I am happy to inform you that Regence has decided not to implement the plan to change the reimbursement rates for CPT codes 90834 and 90837. In a letter written to OIC today, a representative of Regence’s legal department said the following:
Regence has carefully reviewed this matter, and has taken all concerns into account, including the feedback we have received from providers. We recognize that the description of the 90834 and 90837 codes create a gap in the time duration for treatment between 45 and 60 minutes. Therefore, a decision has been made that instead of creating a single rate for both procedure codes (90834 and 90837), differential rates will apply. This means that an upcoming revision will be made to the allowable rate concerning procedure code 90837.
Regence announced on One Health Port that the new rate for 90837 will go into effect on December 1, 2015, not October 1. The Coalition will continue to track the ways that Regence changes their reimbursement policies and make sure that their decisions are fair to mental health clinicians.