Since January 1, the government has required psychiatrists and others conducting individual psychotherapy with Medicare beneficiaries to use the new "G" codes that the Health Care Financing Administration devised for these services. They replace individual psychotherapy codes 90842, 90843, 90844, and 90855.

The "G" codes are designed to allow psychiatrists to differentiate between inpatient and outpatient sites, different therapy-session lengths, and psychotherapy that is "pure" or includes a medical evaluation and management (E&M) component (Psychiatric News, December 20, 1996).

Office or Other Outpatient Psychotherapy

G0071--Individual psychotherapy, insight oriented, behavior modifying and/or supportive, in an office or outpatient facility, approximately 20 to 30 minutes face to face with the patient

G0072--Individual psychotherapy, insight oriented, behavior modifying and/or supportive, in an office or outpatient facility, approximately 20 to 30 minutes face to face with the patient, with medical evaluation and management services

G0073--Individual psychotherapy, insight oriented, behavior modifying and/or supportive, in an office or outpatient facility, approximately 45 to 50 minutes face to face with the patient

G0074--Individual psychotherapy, insight oriented, behavior modifying and/or supportive, in an office or outpatient facility, approximately 45 to 50 minutes face to face with the patient, with medical evaluation and management services

G0075--Individual psychotherapy, insight oriented, behavior modifying and/or supportive, in an office or outpatient facility, approximately 75 to 80 minutes face to face with the patient

G0076--Individual psychotherapy, insight oriented, behavior modifying and/or supportive, in an office or outpatient facility, approximately 75 to 80 minutes face to face with the patient, with medical evaluation and management services

Interactive Psychotherapy

G0077--Individual psychotherapy, interactive, in an office or outpatient facility, approximately 20 to 30 minutes face to face with the patient

G0078--Individual psychotherapy, interactive, in an office or outpatient facility, approximately 20 to 30 minutes face to face with the patient, with medical evaluation and management services

G0079--Individual psychotherapy, interactive, in an office or outpatient facility, approximately 45 to 50 minutes face to face with the patient

G0080--Individual psychotherapy, interactive, in an office or outpatient facility, approximately 45 to 50 minutes face to face with the patient, with medical evaluation and management services

G0081--Individual psychotherapy, interactive, in an office or outpatient facility, approximately 75 to 80 minutes face to face with the patient

G0082--Individual psychotherapy, interactive, in an office or outpatient facility, approximately 75 to 80 minutes face to face with the patient, with medical evaluation and management services

Inpatient Hospital, Partial Hospital, or Residential Care Facility

G0083--Individual psychotherapy, insight oriented, behavior modifying and/or supportive, in an inpatient hospital, partial hospital, or residential care setting, approximately 20 to 30 minutes face to face with the patient

G0084--Individual psychotherapy, insight oriented, behavior modifying and/or supportive, in an inpatient hospital, partial hospital, or residential care setting, approximately 20 to 30 minutes face to face with the patient, with medical evaluation and management services

G0085--Individual psychotherapy, insight oriented, behavior modifying and/or supportive, in an inpatient hospital, partial hospital, or residential care setting, approximately 45 to 50 minutes face to face with the patient

G0086--Individual psychotherapy, insight oriented, behavior modifying and/or supportive, in an inpatient hospital, partial hospital, or residential care setting, approximately 45 to 50 minutes face to face with the patient, with medical evaluation andmanagement services

G0087--Individual psychotherapy, insight oriented, behavior modifying and/or supportive, in an inpatient hospital, partial hospital, or residential care setting, approximately 75 to 80 minutes face to face with the patient

G0088--Individual psychotherapy, insight oriented, behavior modifying and/or supportive, in an inpatient hospital, partial hospital, or residential care setting, approximately 75 to 80 minutes face to face with the patient, with medical evaluation and management services

Interactive Psychotherapy

G0089--Individual psychotherapy, interactive, in an inpatient hospital, partial hospital, or residential care setting, approximately 20 to 30 minutes face to face with the patient

G0090--Individual psychotherapy, interactive, in an inpatient hospital, partial hospital, or residential care setting, approximately 20 to 30 minutes face to face with the patient, with medical evaluation and management services

G0091--Individual psychotherapy, interactive, in an inpatient hospital, partial hospital, or residential care setting, approximately 45 to 50 minutes face to face with the patient

G0092--Individual psychotherapy interactive, in an inpatient hospital, partial hospital, or residential care setting, approximately 45 to 50 minutes face to face with the patient, with medical evaluation and management services

G0093--Individual psychotherapy, interactive, in an inpatient hospital, partial hospital, or residential care setting, approximately 75 to 80 minutes face to face with the patient

G0094--Individual psychotherapy interactive, in an inpatient hospital, partial hospital, or residential care setting, approximately 75 to 80 minutes face to face with the patient, with medical evaluation and management services

(Psychiatric News, January 3, 1997)