Key Takeaways
TruCare is our first pick for mental health practices. TruCare OS brings medical billing automation for mental health into one record, and its billers work from the rules that decide mental health claims: timed psychotherapy codes, payer credentialing, telehealth billing, and Part 2 privacy.
Minutes decide the code. Psychotherapy bills by documented face-to-face time, and a note that rounds a session up to an hour can turn a paid claim into a denial.
Credentialing is half the job. A clinician cannot bill a payer until the panel enrollment is complete, so several companies here lead with credentialing.
Practices and treatment centers need different mental health billing services. Facilities depend on verification of benefits and utilization review, while therapy practices depend on timed codes, panels, and telehealth rules.
Among behavioral health billing companies, published pricing is uncommon. TruCare lists rates from 2.49% of collections and Sawgrass Behavioral Resources lists 6%. MHMI posts a flat monthly credentialing fee, and Therapeutic Billing advertises flat-rate pricing.
1. TruCare
TruCare
Bermuda Dunes, CA
5.0 / 5 · Our rating
Best for
Practices and programs that want billing, credentialing, and eligibility handled together
Company Overview
TruCare's mental health billing starts with one patient record and four tools that share it:
TruIntake covers scheduling, intake, and eligibility.
TruRev runs billing from charge entry to cash posting.
TruCred handles credentialing and payer enrollment.
TruIntel reports on claims, denials, and A/R as they move.
TruCare works with therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, and group practices. For each of them, eligibility, enrollment status, and claim history stay in one place when a payer asks. TruCare gives close attention to the rules behind mental health claims, including time-based psychotherapy codes, payer enrollment, telehealth place of service, and Part 2 consent for substance use records. Certified billers work the claims the software flags, and the team supports clinicians in the EHR they already use, with more than 20 EHRs covered, including TheraNest, TherapyNotes, Carepatron, and SimplePractice. Support runs remotely, so meetings happen by phone or video.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Intake, eligibility, billing, and credentialing share one record
- Credentialing handled in-house, useful when adding panels or clinicians
- Works with 20+ EHRs, including TheraNest, TherapyNotes, Carepatron, and SimplePractice
- Publishes its pricing, from 2.49% of collections
Cons
- Support runs remotely rather than from a local office
- Founded in 2022, a shorter record than longer-established firms
- Contract terms come on request rather than posted
Pricing
Best For
Key Features / USPs
Our Verdict
Reviews from Reddit, Google, and Trustpilot
Google“Our private practice has peace of mind knowing billing is handled correctly.”
Trustpilot“No Trustpilot reviews yet.”
Reddit“No Reddit reviews yet.”
Average Review Score and Summary of Reviews
2. Nextus Billing Solutions
Nextus Billing Solutions
Boca Raton, FL
5.0 / 5 · Our rating
Best for
Treatment centers that want billing, utilization review, and software in one place
Company Overview
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Built for substance use and behavioral treatment centers
- Verification of benefits and utilization review handled in-house
- Cereus software gives real-time visibility into claims
- Handles payment negotiations with third-party payers
Cons
- Focus on facilities rather than solo therapists
- Prices are not published
- EHR integrations are not listed
Pricing
Best For
Key Features / USPs
Our Verdict
Reviews from Reddit, Google, and Trustpilot
Google“We switched to Nextus last year, and it was an absolute game changer. Instead of going for the low-hanging fruit, Nextus fights for every single claim.”
Trustpilot“No Trustpilot reviews yet.”
Reddit“No Reddit reviews yet.”
Average Review Score and Summary of Reviews
3. Therapeutic Billing
Therapeutic Billing
North Myrtle Beach, SC
5.0 / 5 · Our rating
Best for
Therapists who want credentialing started the day they sign
Company Overview
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Works only with mental health providers
- Credentialing starts the same day a client signs, according to the company
- Flat-rate pricing with no upfront sign-up fee
- Practice setup help, including LLC formation and NPI creation
Cons
- Stated no-refund policy
- Mostly serves practices rather than treatment centers
- EHR integrations are not listed
Pricing
Best For
Key Features / USPs
Our Verdict
Reviews from Reddit, Google, and Trustpilot
Google“I strongly recommend Therapeutic Billing for Mental Health Providers. I have been working with Sadaqah for nearly a year, and she has gone above and beyond to help my practice.”
Trustpilot“No Trustpilot reviews yet.”
Reddit“No Reddit reviews yet.”
Average Review Score and Summary of Reviews
4. Sawgrass Behavioral Resources
Sawgrass Behavioral Resources
Fort Lauderdale, FL
4.7 / 5 · Our rating
Best for
Small practices that want a published rate and a fast start
Company Overview
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Published fee of 6% of monthly collections
- Starts billing within 24 hours, according to the company
- Credentialing and payer enrollment included in its services
- Clients can keep their current EHR
Cons
- Minimum monthly requirements apply
- Reported turnaround comes from the company
- Treatment-center billing is not its stated focus
Pricing
Best For
Key Features / USPs
Our Verdict
Reviews from Reddit, Google, and Trustpilot
Google“I highly recommend Sawgrass Behavioral Resources. They are professional, reliable, thorough and prompt! Sawgrass came to my rescue and cleaned up my old billers’ mistakes and I have not had any issues since! I am able to focus 100% on my clients and Sawgrass takes care of all the billing.”
Trustpilot“No Trustpilot reviews yet.”
Reddit“No Reddit reviews yet.”
Average Review Score and Summary of Reviews
5. Integrity Billing
Integrity Billing
Palm Springs, FL
4.7 / 5 · Our rating
Best for
Treatment centers that want audits and utilization review built in
Company Overview
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Free forensic assessment before you commit
- i-bot portal for verification of benefits and status tracking
- Appeals and utilization review handled in-house
- Affiliations with HBMA, AAPC, and NAATP
Cons
- Reported results come from the company
- Prices are not published
- EHR integrations are not listed
Pricing
Best For
Key Features / USPs
Our Verdict
Reviews from Reddit, Google, and Trustpilot
Google“I would highly recommend Integrity Billing to any behavioral health facility looking for support with billing, collections, and utilization management services.”
Trustpilot“No Trustpilot reviews yet.”
Reddit“No Reddit reviews yet.”
Average Review Score and Summary of Reviews
6. MHMI
MHMI
Sandy, UT
4.5 / 5 · Our rating
Best for
Therapists and psychiatrists who want to reach a person, not a phone tree
Company Overview
Pros and Cons
Pros
- More than 20 years billing for mental health clinicians
- Flat monthly fee for credentialing
- A live person answers every call, according to the company
- Patient collections included alongside insurance billing
Cons
- Billing rates are not published
- EHR integrations are not listed
- Larger treatment centers are not its stated focus
Pricing
Best For
Key Features / USPs
Our Verdict
Reviews from Reddit, Google, and Trustpilot
Google“Having this company do my billing has been one of the top 5 decisions I have ever made. They are the reason I am still in business. They have been there for me every step of the way since I started my Psychotherapy business in 2020.”
Trustpilot“No Trustpilot reviews yet.”
Reddit“No Reddit reviews yet.”
Average Review Score and Summary of Reviews
7. Prosperity Behavioral Health (formerly Elevated Billing Solutions)
Prosperity Behavioral Health (formerly Elevated Billing Solutions)
Cottonwood Heights, UT
4.2 / 5 · Our rating
Best for
Treatment centers and practices that want analytics alongside billing
Company Overview
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Behavioral health focus across facilities and practices
- Contracting and payer relationship management beyond billing
- Analytics and a free revenue cycle assessment tool
- Utilization review and prior authorization in-house
Cons
- Reviews were earned under its former name
- Mixed public reviews, including a report of billing errors
- Prices are not published
Pricing
Best For
Key Features / USPs
Our Verdict
Reviews from Reddit, Google, and Trustpilot
Google“We have been with Elevated for 9 months. They have been an absolute lifesaver for our addiction treatment center. A truly amazing level of professionalism, efficiency and thoroughness.”
Trustpilot“No Trustpilot reviews yet.”
Reddit“No Reddit reviews yet.”
Average Review Score and Summary of Reviews
8. Mental Health Insurance Billing Inc
Mental Health Insurance Billing Inc
Santa Cruz, CA
5.0 / 5 · Our rating
Best for
Programs and families that need authorizations and appeals fought for them
Company Overview
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Owner-led, with individual attention for each client
- Deep experience with appeals and external reviews
- Verification of benefits explained directly to families
- Utilization review support through treatment
Cons
- Takes on a small selection of clients, so capacity is limited
- Prices are not published
- Less suited to high-volume practices
Pricing
Best For
Key Features / USPs
Our Verdict
Reviews from Reddit, Google, and Trustpilot
Google“We have worked with Mental Health Insurance Billing for almost 7 years. Cecily and her team are efficient, responsive, and great to work with. They have been a valuable resource as we updated parts of our EHR for better recordkeeping and claim success. They are rockstars in getting the claims paid!”
Trustpilot“No Trustpilot reviews yet”
Reddit“No Reddit reviews yet.”
Average Review Score and Summary of Reviews
9. United Billing Solutions
United Billing Solutions
Palm Springs, FL
5.0 / 5 · Our rating
Best for
Facilities that want underpaid claims recovered
Company Overview
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Specialty in behavioral health revenue cycle management
- Underpayment recovery, including claims from prior years
- Named leadership with behavioral health facility experience
- Utilization review for treatment programs
Cons
- Recovery figures come from the company
- Prices are not published
- EHR integrations are not listed
Pricing
Best For
Key Features / USPs
Our Verdict
Reviews from Reddit, Google, and Trustpilot
Google“I have had the pleasure of working with United directly for close to two years. The experience they bring to the table, the organization, and communication has been top tier. I would recommend them to anyone in need of a medical billing company!”
Trustpilot“No Trustpilot reviews yet.”
Reddit“No Reddit reviews yet.”
Average Review Score and Summary of Reviews
10. Saints Billing Services
Saints Billing Services
Colorado Springs, CO
5.0 / 5 · Our rating
Best for
Therapists opening or fixing a private practice
Company Overview
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Credentialing and billing support for new private practices
- Reviewers praise fast, persistent follow-up
- Owner-led service
- Experience cleaning up errors from a previous biller
Cons
- Limited public detail on services and pricing
- Few public reviews
- EHR integrations are not listed
Pricing
Best For
Key Features / USPs
Our Verdict
Reviews from Reddit, Google, and Trustpilot
Google“Saints Billing Services has been a great experience as a small business owner. They make medical billing easy and are always available to support my needs. I would highly recommend this business!”
Trustpilot“No Trustpilot reviews yet.”
Reddit“No Reddit reviews yet.”
Average Review Score and Summary of Reviews
Mental Health Billing Companies in the USA: The Short Comparison
| Company | Pricing model | Specialties | Tech / EHR integrations | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TruCare | % of collections, from 2.49% | Mental health and behavioral health billing | 20+ EHRs, including TheraNest, TherapyNotes, Carepatron, and SimplePractice | One record for billing and credentialing |
| Nextus Billing Solutions | Quote-based | Substance use and behavioral treatment centers | Cereus software | Treatment centers |
| Therapeutic Billing | Flat-rate | Mental health practices | Not listed | Same-day credentialing |
| Sawgrass Behavioral Resources | 6% of collections | Therapists and outpatient clinics | Practice management software, or your EHR | A published rate |
| Integrity Billing | Quote-based | Addiction and behavioral facilities | i-bot portal | Audits and utilization review |
| MHMI | Quote-based, flat credentialing fee | Therapists and psychiatrists | Provider portal | Personal, long-tenured support |
| Prosperity Behavioral Health | Quote-based | Behavioral health facilities and practices | Not listed | Analytics and contracting |
| Mental Health Insurance Billing Inc | Quote-based | Authorizations, appeals, and legal support | Not listed | Complex cases |
| United Billing Solutions | Quote-based | Behavioral health facilities | Not listed | Underpayment recovery |
| Saints Billing Services | Quote-based | Therapists | Not listed | Opening a private practice |
The Rules Behind Every Mental Health Claim
Minutes set the code.
Psychotherapy bills by face-to-face time using three main codes: 90832, 90834, and 90837. 90832 covers 16 to 37 minutes, 90834 covers 38 to 52 minutes, and 90837 covers 53 minutes or more. A note that says "60 minutes" without start and stop times invites a downcode or a denial. Every claim also needs ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes from the clinician's DSM-5 diagnosis, and the note has to support medical necessity.Evaluations follow their own codes.
90791 is a psychiatric diagnostic evaluation without medical services, and 90792 includes them. Both are reported once per evaluation, not by the minute, and the interactive complexity add-on 90785 can sit beside them when communication factors, such as a caregiver or other third party, complicate the visit.Add-on codes sit beside E/M.
When a prescriber adds psychotherapy to an evaluation and management visit, 90833, 90836, and 90838 use the same 16, 38, and 53 minute bands. Crisis psychotherapy uses 90839 and 90840, family sessions use 90846 and 90847, group therapy uses 90853, and psychological testing and brief screening use 96130 to 96139 and 96127, each with its own documentation rules.- Medicare
Counselors and marriage and family therapists can bill Medicare directly.
Medicare has paid licensed professional counselors and marriage and family therapists since January 1, 2024, which opened Medicare panels to many practices for the first time. - Medicare
Telehealth from home is covered for mental health.
Medicare lets patients receive mental health services by telehealth at home. The in-person visit requirement is on hold through 2027 and is scheduled to return in 2028 unless Congress acts again. Claims use place of service 10 for telehealth in the patient's home and 02 elsewhere, and many plans also expect a telehealth modifier such as 95 or 93 for audio-only. - Medicare
Integration and digital codes follow their own rules.
Psychiatric Collaborative Care bills under 99492 to 99494, general behavioral health integration under 99484 and G0323, and FDA-cleared digital mental health treatment devices under G0552 to G0554, each with time thresholds and a treatment plan on file. - Substance use treatment
Part 2 raises the privacy bar.
Substance use disorder records carry confidentiality rules beyond HIPAA. The compliance date for the 2024 update was February 16, 2026, and HHS now accepts Part 2 complaints. - Substance use treatment
Authorization and level of care drive payment.
Residential, partial, and intensive outpatient programs depend on utilization review, so a biller needs to track authorizations and clinical updates, not just claims. Levels of care follow the ASAM criteria, from outpatient and intensive outpatient to partial hospitalization and residential, and facility claims usually go on the UB-04 with revenue codes instead of the CMS-1500 that practices use. - Substance use treatment
ABA runs on units.
Applied behavior analysis bills adaptive behavior codes such as 97151 to 97158 in 15-minute units, so authorizations are counted in units and must be tracked as they are used. - Medicaid and commercial plans
States set Medicaid rules.
Many Medicaid programs bill behavioral services with H-codes or T-codes instead of CPT psychotherapy codes, each with its own authorization and filing limits. Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics are paid under a prospective payment system in many states instead of per-code rates, which changes how encounters are reported. - Medicaid and commercial plans
Parity law still applies.
The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act requires plans to cover mental health and substance use care on terms comparable to medical care. Federal enforcement of the 2024 update's new provisions has been paused since May 2025, but the underlying law and earlier rules remain in force. - Medicaid and commercial plans
Behavioral health panels differ.
Many commercial plans carve behavioral health out to separate managed behavioral health organizations with their own credentialing panels, such as Optum, Carelon Behavioral Health, and Magellan. - Medicaid and commercial plans
Credentialing comes before the first claim.
A clinician cannot bill a payer until enrollment is complete, and a gap leaves sessions unpaid. - Medicaid and commercial plans
Out-of-network and self-pay need their own paperwork.
Out-of-network clients may need superbills or single case agreements, and the No Surprises Act requires a good faith estimate for self-pay and uninsured patients. - Medicaid and commercial plans
Supervised billing varies by payer.
Some plans let provisionally licensed therapists bill under a supervisor's credentials, and others do not, so check each plan and state.
Where Mental Health Claims Break
| Where it breaks | What it costs | What a good partner does |
|---|---|---|
| Session billed above its documented minutes | Downcode or denial | Checks start and stop times before submission |
| Clinician not credentialed before the first visit | Unpaid sessions | Tracks enrollment dates and CAQH renewals |
| Authorization expires mid-treatment | Denial after care is delivered | Sends clinical updates and extends before the date |
| ABA units used beyond what was authorized | Denied units | Tracks authorized units against units used |
| Telehealth billed with the wrong place of service | Rejected claim | Checks place of service and modifiers by payer |
| Facility claim sent on the practice form | Rejected claim | Uses the UB-04 with revenue codes for facilities and the CMS-1500 for practices |
| Medicaid H-code billed as a CPT code | Denial | Maps the state's own code set |
| Provisionally licensed clinician billed under the wrong provider | Denial or recoupment | Confirms each plan's supervised-billing rules before the first claim |
| Out-of-network client without a superbill or good faith estimate | Payment dispute | Prepares both up front |
| Substance use records shared without proper consent | Compliance exposure | Uses Part 2-aware consents and notices |
How to Test a Mental Health Billing Company
Ask These Questions
Weak answers promise that the team “monitors everything.” Strong ones are specific. Ask these during your demo to make a more informed decision.
- ExperienceHow many practices or programs like mine do you bill for today?
- Time CodesHow do you check session length and start and stop times before a claim goes out?
- CredentialingHow long does credentialing take, and who tracks enrollment and CAQH dates?
- AuthorizationsHow do you track authorizations and utilization review for ongoing treatment?
- TelehealthHow do you handle place of service and modifiers for telehealth sessions?
- PrivacyHow do you handle substance use records and consent under 42 CFR Part 2?
- EHR FitWhich EHRs has the team actually worked in?
- Exit TermsWhat happens to my data and open claims if I leave?
Get the answers in writing
Send these 8 questions to every company you shortlist, so you can compare the answers side by side.
Signals to Walk Away From
- A percentage quoted on billed charges instead of net collections
- A promise to credential you with every payer in a fixed number of days
- Collection rate promises with no client data behind them
- Fees that surface after signing, particularly for credentialing
- No read-only access to your own claim and payer systems
Build In-House or Outsource?
| Question | In-house team | Outsourced partner |
|---|---|---|
| What you pay for | Salary, benefits, software, training | A share of collections or a flat fee |
| What happens when someone quits | Claims stall for weeks | Another biller picks up the queue |
| Depth of rule knowledge | Whatever your hires bring | Built across many practices and payers |
| How you supervise | Daily and direct | Through reports and scheduled calls |
| Where it fits best | Larger organizations with a stable team | Solo practices, growing groups, or after turnover |
Compliance Essentials Your Biller Should Already Know
Credentialing and enrollment.
Documentation that survives review.
Telehealth rules.
Privacy and consent.
What Does Mental Health Billing Cost?
4% to 8%
Fixed
Separate
Five Expensive Assumptions
- 1
"They said they do mental health."
Doing mental health and specializing in it are different things. Ask any mental health billing company for its client count and the mix of practices and programs. - 2
"Sessions are billed by the hour."
Psychotherapy bills by documented minutes. A biller who rounds to the hour will lose claims on audit. - 3
"We can credential later."
A clinician who sees patients before enrollment completes may not be able to bill those sessions. - 4
"Substance use billing is the same as therapy billing."
Facilities depend on authorizations and Part 2 consent. Ask whether the team does both. - 5
"We will skip the reference calls."
Two conversations with practices or programs like yours tell you more than any proposal.
How We Ranked These Companies
| Criterion | Weight | What we look at |
|---|---|---|
| Mental health depth | 30% | Time-based coding, credentialing, authorizations, telehealth, and share of behavioral health clients |
| Multi-state readiness | 20% | Payer panels, Medicaid code sets, and telehealth rules across states |
| Transparency | 15% | Published pricing or a clear quote process, contract terms, data access |
| Technology and EHR fit | 15% | Works inside your EHR, reporting the client can see |
| Verified client feedback | 10% | Google, Trustpilot, and Reddit ratings and written reviews |
| Onboarding and support | 10% | Named contact, written onboarding plan, credentialing timeline |
Data sources
Review process
Conflict of interest disclosure: TruCare publishes this guide and appears on this list. We scored TruCare against the same criteria as every other company, and we accept no payment for placement. Read our editorial policy.
Final Picks: Which One Fits You?
- TruCare if you want billing and credentialing on one record with a published rate.
- Nextus Billing Solutions if you run a treatment center and want utilization review and software included.
- Therapeutic Billing if you want credentialing started the day you sign.
- Sawgrass Behavioral Resources if you want a published 6% rate and a fast start.
- Integrity Billing if you want a free assessment and audit-style reporting for a facility.
- MHMI if you want a long-established biller and a live person on the phone.
- Prosperity Behavioral Health if you want analytics and payer contracting with your billing.
- Mental Health Insurance Billing Inc if your cases hinge on authorizations and appeals.
- United Billing Solutions if you suspect underpayments and want them recovered.
- Saints Billing Services if you are a solo therapist opening a private practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
TruCare Service Details
USA
TruCare
- Mental health billing and revenue cycle management
- USA Mental Health Billing
- Trucare
- Service price
- From 2.49% of collections
- Psychiatry
- Substance Abuse and Addiction Treatment
- PHP & IOP
- Telehealth Mental Health
- Psychological Testing
- TMS
- Spravato
- Eating Disorder Treatment
- Residential Treatment Center
- CCBHC
- Ketamine Clinic
- Community Mental Health Center
- 20+ mental health sub specialties
- TruCare OS, with certified billers working every flagged claim
TruIntake
TruRev
TruCred
TruIntel
Connects to TheraNest, TherapyNotes, Carepatron, SimplePractice and 20+ home health EHRs
- USA
- Mon–Fri: 8 AM – 6 PM (EST)
- USA