The interactive complexity add-on code is used in mental health billing to indicate that a psychotherapy session involved communication difficulties or other challenges that affect the delivery of the service. This code can be used in addition to the primary CPT code for the psychotherapy session, such as 90834 or 90837.
The interactive complexity code is CPT code 90785. It is used to describe the additional time and resources required to manage complex communication issues that may arise during a psychotherapy session. Some examples of situations that might warrant the use of the interactive complexity code include:
- Treatment of patients with comorbid conditions, such as substance use disorder or medical illness
- Treatment of patients with a history of trauma or abuse
- Treatment of patients with cognitive or neurological impairments
- Treatment of patients with significant interpersonal conflicts or relationship issues
It’s important to note that the interactive complexity code should only be used when the communication difficulties or other challenges encountered significantly impact the delivery of the psychotherapy service. Mental health professionals should not use this code for routine psychotherapy sessions or when the communication difficulties are minor and do not require additional time or resources to manage.