Collaborative care codes now payable with no member cost sharing

Effective July 1, 2020, we’ll reimburse medical practices that perform collaborative care, and there will be no member cost share for collaborative care services. These changes apply to the following collaborative care codes for treating Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan commercial, Blue Care Network commercial, BCN Advantage^SM and Medicare Plus Blue^SM members:

*99492
*99493
*99494
*99484 (the general behavioral health integration code)

Collaborative care includes mental and behavioral health and substance abuse services provided in a primary care setting with the assistance of psychiatric consultations. Case managers coordinate the services and interventions of providers outside the primary care setting so that the entire team is working for the best possible outcomes for members.

“These codes allow for reimbursement to the medical practice for behavioral health case management and psychiatric consultation to the practice to coordinate the best holistic care for members’ medical and behavioral health needs,” said William Beecroft, M.D., BCN medical director.

Collaborative care is designed to improve outcomes, while empowering patients and their families, Beecroft said. This style of practice has been shown to alleviate provider burnout, increase behavioral health access and improve outcomes for members’ medical and behavioral health issues, leading to improvement in their health and quality of life.

Check web-DENIS for benefits, eligibility and policy limitations.