Many coders report that using a psychiatric diagnosis code on a claim for an office visit results in a denial.  Physicians want to know what they can do about it.

Unfortunately, not very much.  Primary care practices provide a lot of mental health services in their offices.  When they submit these claims to commercial insurances, they can be denied because the PCP is not part of the behavioral health network.  Sometimes, they are paid but at a reduced rate.

These third party policies do not recognize how difficult it is for patients to get into see Psychiatrists and other mental health professionals. 

Physician offices should not "unbundle" their diagnosis codes, however, and use fatigue in place of depresssion, for example.   Instead, warn the patient that the service may not be covered, and will be billed to them.  (Check your contract with the third party--most of them allow you to bill the patient for non covered services, but not bundled services.)  If a medical problem was addressed on the same date (and the documentation supports that ) use that in the first position on the claim form.  Be sure the documentation supports the medical diagnosis.