Chemical Aversive Conditioning for Alcoholism (CPB 0896, reviewed 2025-12-22)

Billing team: Immediately ensure that any claims submitted for chemical aversive conditioning therapy (using emetine, apomorphine, or lithium with alcohol as treatment for alcoholism) are denied with reason code for experimental/investigational/unproven service. No CPT code exists for this service in current billing systems. When claims arrive with ICD-10 codes F10.10-F10.29 indicating alcoholism treatment, verify the procedure is not chemical aversive conditioning before processing. If chemical aversive conditioning is documented, issue denial notice to provider and patient indicating non-covered experimental treatment. Update denial templates and staff education materials to reference CPB 0896. No prior authorization process is required as the service is not covered under any circumstances.