Knowledge Center
Resources for Mental Health Providers
Practical guides, plain-language explanations, and answers to the billing and credentialing questions we hear most often — all in one place.
Articles & Guides
Learn the Essentials
Understanding Mental Health CPT Codes: A Provider's Guide
A plain-language breakdown of the most commonly used CPT codes for therapy, psychiatric evaluation, and medication management — and how to use them correctly.
How Long Does Insurance Credentialing Really Take?
Credentialing timelines vary widely by payer. Here's what to expect, what causes delays, and how to keep the process moving.
HIPAA Basics for Mental Health Providers: What You Must Know
A practical overview of HIPAA requirements that apply specifically to mental health practices — including what counts as a violation and how to stay protected.
Why Mental Health Claims Get Denied (and How to Prevent It)
Denial rates in mental health billing are higher than in most other specialties. Learn the most common reasons and the steps you can take to reduce them.
Mental Health Parity: What It Means for Your Practice
The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) requires insurers to cover mental health at the same level as medical care. Here's how to use it to your advantage.
CAQH: What It Is and Why It Matters for Your Practice
CAQH is the universal credentialing database used by most major insurers. Here's how to set it up, keep it current, and avoid common mistakes.
Glossary
Billing Terms, Explained Simply
Medical billing comes with a lot of jargon. Here are the terms you're most likely to encounter — in plain language.
CPT Code
Current Procedural Terminology codes are standardized codes used to describe medical, surgical, and diagnostic services. In mental health billing, common codes include 90837 (60-min therapy), 90834 (45-min therapy), and 90791 (psychiatric evaluation).
Clean Claim
A claim submitted with all required information, no errors, and no missing data — allowing the payer to process it without requesting additional information. Clean claims are paid faster and reduce administrative burden.
Credentialing
The process by which an insurance company verifies a provider's qualifications, licensure, and background before allowing them to see patients as an in-network provider.
CAQH
Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare — a nonprofit that maintains a universal database of provider credentials used by most major insurers to streamline the credentialing process.
EOB (Explanation of Benefits)
A document sent by an insurer to a provider and/or patient explaining what was billed, what was covered, what was denied, and what the patient owes.
Denial Management
The process of reviewing, appealing, and resolving insurance claim denials. Effective denial management is critical to maintaining healthy revenue for a mental health practice.
MHPAEA
Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act — a federal law requiring insurance plans to cover mental health and substance use disorder services at the same level as medical and surgical services.
NPI (National Provider Identifier)
A unique 10-digit identification number required for all healthcare providers in the United States. Used on all insurance claims and credentialing applications.
Prior Authorization
Approval required from an insurer before certain services can be rendered and billed. Some payers require prior authorization for ongoing therapy after a set number of sessions.
Revenue Cycle
The complete financial process of a healthcare practice — from patient scheduling and insurance verification through claim submission, payment posting, and collections.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the billing and insurance questions we hear most often from mental health providers.
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