Behavioral Health Integration Services for Primary Care Providers

Medicare BHI service for your patients that do not require the use of a behavioral health care team. Primary care physicians who are treating Medicare patients with depression diagnoses can utilize this service without a behavioral health manager or a psychiatric consultant. The primary care provider may deliver the general BHI service in its entirety.

Medicare makes separate payment to physicians and nonphysician practitioners (any provider eligible to utilize the E/M services) for BHI services they supply to beneficiaries over a calendar month service period. The service elements may be completed by the billing practitioner, who can be physician and/or nonphysician practitioner (PA, NP, CNS, CNM) that typically specialize in primary care, but may be of another specialty (e.g., cardiology, oncology, psychiatry).

For more information on general BHI and the requirements, please view these resources:

• Frequently Asked Questions about Billing Medicare for Behavioral Health Integration (BHI) Services
• Mental Health Awareness: Behavioral Health Integration YouTube Video

Posted 8/9/2021