HCPCS H2012 is officially defined as "Behavioral health day treatment, per hour." HCPCS H2012 is referenced in 39 tracked payer policy changes from Ambetter, Virginia Medicaid - DMAS, and 7 other payers. For billers and coders, staying current on payer-specific coverage criteria, reimbursement rules, and prior-authorization requirements for HCPCS H2012 is critical to clean claim submission. Each entry below links to the full policy analysis with effective dates and action steps.
Effective January 1, 2027, Ambetter Health of Delaware will stop covering 45 HCPCS H codes (H0003–H0047, H1011, H2001–H2033) and will begin covering HCPCS code H0006. The practice must stop billing the discontinued codes to Ambetter Delaware members and update charge entry and claim submission processes to reflect coverage changes.
Effective 01/01/2027, Ambetter Health will discontinue coverage for 45 HCPC H codes (primarily behavioral health and community support services) and will begin covering HCPC code H0006. Billing teams must update coding practices and prior authorization workflows to reflect these coverage changes.
Ambetter of North Carolina will stop covering a list of HCPCS H codes starting January 1, 2027, and will cover H0006 from that date. Earlier changes are already effective: CPT 80320-80377 drug testing codes were no longer reimbursable from October 1, 2026, and the prior authorization changes effective October 1, 2026 took effect. The newsletter also covers surrogacy diagnosis codes Z33.3 and Z31.7, behavioral health type of bill guidance, and clinical policy updates effective 11/1/2026.
Ambetter of North Carolina's June 2026 provider newsletter says it will stop covering 48 HCPCS H codes beginning January 1, 2027, and will cover H0006 from that date. The newsletter also says drug testing codes G0482 and G0483 are no longer reimbursable under the drugs-of-abuse policy (no date is given), and it lists clinical policy revisions effective August 15, 2026 and a reminder to verify member eligibility by paid-through dates.
Effective January 1, 2027, Ambetter from Coordinated Care Corporation will discontinue coverage for 42 HCPCS H codes (primarily behavioral health and social services codes) while simultaneously adding coverage for H0006. Billing teams must identify all claims currently using the discontinued codes and transition to alternative coding or request prior authorization to determine covered alternatives.
Effective January 1, 2027, Ambetter of Illinois will discontinue coverage for 46 HCPCS H codes (behavioral health and social services codes) while adding coverage for H0006. Billing teams must identify all claims currently using the non-covered codes and implement workflow changes to prevent claim denials after the effective date.
Effective 01/01/2027, Ambetter Health is discontinuing coverage for 52 HCPCS H codes related to alcohol/drug treatment, behavioral health services, and mental health support. Simultaneously, H0006 (Alcohol/drug service, case management) will become newly covered. The billing team must immediately identify affected claims in the system and implement denial protocols for non-covered codes starting January 1, 2027.
Effective January 1, 2027, Ambetter from Buckeye Health Plan will discontinue coverage for 45 HCPCS H codes commonly used for behavioral health and community support services. Simultaneously, H0006 coverage will begin. The practice must identify all affected claims and implement billing workflow changes to avoid denials.
Effective January 1, 2027, Ambetter of Tennessee will discontinue coverage for 46 HCPCS H codes (primarily behavioral health and social services codes) while adding coverage for H0006. The billing team must identify all claims currently using the non-covered codes and transition to alternative billing codes or obtain clarification on approved alternatives before the effective date.
Effective January 1, 2027, Ambetter from Absolute Total Care will discontinue coverage for 45 HCPCS H codes (primarily behavioral health and substance abuse treatment services) while adding coverage for H0006. Billing teams must identify all claims using discontinued codes and transition to alternative codes or obtain patient verification of coverage changes.
Effective January 1, 2027, Ambetter of Oklahoma will discontinue coverage for 46 HCPCS H codes commonly used for behavioral health, substance abuse treatment, and related services. Simultaneously, H0006 coverage begins on the same date. The billing team must identify all affected claims and establish processes to deny or redirect these codes for Ambetter Oklahoma members.
Effective January 1, 2027, Ambetter from SilverSummit Healthplan will discontinue coverage for 45 HCPCS H codes (primarily behavioral health and support services) while adding coverage for H0006. Billing teams must identify all claims using the discontinued codes and implement alternative billing strategies or obtain patient financial responsibility agreements.
Effective January 1, 2027, Ambetter from WellCare of New Jersey will discontinue coverage for 45 HCPCS H codes (behavioral health and substance abuse treatment services) while adding coverage for H0006. Billing teams must identify all claims using the discontinued codes and implement alternative billing strategies or prior authorization processes before the effective date.
Effective January 1, 2027, Ambetter of North Carolina Inc. will discontinue coverage for 45 HCPCS H codes (primarily behavioral health and substance abuse treatment services) while adding coverage for H0006. Billing teams must immediately identify affected claims and update billing systems to prevent denials for these services beginning 2027.
Effective 01/01/2027, Ambetter from Magnolia Health will discontinue coverage for 45 HCPCS H codes (behavioral health and substance abuse treatment services) while adding coverage for H0006. Billing teams must immediately identify affected services, update claim submission logic, and prepare providers for coverage gaps to avoid claim denials.
Effective January 1, 2027, Ambetter from Home State Health will discontinue coverage for 45 HCPCS H codes (behavioral health and social services codes) while adding coverage for H0006. Billing teams must identify all claims currently using the non-covered codes and develop transition plans, as continued billing of these codes will result in denials.
Effective January 1, 2027, Ambetter from Meridian will no longer cover 45 HCPCS H codes (behavioral health and social services codes), while H0006 will begin coverage on that same date. Billing teams must identify all claims using the discontinued codes and implement alternative billing strategies or have claims denied.
Effective January 1, 2027, Ambetter from Louisiana Healthcare Connections will discontinue coverage for 45 HCPCS H codes (behavioral health and social services) while adding coverage for H0006. Billing teams must identify affected claims, update system edits, and establish alternative coding or prior authorization protocols before the effective date.
Effective January 1, 2027, Ambetter from WellCare of Kentucky will discontinue coverage for 46 HCPCS H codes (behavioral health and social services codes), while simultaneously activating coverage for H0006. Billing teams must identify all claims currently using the discontinued codes and establish alternative billing strategies or obtain prior authorization requirements before the effective date.
Effective January 1, 2027, Ambetter from Peach State Health Plan will discontinue coverage for 45 HCPC H codes (H0003-H0047, H1011, H2001-H2033) commonly used for behavioral health, substance abuse treatment, and support services. Simultaneously, H0006 coverage will be newly activated. Practices must identify affected claims, update billing systems, and establish alternative coding or coverage verification processes before the effective date.
Effective January 1, 2027, Ambetter Health will discontinue coverage for 45 HCPCS H codes (primarily behavioral health and substance abuse treatment codes) while simultaneously adding coverage for H0006. Billing teams must immediately identify affected services, audit current patient encounters, and prepare to transition claims to alternative coding or halt billing for these services by the effective date.
Effective January 1, 2027, Ambetter from Arizona Complete Health will discontinue coverage for 45 HCPCS H codes (primarily behavioral health and social services codes) while adding coverage for H0006. Billing teams must identify all claims using the discontinued codes and implement alternative billing strategies to avoid claim denials.
Effective January 1, 2027, Ambetter from Arkansas Health & Wellness will discontinue coverage for 45 HCPCS H codes (primarily behavioral health and substance abuse treatment services) while adding coverage for H0006. Billing teams must identify all claims using the discontinued codes and establish alternative coding or prior authorization strategies to avoid claim denials.
Effective January 1, 2027, Ambetter of Alabama will discontinue coverage for 45 HCPCS H codes (primarily behavioral health and support services codes) while adding coverage for H0006. Billing teams must immediately identify affected claims and update billing software to prevent denials for non-covered codes after the effective date.
Effective January 1, 2027, Ambetter Health will discontinue coverage for 45 HCPCS H codes commonly used for behavioral health, substance abuse treatment, and related services. Simultaneously, HCPCS code H0006 will become newly covered. Billing teams must immediately identify affected claims and update billing logic to prevent denials.
Ambetter from Superior HealthPlan is discontinuing coverage for 46 HCPCS H codes effective January 1, 2027, while adding coverage for H0006. Billing teams must identify claims currently using discontinued codes and establish alternative billing strategies or prior authorization workflows before the effective date.
Effective January 1, 2027, Ambetter from Sunflower Health Plan will discontinue coverage for 45 HCPCS H codes (primarily behavioral health and substance abuse treatment services) while adding coverage for H0006. Billing teams must identify all claims currently using discontinued codes and establish alternative billing strategies or obtain patient notification protocols before the effective date.
Virginia Medicaid is redesigning behavioral health services, retiring four Community Mental Health Rehabilitative Services (CMHRS) codes (H2012, H2016, H0046, H2017) effective June 30, 2027, and implementing five new behavioral health service codes (CPST-Adult, CPST-Youth Community, CPST-Youth School, CSC, Clubhouse) effective July 1, 2027. All current members receiving the retiring services must transition to alternative behavioral health services by the deadline. The practice must update provider enrollment, verify credentials, and prepare for service authorization transitions over the next 6-12 months.
Published June 22, 2026: Ambetter Health announced that 46 listed HCPCS H codes will no longer be covered beginning January 1, 2027, while HCPCS H0006 will become covered on that same date. Billing teams should identify claims and scheduled services using the listed H codes for January 2027 dates of service and prepare charge entry and provider notification accordingly.
Beginning October 1, 2026, ForwardHealth replaces the substance abuse day treatment benefit with an integrated behavioral health day treatment benefit that covers substance use disorder, mental health, and co-occurring SUD and mental health day treatment services. Prior authorization is required for all treatment services under this benefit for dates of service on and after October 1, 2026. Services involving family members and recreation-oriented activities may now be reimbursed when they are directly related to the member's treatment goals.
Health First Colorado added daily limits and same day billing limits for a list of behavioral health and supportive service codes, active since Aug. 1, 2026 for some codes and effective Oct. 1, 2026 for others, and Regional Accountable Entities (RAEs) enforce them. Claims with dates of service of Aug. 1, 2026 or later deny if an updated provider license is not on file, and a recovery residence policy takes effect Oct. 1, 2026. This bulletin also covers a number of other changes with dates from Aug. 31, 2026 through Jan. 1, 2027, including the APR-DRG Version 42 update that moved to Jan. 1, 2027.
Effective August 24, 2026, CareSource will enforce same-day billing limits for behavioral health services in Ohio. When SUD IOP/PHP group counseling (H0015, H0015TG) is billed on the same day as TBS group services (H2020, H2012), providers may bill up to one hour of additional group services without prior authorization. Any additional group services exceeding one hour on the same date of service require prior authorization, and both services require PA when limits are exceeded.
Maryland Medicaid updates ABA billing rules effective January 1, 2026, allowing ABA services to be billed on the same date of service as behavioral health services (except Therapeutic Behavioral Services 96156/96158/96159 and Electroconvulsive Therapy 90870). Additionally, procedure code H2012 (ABA Treatment Planning) will be discontinued effective February 1, 2026, with treatment planning to be incorporated into CPT 97151 and coordination of care into CPT 97156.
Maryland Medicaid is updating ABA service billing rules effective January 1, 2026 to allow combination billing with most behavioral health services (except codes 96156, 96158, 96159, and 90870), and discontinuing procedure code H2012 effective February 1, 2026 with functions moved to codes 97151 and 97156.
CareSource Ohio Medicaid is reminding Community Behavioral Health providers (group types 84/95) of critical billing rules to prevent denials. Key restrictions include: mental health and substance use disorder codes must be billed under correct specialty NPIs; H0005 is limited to 4 units when billed with H0015 on the same date; and four specific group therapy codes are limited to 4 units (1 hour) per day when billed together unless prior authorized.
A 2% across-the-board Health First Colorado provider rate reduction applies to dates of service beginning July 1, 2026, with exemptions for managed care, pharmacy, RHCs, FQHCs, pediatric behavioral therapy, select NICU and neonatal services, select maternity services, and family planning services. Procedure codes 97535 and 97537 are no longer covered as of July 1, 2026, and CPT 77063 became a covered benefit that must be billed on the same claim as CPT 77067. Effective August 1, 2026, PT 25 and PT 16 claims will be denied when billed for certain behavioral health supportive and team-based services in fee-for-service or to the Regional Accountable Entities.
Blue Cross of Idaho updated HCBS300 prior authorization requirements for Medicare Medicaid Coordinated Plan (MMCP) and Blue Cross Idaho Medicaid Plus (BCIMP) members, effective December 2023. The policy clarifies that prior authorization must be obtained from the care coordination team before rendering long-term support services (LTSS) and home and community-based services (HCBS). Services rendered without prior authorization will result in claim denials. The policy also specifies that no prior authorization is required for crisis services, but 24-hour notification to Blue Cross of Idaho is mandatory.
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield medical policy 3.01.20 has a current effective date of April 16, 2026. Continuing Day Treatment programs licensed or operated by the New York State Office of Mental Health are eligible for coverage under New York State Medicaid Managed Care Plans and Health and Recovery Plans (HARP). Admission requires evaluation by a licensed clinician, a designated mental illness diagnosis, a related dysfunction that cannot be adequately provided in a lower level of care, and no need for 24-hour supervision. Concurrent review and authorizations occur at six-month intervals, and continued stay requires progress toward treatment goals, coordination of care, active discharge planning, and no less intensive level of care that would be adequate. A written individual treatment plan must be completed before the 12th visit or within 30 days of admission, whichever occurs first, and reviewed at least every three months. The 2026 annual review left policy intent unchanged.
Nevada Medicaid has implemented rate increases for procedure codes H0035 (Mental Health Partial Hospitalization Treatment) and H2012 (Behavioral Health Day Treatment) effective July 1, 2025. Eligible claims will be automatically reprocessed at the higher rates with results appearing on future remittance advice.
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