© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
An observational behavioral follow-up assessment is a structured evaluation conducted to monitor and assess a patient's behavior, particularly focusing on maladaptive or destructive behaviors such as aggression, self-harm, or property destruction. This assessment is typically performed in the patient's home or in a caregiver facility, such as a daycare or school, by a technician who has been trained by a physician or other qualified health care professional, which may include a behavioral analyst or licensed psychologist. The primary goal of this assessment is to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment plan or strategies that have been implemented to address the patient's specific behavioral issues. During the assessment, the technician engages in structured observation or testing to gauge the patient's level of adaptive behavior in various areas, including cooperation, expressive speech, requests, social interactions, and motivation. The technician meticulously documents the data collected during this face-to-face interaction with the patient and subsequently reports the findings to the supervising physician or qualified health care professional. This professional interprets the information gathered, prepares a comprehensive report, and engages in a feedback discussion with the primary caregiver(s), offering recommendations based on the assessment results. The CPT® Code 0360T is specifically designated for billing the first 30 minutes of technician time spent directly with the patient, while code 0361T is utilized for each additional 30 minutes of face-to-face technician time.
© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.
The observational behavioral follow-up assessment is indicated for patients exhibiting specifically identified maladaptive or destructive behaviors. These behaviors may include:
The procedure for conducting an observational behavioral follow-up assessment involves several key steps, which are detailed as follows:
Post-procedure care following the observational behavioral follow-up assessment involves several considerations. The technician's documentation and the physician's report serve as a foundation for ongoing treatment planning. Caregivers are encouraged to implement any recommendations provided during the feedback discussion to enhance the patient's behavioral management strategies. Additionally, follow-up assessments may be scheduled as needed to monitor progress and make necessary adjustments to the treatment plan. Continuous communication between the technician, physician, and caregivers is essential to ensure that the patient receives the most effective support and intervention for their behavioral challenges.
Short Descr | OBSERV BEHAV ASSESSMENT | Medium Descr | OBSERVATIONAL BEHAV ASSESSMENT FIRST 30 MIN | Long Descr | Observational behavioral follow-up assessment, includes physician or other qualified health care professional direction with interpretation and report, administered by one technician; first 30 minutes of technician time, face-to-face with the patient | Status Code | Carriers Price the Code | Global Days | YYY - Carrier Determines Whether Global Concept Applies | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 9 - Not Applicable | Multiple Procedures (51) | 9 - Concept does not apply. | Bilateral Surgery (50) | 9 - Concept does not apply. | Physician Supervisions | 09 - Concept does not apply. | Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) | 9 - Concept does not apply. | Co-Surgeons (62) | 9 - Concept does not apply. | Team Surgery (66) | 9 - Concept does not apply. | Diagnostic Imaging Family | 99 - Concept Does Not Apply | APC Status Indicator | Procedure or Service, Not Discounted when Multiple | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | M5B - Specialist - psychiatry | MUE | Not applicable/unspecified. |
Get instant expert-level medical coding assistance.