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Running Overtime in Session: How to End on Time Without Feeling Like a Monster
Think you have to work harder or longer to make more money in private practice? Fortunately, that isn't the case. Your calendar does not need to become a hostage to your good intentions. Instead, it may be helpful to look at how your practice could be quietly...
Medicare FAQs: Your One-Stop General Information Page
I've written a lot of articles over the years about Medicare. So I thought it would be helpful to put together this page to answer some of your questions about Medicare. I'll try to update it regularly, posting the most up-to-date information. I am not a Medicare...
Are You Using Your Social Security Number on Claims and Superbills? 6 Reasons to Get an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Are you using your Social Security number on claims, superbills, and other practice documents? You might want to rethink this. Using your Social Security Number on practice forms carries a risk of identity theft. There is also the risk of financial fraud...
Most Medicaid Clients Unaware of Upcoming Work Requirements
Do you work with Medicaid clients? Over 80% of Medicaid clients don’t know they’ll need to report work, education or volunteer hours starting in 2027 to maintain coverage, according to a survey from the Health Management Academy. The new requirements The...
Z-Codes: Why They Matter More Than Ever
While I have always emphasized the importance of putting all your client’s diagnoses on a claim – even the Z codes – this may be more important than you realize. Although found in the DSM-5-TR, Z codes are typically not billable as primary or standalone diagnoses,...
Wait! Why You Should Complete Your Session Note Before Submitting Your Claim or Superbill
= Updated July 23, 2026 I recently traveled to Washington state to meet Susan Frager from PsychBillingCoach.com. I have turned to Susan for years, whenever I don’t know an answer (I know, you thought I had all the answers, but I don’t). But I had never met her in...
Apparently, My Article on 45-Minute Sessions Hit a Nerve
Well… it seems many of you had some strong reactions to my previous article on 45 minute sessions. That article was actually the second of two. The first article looked at Aetna’s decision to reimburse 60-minute sessions (CPT 90837) at the same rate as 45-minute...
CAQH: Same Headache, Now Called DataSpring
If you are a mental health clinician who takes insurance, chances are CAQH is one of those pain-in-the-neck systems you deal with – well, because you have to. So here's an important update: CAQH has officially rebranded as "DataSpring, powered by CAQH." The...
Billing for Longer Sessions: What Are Your Options?
UPDATED AUGUST 7, 2026 There has been a great deal of confusion about billing for psychotherapy sessions that last longer than 60 minutes. How should they be coded? Will health insurance plans cover these longer sessions? Must the therapist get...
Switching From 60-Minute Sessions to 45-Minutes: Should You Do It, and How?
For many therapists, the 60-minute session is standard. This is particularly true if you provide time-sensitive techniques like EMDR or Somatic Therapy, or if you work with complex cases, trauma, families, and couples. But many clinicians have begun to wonder whether...