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Family psychotherapy, also known as conjoint psychotherapy, is a therapeutic approach designed to enhance communication and understanding among family members. This type of therapy aims to help families cope with various emotional challenges, including stress, anger, and grief, while also addressing interpersonal conflicts that may arise within the family unit. The process can involve all family members, those specifically facing difficulties, or only those willing to participate in the therapeutic process. Family psychotherapy is particularly beneficial when a family member is dealing with a mental health condition, addiction, or a physical illness, as it provides a supportive environment for the entire family to navigate these challenges together. During therapy sessions, the therapist examines the dynamics of family interactions, assesses communication skills, and evaluates the family's ability to collaboratively solve problems. The therapy may delve into family roles, discuss rules and discipline, and analyze individual behavior patterns. Additionally, the therapist helps identify sources of stress, anger, grief, and conflict, working with the family to enhance coping strategies and modify behavioral patterns. By suggesting changes in interactions and fostering constructive communication, the therapist aims to improve the overall functioning of the family unit. Specifically, CPT® Code 90847 is utilized for 50 minutes of family psychotherapy when the patient is present, allowing for a more inclusive therapeutic experience.
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Family psychotherapy is indicated for various situations where family dynamics and communication are impacting the well-being of its members. The following conditions may warrant the use of this therapeutic approach:
The procedure for family psychotherapy involves several structured steps to ensure effective communication and therapeutic outcomes. The following steps outline the process:
After the completion of family psychotherapy sessions, families are encouraged to continue practicing the communication skills and strategies learned during therapy. It is important for family members to maintain open lines of communication and support one another as they navigate challenges. Follow-up sessions may be scheduled to assess ongoing progress and address any new issues that may arise. Additionally, families may be provided with resources or referrals for further support if needed. The overall goal is to empower families to function more effectively and cohesively, fostering a healthier environment for all members.
| Short Descr | FAMILY PSYTX W/PT 50 MIN | Medium Descr | FAMILY PSYCHOTHERAPY W/PATIENT PRESENT 50 MINS | Long Descr | Family psychotherapy (conjoint psychotherapy) (with patient present), 50 minutes | Status Code | Active Code | Global Days | XXX - Global Concept Does Not Apply | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 0 - Physician Service Code | Multiple Procedures (51) | 0 - No payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply. | Bilateral Surgery (50) | 0 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures does NOT apply. | Physician Supervisions | 09 - Concept does not apply. | Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) | 0 - Payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure... | Co-Surgeons (62) | 0 - Co-surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Team Surgery (66) | 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Diagnostic Imaging Family | 99 - Concept Does Not Apply | APC Status Indicator | Codes That May Be Paid Through a Composite APC | Type of Service (TOS) | 1 - Medical Care | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | M5B - Specialist - psychiatry | MUE | 1 | CCS Clinical Classification | 218 - Psychological and psychiatric evaluation and therapy |
This is a primary code that can be used with these additional add-on codes.
| 0770T | Add-on Code MPFS Status: Carrier Priced APC E1 Virtual reality technology to assist therapy (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) |
| 95 | Synchronous telemedicine service rendered via a real-time interactive audio and video telecommunications system: synchronous telemedicine service is defined as a real-time interaction between a physician or other qualified health care professional and a patient who is located at a distant site from the physician or other qualified health care professional. the totality of the communication of information exchanged between the physician or other qualified health care professional and the patient during the course of the synchronous telemedicine service must be of an amount and nature that would be sufficient to meet the key components and/or requirements of the same service when rendered via a face-to-face interaction. modifier 95 may only be appended to the services listed in appendix p. appendix p is the list of cpt codes for services that are typically performed face-to-face, but may be rendered via a real-time (synchronous) interactive audio and video telecommunications system. | AJ | Clinical social worker | GT | Via interactive audio and video telecommunication systems | 59 | Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25. | AH | Clinical psychologist | HO | Masters degree level | FQ | The service was furnished using audio-only communication technology | GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition | GY | Item or service statutorily excluded, does not meet the definition of any medicare benefit or, for non-medicare insurers, is not a contract benefit | U4 | Medicaid level of care 4, as defined by each state | 93 | Synchronous telemedicine service rendered via telephone or other real-time interactive audio-only telecommunications system : synchronous telemedicine service is defined as a real-time interaction between a physician or other qualified health care professional and a patient who is located away at a distant site from the physician or other qualified health care professional. the totality of the communication of information exchanged between the physician or other qualified health care professional and the patient during the course of the synchronous telemedicine service must be of an amount and nature that is sufficient to meet the key components and/or requirements of the same service when rendered via a face-to-face interaction. | U6 | Medicaid level of care 6, as defined by each state | X4 | Episodic/focused services: for reporting services by clinicians who provide focused care on particular types of treatment limited to a defined period and circumstance; the patient has a problem, acute or chronic, that will be treated with surgery, radiation, or some other type of generally time-limited intervention; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to, the orthopedic surgeon performing a knee replacement and seeing the patient through the postoperative period | GV | Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider | GA | Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, individual case | HP | Doctoral level | XP | Separate practitioner, a service that is distinct because it was performed by a different practitioner | HJ | Employee assistance program | HK | Specialized mental health programs for high-risk populations | CR | Catastrophe/disaster related | SA | Nurse practitioner rendering service in collaboration with a physician | UD | Medicaid level of care 13, as defined by each state | GJ | "opt out" physician or practitioner emergency or urgent service | HN | Bachelors degree level | X2 | Continuous/focused services: for reporting services by clinicians whose expertise is needed for the ongoing management of a chronic disease or a condition that needs to be managed and followed with no planned endpoint to the relationship; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to: a rheumatologist taking care of the patient's rheumatoid arthritis longitudinally but not providing general primary care services | U7 | Medicaid level of care 7, as defined by each state | 25 | Significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional on the same day of the procedure or other service: it may be necessary to indicate that on the day a procedure or service identified by a cpt code was performed, the patient's condition required a significant, separately identifiable e/m service above and beyond the other service provided or beyond the usual preoperative and postoperative care associated with the procedure that was performed. a significant, separately identifiable e/m service is defined or substantiated by documentation that satisfies the relevant criteria for the respective e/m service to be reported (see evaluation and management services guidelines for instructions on determining level of e/m service). the e/m service may be prompted by the symptom or condition for which the procedure and/or service was provided. as such, different diagnoses are not required for reporting of the e/m services on the same date. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 25 to the appropriate level of e/m service. note: this modifier is not used to report an e/m service that resulted in a decision to perform surgery. see modifier 57 for significant, separately identifiable non-e/m services, see modifier 59. | 79 | Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: the individual may need to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was unrelated to the original procedure. this circumstance may be reported by using modifier 79. (for repeat procedures on the same day, see modifier 76.) | 96 | Habilitative services: when a service or procedure that may be either habilitative or rehabilitative in nature is provided for habilitative purposes, the physician or other qualified health care professional may add modifier 96 to the service or procedure code to indicate that the service or procedure provided was a habilitative service. habilitative services help an individual learn skills and functioning for daily living that the individual has not yet developed, and then keep and/or improve those learned skills. habilitative services also help an individual keep, learn, or improve skills and functioning for daily living. | 97 | Rehabilitative services: when a service or procedure that may be either habilitative or rehabilitative in nature is provided for rehabilitative purposes, the physician or other qualified health care professional may add modifier 97 to the service or procedure code to indicate that the service or procedure provided was a rehabilitative service. rehabilitative services help an individual keep, get back, or improve skills and functioning for daily living that have been lost or impaired because the individual was sick, hurt, or disabled. | AB | Audiology service furnished personally by an audiologist without a physician/npp order for non-acute hearing assessment unrelated to disequilibrium, or hearing aids, or examinations for the purpose of prescribing, fitting, or changing hearing aids; service may be performed once every 12 months, per beneficiary | AF | Specialty physician | AM | Physician, team member service | AQ | Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa) | CC | Procedure code change (use 'cc' when the procedure code submitted was changed either for administrative reasons or because an incorrect code was filed) | CG | Policy criteria applied | FR | The supervising practitioner was present through two-way, audio/video communication technology | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | GQ | Via asynchronous telecommunications system | GX | Notice of liability issued, voluntary under payer policy | GZ | Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary | HB | Adult program, non geriatric | HE | Mental health program | HF | Substance abuse program | HR | Family/couple with client present | HW | Funded by state mental health agency | KX | Requirements specified in the medical policy have been met | MC | Ordering professional is not required to consult a clinical decision support mechanism due to the significant hardship exception of electronic health record or clinical decision support mechanism vendor issues | PO | Excepted service provided at an off-campus, outpatient, provider-based department of a hospital | Q1 | Routine clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study | Q2 | Demonstration procedure/service | Q5 | Service furnished under a reciprocal billing arrangement by a substitute physician or by a substitute physical therapist furnishing outpatient physical therapy services in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area | QJ | Services/items provided to a prisoner or patient in state or local custody, however the state or local government, as applicable, meets the requirements in 42 cfr 411.4 (b) | SC | Medically necessary service or supply | TG | Complex/high tech level of care | TH | Obstetrical treatment/services, prenatal or postpartum | TV | Special payment rates, holidays/weekends | U1 | Medicaid level of care 1, as defined by each state | U3 | Medicaid level of care 3, as defined by each state | UA | Medicaid level of care 10, as defined by each state | UB | Medicaid level of care 11, as defined by each state | UC | Medicaid level of care 12, as defined by each state | UH | Services provided in the evening | XE | Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter | XU | Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service |
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Action
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Notes
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| 2019-03-06 | Changed | Per CPT Errata, added Guideline regarding therapy greater than 80 minutes. |
| 2017-01-01 | Changed | Long, Medium and Short descriptions changed. guideline added. |
| 1998-01-01 | Changed | Code description changed |
| Pre-1990 | Added | Code added. |
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