Does Z69.020 require prior authorization?

No, Z69.020 does not require prior authorization (high confidence). Covered without prior authorization.

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`Z69.020`, Encounter for mental health services for victim of non-parental child abuse

ICD-10-CM

Prior Authorization

No Prior Auth Required

Covered without prior authorization (high confidence)

Documentation Required

Claims must meet the reasonable and necessary requirements described in the related LCD (L35101); providers must retain medical record documentation supporting medical necessity per the LCD.
When billing for services that are not covered, the claim must include the appropriate modifier to indicate non-coverage status.
When a second provider bills a diagnostic interview for a beneficiary they are seeing for the first time, documentation should support that it is the provider's first encounter with the beneficiary.

Medical necessity for the diagnostic assessment, psychological/neuropsychological tests, and psychotherapy must be documented in the medical record.

Each test component in a standardized battery must have documented medical necessity in the record; repeat tests require documentation of the reason for repetition.

For psychotherapy provided to patients with dementia, the record must document that the patient’s cognitive level permits meaningful participation; for family therapy, documentation must show therapy is for the Medicare beneficiary’s illness.

Key Coverage Criteria

Diagnostic interview codes (e.g., CPT 90791/90792) are indicated for the initial evaluation of a beneficiary, and a second provider seeing the beneficiary for the first time may report diagnostic interview codes for that initial encounter.
CPT code 96105 is indicated for formal evaluation of aphasia using a standardized instrument (for example, the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination).
HCPCS codes G0017 and G0018 are appropriate for services provided in non-facility places of service other than Office.
Diagnostic psychiatric interview is indicated for initial or periodic diagnostic evaluation of a patient with suspected or diagnosed psychiatric illness.
Additional diagnostic evaluation may be medically reasonable and necessary for the same patient when a new episode of illness occurs, there is an admission or readmission to inpatient status due to complications, or when re-evaluation is required to address a new referral question.
Interactive diagnostic procedures (e.g., modified interview techniques) are indicated when a patient’s ability to communicate is impaired by expressive or receptive language impairment (hearing loss, deaf mutism, aphasia), language barrier, or lack of mental development (childhood).

3 Active Policies

NOVITAS-JH-L35101, Psychiatric Codes

NOVITAS-JL-L35101, Psychiatric Codes

A57130, Billing and Coding: Psychiatric Codes

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Z69.020, Encounter for mental health services for victim of non-parental child abuse