CPT 96167 reports a family health behavior intervention delivered without the patient present, focused on a physical health problem, for the initial 30 minutes.
When to use 96167
Use 96167 to work with family members around a patient’s physical health condition when the patient is not present. The individual equivalent is 96158 and the group equivalent is 96164.
How to bill it
Report for the first 30 minutes and add 96168 for each additional 15 minutes.
Common pitfalls
- Confusing the without-patient family code (96167) with family therapy 90846/90847.
- Forgetting the 96168 add-on for additional time.
Frequently asked questions
How does 96167 differ from family therapy?
96167 is a health behavior intervention tied to a physical condition and billed without the patient; 90846/90847 are psychiatric family therapy codes.
When do I add 96168?
Add 96168 for each additional 15 minutes of family health behavior intervention beyond the first 30 minutes.