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The CPT® Code 96138 refers to the administration and scoring of psychological or neuropsychological tests conducted by a technician. This service is specifically for the first 30 minutes of testing and scoring when two or more tests are administered using any method. Psychological or neuropsychological testing is essential for assessing brain and mental functions, as well as identifying any impairments. Standardized tests such as the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery, Wechsler Memory Scales, and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test are commonly utilized in these evaluations. The process involves a qualified professional, such as a psychologist, neuropsychologist, or neurologist, who selects the appropriate tests based on the patient's needs. During a face-to-face encounter, the technician administers the tests, and both raw and standardized scores are calculated. It is important to note that this code is part of a series that includes other related codes for different scenarios: CPT® Code 96136 is used for the first 30 minutes of test administration by a physician or qualified health care professional, while CPT® Code 96137 is for each additional 30 minutes in that context. Conversely, CPT® Code 96138 is designated for the technician's administration, with CPT® Code 96139 covering each additional 30 minutes. Additionally, CPT® Code 96146 is applicable when testing is performed and scored using a single automated, standardized instrument via an electronic platform, with the results sent to a qualified health care professional for further interpretation and reporting.
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The procedure associated with CPT® Code 96138 is indicated for the evaluation of brain and mental function, particularly when there is a need to assess cognitive impairments or psychological conditions. The following conditions may warrant the administration of psychological or neuropsychological tests:
The procedure for CPT® Code 96138 involves several key steps that ensure the effective administration and scoring of psychological or neuropsychological tests by a technician. The following outlines the procedural steps:
After the administration and scoring of the tests under CPT® Code 96138, the technician's role concludes, and the test data is returned to the qualified health care professional for further evaluation. The professional will interpret the results, prepare a written report, and discuss the findings with the patient. It is important for the professional to review the scores in the context of the patient's clinical history and presenting symptoms. Follow-up appointments may be scheduled to discuss the results and any recommended interventions or treatments based on the findings. Additionally, the technician may be required to assist in clarifying any aspects of the testing process if needed during the interpretation phase.
| Short Descr | PSYCL/NRPSYC TECH 1ST | Medium Descr | PSYCL/NRPSYCL TST TECH 2+ TST 1ST 30 MIN | Long Descr | Psychological or neuropsychological test administration and scoring by technician, two or more tests, any method; first 30 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 | 04 - Physician supervision policy does not apply when procedure is furnished by a qualified, independent psychologist... | 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 | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | none | MUE | 1 |
| 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. | 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. | XU | Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service | XE | Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter | AH | Clinical psychologist | XP | Separate practitioner, a service that is distinct because it was performed by a different practitioner | GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition | 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. | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | KX | Requirements specified in the medical policy have been met | 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. | 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 | AF | Specialty physician | 76 | Repeat procedure or service by same physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was repeated by the same physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 76 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | Q6 | Service furnished under a fee-for-time compensation 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 | GZ | Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary | HP | Doctoral level | XS | Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure | GA | Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, individual case | GT | Via interactive audio and video telecommunication systems | 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 | FQ | The service was furnished using audio-only communication technology | GV | Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider | 24 | Unrelated evaluation and management service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during a postoperative period: the physician or other qualified health care professional may need to indicate that an evaluation and management service was performed during a postoperative period for a reason(s) unrelated to the original procedure. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 24 to the appropriate level of e/m service. | 51 | Multiple procedures: when multiple procedures, other than e/m services, physical medicine and rehabilitation services or provision of supplies (eg, vaccines), are performed at the same session by the same individual, the primary procedure or service may be reported as listed. the additional procedure(s) or service(s) may be identified by appending modifier 51 to the additional procedure or service code(s). note: this modifier should not be appended to designated "add-on" codes (see appendix d). | 52 | Reduced services: under certain circumstances a service or procedure is partially reduced or eliminated at the discretion of the physician or other qualified health care professional. under these circumstances the service provided can be identified by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 52, signifying that the service is reduced. this provides a means of reporting reduced services without disturbing the identification of the basic service. note: for hospital outpatient reporting of a previously scheduled procedure/service that is partially reduced or cancelled as a result of extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well-being of the patient prior to or after administration of anesthesia, see modifiers 73 and 74 (see modifiers approved for asc hospital outpatient use). | 53 | Discontinued procedure: under certain circumstances, the physician or other qualified health care professional may elect to terminate a surgical or diagnostic procedure. due to extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well being of the patient, it may be necessary to indicate that a surgical or diagnostic procedure was started but discontinued. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 53 to the code reported by the individual for the discontinued procedure. note: this modifier is not used to report the elective cancellation of a procedure prior to the patient's anesthesia induction and/or surgical preparation in the operating suite. for outpatient hospital/ambulatory surgery center (asc) reporting of a previously scheduled procedure/service that is partially reduced or cancelled as a result of extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well being of the patient prior to or after administration of anesthesia, see modifiers 73 and 74 (see modifiers approved for asc hospital outpatient use). | 56 | Preoperative management only: when 1 physician or other qualified health care professional performed the preoperative care and evaluation and another performed the surgical procedure, the preoperative component may be identified by adding modifier 56 to the usual procedure number. | 58 | Staged or related procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was: (a) planned or anticipated (staged); (b) more extensive than the original procedure; or (c) for therapy following a surgical procedure. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 58 to the staged or related procedure. note: for treatment of a problem that requires a return to the operating/procedure room (eg, unanticipated clinical condition), see modifier 78. | 77 | Repeat procedure by another physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a basic procedure or service was repeated by another physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 77 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | 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.) | AJ | Clinical social worker | CC | Procedure code change (use 'cc' when the procedure code submitted was changed either for administrative reasons or because an incorrect code was filed) | CR | Catastrophe/disaster related | FR | The supervising practitioner was present through two-way, audio/video communication technology | GP | Services delivered under an outpatient physical therapy plan of care | GX | Notice of liability issued, voluntary under payer policy | HE | Mental health program | HO | Masters degree level | PN | Non-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 | 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) | SA | Nurse practitioner rendering service in collaboration with a physician |
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| 2019-01-01 | Added | Added |
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