Massachusetts Psychiatry and Psychology Billing Made Easy
Massachusetts psychiatry and psychology billing has two jobs to do well. Psychologists bill mostly time-based psychotherapy and testing. Psychiatrists bill E/M visits, often with a psychotherapy add-on. A billing service has to get both right, payer by payer.
What Massachusetts psychiatry and psychology billing includes
Massachusetts psychiatry and psychology billing covers every step between a visit and a paid claim. MCM South handles insurance verification, electronic claims, denied and rejected claim follow-up and appeals, secondary claims and insurance credentialing. We work with psychotherapists and psychiatrists in solo and medium-size practices. See all of our billing services.
Psychologist billing versus psychiatrist billing
Psychologists and psychiatrists bill differently, so Massachusetts psychiatry and psychology billing needs two setups. Psychologists usually bill time-based psychotherapy and testing. Our guides cover psychological testing billing codes and psychology billing services.
Psychiatrists usually bill evaluation and management (E/M) visits, often with a psychotherapy add-on code. Start with our psychiatry billing guide, and see who can bill 90791 and 90792 for the intake codes.
Medicare rules in Massachusetts
Medicare Part B rules come from federal law and your Medicare contractor. CMS lists National Government Services as the contractor for Jurisdiction K, which includes Massachusetts. Confirm the current contractor on CMS.gov before you send a claim or an appeal. Medicare also sets a 12-month filing limit, as the Noridian Medicare timely filing page explains.
MassHealth rules (Medicaid)
MassHealth is the Massachusetts Medicaid program. Its billing rules are separate from Medicare and from private plans. MassHealth has set a 90-day billing deadline, as All Provider Bulletin 109 describes, and later bulletins changed some waiver rules. Read the current MassHealth provider manual before you rely on any deadline.
Track program changes on our MassHealth billing updates page. For plan-based care, see Medicaid managed care for behavioral health.
Private payers and Massachusetts law
Private payers set their own rules in your contract. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is an independent Blue Cross licensee, so never assume its rules apply to another Blue plan. Our Massachusetts insurance contact guide lists the payers behind Massachusetts psychiatry and psychology billing.
State law adds a layer. The Massachusetts Division of Insurance publishes a yearly mental health parity summary report under M.G.L. c. 26, section 8M. Carriers must keep mental health benefits no more restrictive than medical benefits, including prior authorization. Parity governs plan benefits. It does not replace your payer contract.
Local guides for Massachusetts practices
Billing questions often start in a city. Read our guides for Boston, Worcester and Plymouth, or browse the state billing guides. If you want Massachusetts psychiatry and psychology billing handled for you, use the button below.
Where MCM South works
MCM South serves psychotherapists and psychiatrists in ten currently served states: Georgia, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Texas, Florida, New York, Colorado, Tennessee, North Carolina and Illinois. We bill for solo and medium-size mental and behavioral health practices only.
The short version
- Massachusetts psychiatry and psychology billing needs one setup for psychologists and one for psychiatrists.
- Keep Medicare, MassHealth, private payer and state-law rules in separate lists.
- Confirm the MassHealth and Medicare deadlines in the current source before you rely on them.
- MCM South bills for psychotherapists and psychiatrists. See our billing services.
Sources checked (10/27/26)
- CMS: Jurisdiction K Medicare contractors
- Noridian Medicare: timely filing
- MassHealth All Provider Bulletin 109
- Massachusetts Division of Insurance: CY 2024 parity report
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Related reading
Frequently asked questions
What does MCM South bill for in Massachusetts?
MCM South handles insurance verification, claims, denial follow-up and appeals, secondary claims and credentialing for psychotherapists and psychiatrists.
Do psychologists and psychiatrists bill the same codes?
No. Psychologists usually bill psychotherapy and testing codes. Psychiatrists usually bill E/M visits with a psychotherapy add-on code when both services happen.
Is MassHealth billed the same way as Medicare?
No. MassHealth has its own provider manual, bulletins and deadlines. Medicare follows federal rules and your Medicare contractor.
Does Massachusetts psychiatry and psychology billing change by payer?
Yes. Each payer sets its own rules in the contract, so check each plan before you send claims.
