H0036 and H2015: Community Psychiatric Support Billing
H0036 and H2015 pay for the community-based support that keeps people with serious mental illness stable outside a clinic: help managing symptoms, coordinating care, and building the skills to stay housed and engaged. They are billed in 15-minute units, often delivered away from the office, and audited closely.
Short answer
H0036 is "Community psychiatric supportive treatment, face-to-face, per 15 minutes," often called CPST. H2015 is "Comprehensive community support services, per 15 minutes." Both are rehabilitative Medicaid services delivered under a treatment plan, with credentials, caps, and service definitions set by each state. Ambetter Health has announced it will stop covering H2015 beginning January 1, 2027.
What each code covers
| Code | Federal descriptor | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| H0036 | Community psychiatric supportive treatment, face-to-face, per 15 minutes | 15 minutes |
| H2015 | Comprehensive community support services, per 15 minutes | 15 minutes |
The face-to-face requirement
H0036's descriptor says face-to-face. Phone calls, collateral contacts without the client, and travel time generally do not count toward units unless your state's service definition explicitly allows them. Notes should show the client was present for the time billed.
Plan and documentation
Both services must appear on a current, signed service plan, usually developed under H0032, with goals the documented activity works toward. Each note should connect what happened in those 15-minute blocks to a plan goal. Generic notes such as "provided support" are the most common audit finding.
A 2027 payer change to watch
Ambetter Health has announced that it will stop covering a long list of H codes beginning January 1, 2027, including H2015. That is one payer's commercial policy, posted in several states, not a national code deletion. See Ambetter's notice, and confirm with any commercial plan before assuming an H code is billable there.
Common denials
- Service not on the plan. The plan lapsed or does not list the service.
- Non-billable time counted. Travel, documentation, or non-face-to-face time included in units.
- Overlapping services. Two rehabilitative services billed for the same client at the same time.
- Credential or modifier mismatch. Staff not qualified for the code, or a required licensure or program modifier missing. See licensure and program modifiers.
The full code map is in H codes in behavioral health.
Federal HCPCS descriptors only. Your state Medicaid manual and each managed care contract define who may render the service, unit rules, caps, and rates. Verify against current guidance before billing.
Frequently asked questions
What is H0036?
Community psychiatric supportive treatment, face-to-face, per 15 minutes, often called CPST. It covers rehabilitative support delivered under a treatment plan, with the service definition set by each state.
What is H2015?
Comprehensive community support services, per 15 minutes: a rehabilitative Medicaid service delivered under a treatment plan, with credentials and caps set by each state.
Can travel time be billed under H0036?
Generally no. The descriptor is face-to-face, so only time with the client counts unless your state's service definition explicitly says otherwise.
Is Ambetter dropping H2015?
Ambetter Health has announced it will stop covering H2015 beginning January 1, 2027, among other H codes. That is one payer's policy, not a national change.
Community support claims that hold up in audit.
See Stable check units, plan currency, and overlapping services before each claim goes out.
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