Screening, Brief Intervention, & Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Procedure Codes Update
The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) announced this afternoon that Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) SBIRT codes have been added to the Medicaid Practitioner Fee Schedule and are retroactively effective to January 1, 2021 dates of service. The codes can be used once per day, as medically necessary. At this time, only physicians and physician extenders can render SBIRT services. This includes the following provider types:
- 25 – M.D.
- 26 – D.O.
- 29 – PA
- 30 – APRN
SBIRT is a comprehensive, integrated, public health approach to the delivery of early intervention and treatment services for persons with substance use disorders, as well as those who are at risk of developing these disorders. Primary care centers, hospital emergency rooms, trauma centers, and other community settings provide opportunities for early intervention with at-risk substance users before more severe consequences occur.
- Screening quickly assesses the severity of substance use and identifies the appropriate level of treatment.
- Brief intervention focuses on increasing insight and awareness regarding substance use and motivation toward behavioral change.
- Referral to treatment provides those identified as needing more extensive treatment with access to specialty care.
Procedure Codes
AHCA is working with stakeholders to develop an SBIRT training for all providers. In the meantime, there is an SBIRT training for pediatric providers available online from the University of Florida: https://cme.ufl.edu/skill-building-module-7-substance-use-in-adolescent-populations/
MDs and DOs who watch the lecture and receive a passing grade on the five-question quiz will be issued a certificate of completion and receive CME credits. The University of Florida’s CME office will automatically upload the credit into CE Broker for MDs and DOs. PAs and APRNs will also receive the credit and certificate of completion if they have a passing score; however, they are required to self-report to CE Broker.
Please submit questions about the SBIRT codes to MedicaidPolicy@ahca.myflorida.com.
