine dependence, unspecified
Neurodevelopmental, personality & other
F90.0 / .1 / .2 / .9ADHD — inattentive / hyperactive / combined / unspecified
F84.0Autism spectrum disorder
F60.3Borderline personality disorder
F50.00 / F50.2 / F50.81Anorexia / bulimia / binge-eating disorder
F93.0Separation anxiety disorder of childhood
Z63.0Relationship distress with spouse or intimate partner (Z-code)