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Billing reference

Collaborative Care billing codes, explained

An educational explainer of the psychiatric Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) billing codes. Codes are referenced by number; confirm descriptors, time thresholds, and payer policy with official CPT and current CMS guidance.

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Educational example only. This is not legal, medical, or compliance advice, and it is not a ready-to-use legal document. Requirements vary by state, payer, and setting. Adapt anything like this to your own situation and have it reviewed by qualified legal and compliance counsel licensed in your jurisdiction before using it in a practice. You are responsible for compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, including HIPAA. shrinkiatry publishes professional commentary and education, not legal or medical advice.

Current as of July 7, 2026. Laws, payer rules, and billing codes change, so confirm the current requirements for your jurisdiction and setting before you rely on it.

What's inside

What the model is

In the Collaborative Care Model, a primary care team treats behavioral health conditions with the support of a behavioral health care manager and a psychiatric consultant, tracked in a registry with measurement-based care. The IMPACT trial is the evidence base most often cited.

The CoCM codes, by number

  • 99492: initial psychiatric collaborative care management, first calendar month
  • 99493: subsequent psychiatric collaborative care management, later months
  • 99494: add-on for additional time in a month, used with 99492 or 99493
  • G2214: initial or subsequent CoCM for a shorter block of time in a month

General behavioral health integration

99484 covers general behavioral health integration care management that does not use the full collaborative care structure.

Who bills and what to confirm

  • The treating primary care practice typically bills these codes; the psychiatric consultant is paid by the practice
  • Time is tracked per calendar month
  • Confirm the current time thresholds, consent rules, and payer coverage before billing

About this resource

This reference is part of the shrinkiatry resource library, a set of free, clinician-facing references and examples. It's reviewed by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA, FAPA, a board-certified psychiatrist, on a quarterly schedule. Next scheduled review: October 1, 2026. First published July 7, 2026, last reviewed July 7, 2026.

Browse the rest of the resource library, or verify who reviews this site. Spotted something out of date? Email corrections@shrinkiatry.com.

Educational and professional commentary only. shrinkiatry explains the profession of psychiatry. It doesn't provide medical advice, isn't a substitute for evaluation or treatment by a licensed clinician, and reading it doesn't create a doctor-patient relationship.