96127
Brief emotional/behav assmt
Brief emotional or behavioral assessment, with scoring and documentation, per standardized instrument. Billed per instrument administered, so multiple units in one encounter are allowed when multiple validated tools are used. The companion to G0444 (depression screen) but for non-depression behavioral domains and for commercial-payer use of brief screens.
Published by RVUDoc. Numeric data: CMS RVU26C, effective 2026-07-01. Page updated 2026-09-23. Calculation limits and editorial policy.
Fee-schedule estimate before claim adjustments. Coverage, setting and payer rules still apply.
Billing guidance for 96127 is locked
- When to use it: the exact clinical situations that support billing 96127
- Documentation checklist: the 6 elements your note needs before submitting
- Common pitfalls: the 5 mistakes that get 96127 downcoded or denied
Payer notes
Medicare and most commercial payers cover 96127. Medicare may apply per-encounter limits (typically not more than 4 units same day). Commercial payers including BCBS, UnitedHealthcare, and Aetna cover 96127 routinely as part of routine adolescent and adult preventive care. Some plans cover 96127 only when billed with a preventive E/M; others cover with any E/M. Documenting the action plan tightens audit defense.
Related codes
These include alternative services and possible add-ons. Listing codes together does not establish that they can be billed together; check the applicable edits and payer policy.
See what 96127 adds to your year
Add it to the wRVU calculator with your own volume, or paste a note and let the chart audit check your coding.