Psychedelic Medicine's Future Depends on Proactive Development of a Robust Medical Billing and Coding Strategy.
Psychedelic medicine (New Rochelle, N.Y.) March 1, 2023 Brian S. Barnett, Andrey Ostrovsky 6 citations
Psychedelic therapies are approaching regulatory approval in the United States, but a major barrier to equitable patient access is the lack of specific medical billing codes for their delivery. The authors argue that developing new billing codes through the American Medical Association's Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Editorial Panel is the best approach, but note challenges: no similar existing services to guide development, the potential need for multiple providers during dosing sessions, limited mental health care representation on the panel, and misconceptions about psychedelic therapy. An industry-sponsored application for new CPT codes for "psychedelic drug monitoring services" is under review, but questions remain about flexibility and provider qualifications. The effort marks a critical step toward creating a robust billing strategy.