Providers and Coders Take Note: More Patients with Mental Health Issues Are Heading Your Way

It’s likely you’ve noticed seeing more patients with complaints related to their mental health and emotional wellbeing since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. What may be more surprising, if you hadn’t noticed, is that the trend began well before 2020. New research published by Health Affairs shows that between 2006 and 2018 the percentage of visits to primary care related to mental health concerns increased from 11% to 16%. The authors attributed the increase to a couple of sources relevant to urgent care, including high prevalence of mental health diagnoses and a shortage of mental health professionals in the community. They also pointed out that this influx presents a challenge not only for the clinician, but also for billing and coding professionals who may be unaccustomed to categorizing and seeking reimbursement for complaints unrelated to a patient’s physical health. On the provider side, it would be important to have go-to resources to refer patients who may pose an immediate threat to themselves. And coding specialists may need to consult learning resources or consultants to ensure they’re seeking appropriate reimbursement in the most efficient way.