Medical Coding and Billing

Starting in 2003, HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) introduced medical coding requirements for billing, reimbursement, or reporting documents.

There are two primary categories of codes: CPT codes, which describe the service performed by a healthcare provider, and ICD codes, which describe why the care provided was necessary. Both are required to appear on insurance claims, and proper code usage reduces the likelihood of claims being denied.

Alma is simplifying access to high-quality, in-network mental health care by improving the experience of therapy for clinicians and consumers, alike.

Since 2018, we’ve helped thousands of therapists licensed across the country grow and run their private practice by offering backend tools to facilitate scheduling, billing, and note-taking — making it easy and rewarding to take insurance and gain referrals. Members also have access to ongoing training and CE courses developed in collaboration with clinical advisors like Esther Perel, Lori Gottlieb, and more.

By partnering with major insurance companies like Aetna, Optum, and Cigna, Alma makes it easy and financially rewarding to go in-network. Clinicians at Alma can get credentialed in just 45 days, and our in-house team manages everything from client eligibility checks to claims submissions, so you can focus on what matters most: providing high-quality care to your clients.

The following guide is based on Alma’s interpretation of the American Medical Association’s official CPT and ICD coding and our experience managing claims with private insurance payers. We encourage you to reference the official American Medical Association handbook for further clarification.

The following guide is based on Alma’s interpretation of the American Medical Association’s official CPT and ICD coding and our experience managing claims with private insurance payers. We encourage you to reference the official American Medical Association handbook for further clarification.