Psychiatrist codes and time?

[D224]

I have been to a psychiatrist and I can not understand how he is billing me. The codes he gives in the invoice are 99214 and 90838. I looked them up and the second codes says 60 mins of psychotherapy. However I never see him for that long. He is always late and today I saw him for probably 30 mins. Has anyone else had this problem? And how can he charge me for more time?

[nursegirl6572]

Amen to that.  And you're lucky if you get a whole hour the first time.  I'm meeting a new p-doc tomorrow and I'm anxious to see how much time he gives me.

[Paxiled]

Also consider that no psychiatrist sees a patient for an hour beyond the first evaluation.  If you receive therapy from a psychiatrist, an hour is actually 45 minutes.  For a psychologist, it's 50 minutes.  And so on.  Most of these codes don't reflect 45 minutes, they just say half hour or hour and so on.  Something else to consider as you investigate this.

[nursegirl6572]

Paxiled makes a good point, and I think you're smart for looking into it.  I agree completely that if you're being charged for an hour long visit, you should be seen for an hour.  If your appt was a half four long, that's what you should be charged for.  They have different codes for different appt lengths, like Paxiled said.

Hope you get it figured out.

[D224]

I am submitting reimbursement to my insurance. Out of network. But I see what you are saying maybe its a set price.....but I feel like I should see him for and hour if I'm being charged for an hour

[Paxiled]

The codes are for insurance company purposes.  If you're paying for this yourself without insurance the codes don't mean anything anyway -- the charge is the charge for the service rendered.  Generally, psychiatrists charge a set fee in non-insurance situations depending on the length of the visit.

[nursegirl6572]

You would need to talk to the office manager or person who does the billing.