CPT 99408 reports alcohol and/or substance abuse structured screening and brief intervention services totaling 15 to 30 minutes. It is the CPT version of SBIRT used across payers.
When to use 99408
Use 99408 when a structured screening plus a brief intervention runs 15–30 minutes. For services exceeding 30 minutes, add 99409. Medicare uses the G-code equivalents G0396/G0397.
How to bill it
Report once when the total service falls in the 15–30 minute range, and document both the screening and the intervention.
Common pitfalls
- Adding 99409 without exceeding 30 total minutes.
- Confusing CPT SBIRT (99408/99409) with the Medicare G-codes (G0396/G0397).
Frequently asked questions
How does 99408 differ from the Medicare SBIRT codes?
99408 is the CPT code used by most payers for a 15–30 minute SBIRT service. Medicare uses G0396 (15–30 min) and G0397 (over 30 min) instead.
When do I add 99409?
Add 99409 for each additional 30 minutes when the total SBIRT service exceeds 30 minutes.