TruCare

Top 10 Mental Health Billing Companies in the USA (2026)

Mental health billing depends on session length and provider credentials. A 52-minute session bills as 90834, but a 53-minute one bills as 90837. We checked ten mental health billing companies in the USA against Medicare, telehealth, and 42 CFR Part 2 rules. TruCare is first, with one record for intake, billing, and credentialing and a published rate from 2.49% of collections.
Hamza Rehman, MSN, RN
Written by Hamza Rehman, MSN, RNRead time: 25 minPublished: Updated:

Our Top 3 at a Glance

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.

Top 10 Mental Health Billing Companies in the USA (2026), with TruCare as the top pick

1. TruCare

TruCare

Bermuda Dunes, CA

5.0 / 5 · Our rating

Best for

Practices and programs that want billing, credentialing, and eligibility handled together

One record for intake, eligibility, billing, and credentialing, with certified billers who work in 20+ EHRs, including TheraNest, TherapyNotes, Carepatron, and SimplePractice.

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.

Free, with no obligation

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

Published, from 2.49% of collections. Industry guides put mental health billing nearer 4% to 8%, so ask what each quote covers.

Best For

Therapy, psychiatry, and group practices that want one partner for billing and credentialing.

Key Features / USPs

Automated intake and eligibilityClaim submission and follow-upPayer credentialing and enrollmentDenial managementTruIntel reporting

Our Verdict

A single platform with a rate you can read before you call. For a practice that wants billing and credentialing under one roof, it is the simplest place to start.

Reviews from Reddit, Google, and Trustpilot

Google
“Our private practice has peace of mind knowing billing is handled correctly.”
January 2026
Read on Google
Trustpilot
“No Trustpilot reviews yet.”
Reddit
“No Reddit reviews yet.”

Average Review Score and Summary of Reviews

5.0 / 5
Based on Google (5.0, 7 reviews), checked November 2026. Reviewers describe a professional, responsive team, clear communication, and solid knowledge of state-specific rules and credentialing.

2. Nextus Billing Solutions

Nextus Billing Solutions Logo

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

Billing, utilization review, verification of benefits, and credentialing for substance use and behavioral treatment centers, tracked in its own Cereus software.

Company Overview

Nextus Billing Solutions provides behavioral health billing services built around substance use and behavioral treatment centers. Its full-service revenue cycle covers credentialing and network management, verification of benefits, utilization review, billing and claims, and third-party payment negotiations, all tracked in its own software, Cereus, which shows the cycle in real time. Documentation assistance and consultations help new facilities start billing quickly, and its client testimonials come from detox, residential, and outpatient recovery centers. Ask who would manage your account day-to-day and how many facilities like yours the team bills for.
Free, with no obligation

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

Not published. Nextus quotes on request after a consultation.

Best For

Treatment centers that want billing and utilization review from one team.

Key Features / USPs

Verification of benefitsUtilization reviewBilling and claimsCredentialing and network managementCereus software

Our Verdict

A treatment-center specialist with software of its own. Ask for two facility references and a sample Cereus report before you commit.

Reviews from Reddit, Google, and Trustpilot

Average Review Score and Summary of Reviews

5.0 / 5
Based on Google (5.0, 42 reviews), checked November 2026. Reviewers praise persistent claim follow-up and clear communication. Forty-two reviews is the largest base on this list, but ask for treatment-center references as well.

3. Therapeutic Billing

Therapeutic Billing Logo

Therapeutic Billing

North Myrtle Beach, SC

5.0 / 5 · Our rating

Best for

Therapists who want credentialing started the day they sign

Works only with mental health practices, starts credentialing the day a client signs, and offers flat-rate billing with help setting up an LLC and NPI.

Company Overview

Therapeutic Billing works exclusively with mental health practices, serving therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, and group practices. It starts credentialing the same day a client signs up, begins billing with no waiting period or upfront sign-up fee, and advertises flat-rate pricing. Billing covers claims submission, payment posting, insurance verification, denial management, and reporting, and it adds practice setup help such as LLC formation and NPI creation, plus an online billing course. The company reports more than 16 years of experience and says its representatives are U.S.-based with no outsourcing.
Free, with no obligation

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

Flat-rate pricing with no sign-up fee. Confirm what the rate covers before you sign.

Best For

New and growing therapy practices that need credentialing and billing started together.

Key Features / USPs

Same-day credentialing startClaims submissionInsurance verificationDenial managementPractice setup support

Our Verdict

A strong fit for a clinician opening or expanding a practice. Read the refund and notice terms in writing, and ask for two references.

Reviews from Reddit, Google, and Trustpilot

Average Review Score and Summary of Reviews

5.0 / 5
Based on Google (5.0, 30 reviews), checked in November 2026. Reviewers praise the owner’s personal attention and a willingness to go above and beyond for their practice. Most come from therapy practices rather than treatment centers, so ask for references that match your setting.

4. Sawgrass Behavioral Resources

Sawgrass Behavioral Resources Logo

Sawgrass Behavioral Resources

Fort Lauderdale, FL

4.7 / 5 · Our rating

Best for

Small practices that want a published rate and a fast start

A small biller for therapists and outpatient clinics with a published 6% fee, a quick start, and credentialing and payer enrollment included.

Company Overview

Sawgrass Behavioral Resources is a small, flexible biller for therapists and outpatient clinics, started in 2017 by specialists with about ten years of mental health claims behind them. It publishes its fee: 6% of total monthly collections, with a minimum, and an onboarding fee that starts at $99. Service covers verification of benefits, claim filing and follow-up, payer enrollment including EFT and ERA, and credentialing. It supplies practice management software, says it can begin billing within 24 hours of receiving provider details, and lets clients keep their own EHR. Reviewers describe a responsive team that cleaned up earlier billers' mistakes.
Free, with no obligation

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

Published at 6% of total monthly collections, with minimums. Onboarding starts at $99 and varies by provider type and credentialing needs.

Best For

Private practices and outpatient clinics that want a clear fee and a quick start.

Key Features / USPs

Verification of benefitsClaim filing and follow-upPayer enrollmentCredentialingPractice management software

Our Verdict

A transparent, small-firm option for therapy practices. Read the minimum-fee clause carefully, and ask for two practice references.

Reviews from Reddit, Google, and Trustpilot

Average Review Score and Summary of Reviews

4.7 / 5
Based on Google (4.7, 14 reviews), checked November 2026. Reviewers praise professional, thorough, and prompt service, and several describe it fixing mistakes left by earlier billers. Fourteen reviews is a small sample, and most come from small practices, so ask for references that match your setting.

5. Integrity Billing

Integrity Billing Logo

Integrity Billing

Palm Springs, FL

4.7 / 5 · Our rating

Best for

Treatment centers that want audits and utilization review built in

Billing, appeals, and utilization review for addiction and behavioral facilities, starting with a free forensic assessment and an i-bot benefits portal.

Company Overview

Integrity Billing specializes in behavioral health and substance abuse facilities, including addiction treatment centers, detox and residential programs, mental health clinics, counseling centers, and outpatient programs. It starts with a free forensic assessment that estimates a revenue gap, then runs verification of benefits through its proprietary i-bot portal and adds billing and coding, collections, denial management, appeals, contracting and credentialing, and utilization review. It reports that 85% of its clients saw collections rise 12% to 15% over their previous biller, a figure that comes from the company. It lists affiliations with HBMA, AAPC, and NAATP.
Free, with no obligation

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

Not published. Integrity Billing quotes on request.

Best For

Addiction and behavioral treatment centers that want appeals, utilization review, and reporting from one team.

Key Features / USPs

Forensic assessmenti-bot verification of benefitsBilling and codingDenial management and appealsUtilization review

Our Verdict

A facility specialist with a clear audit-first approach. Ask for two treatment-center references and a sample aging report.

Reviews from Reddit, Google, and Trustpilot

Average Review Score and Summary of Reviews

4.7 / 5
Based on Google (4.7, 14 reviews), checked November 2026. Reviewers praise support with billing, collections, and utilization management for behavioral health facilities. Fourteen reviews is a small sample, so ask for treatment-center references as well.

6. MHMI

MHMI Logo

MHMI

Sandy, UT

4.5 / 5 · Our rating

Best for

Therapists and psychiatrists who want to reach a person, not a phone tree

Insurance billing and patient collections for therapists and psychiatrists for 20-plus years, with flat-fee credentialing and a live person on every call.

Company Overview

For more than 20 years, Mental Health Management, Inc. has provided psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and other therapists with insurance billing and patient collections. Credentialing is offered for a flat monthly fee, so a clinician can apply to as many panels as needed. The company promises that every call reaches a live person, and clients get a provider portal for their billing. Reviewers describe a responsive team that handles everything from credentialing to claims, and several mention regular reports. Ask whether the team works with your EHR and how it handles clinics with several clinicians.
Free, with no obligation

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

Not published for billing. Credentialing is a flat monthly fee, and MHMI quotes billing on request.

Best For

Solo and small-group clinicians who want steady, personal support.

Key Features / USPs

Insurance billingPatient collectionsFlat-fee credentialingProvider portalLive phone support

Our Verdict

A long-established biller for individual clinicians. Ask for a sample monthly report and how a billing contact is assigned.

Reviews from Reddit, Google, and Trustpilot

Average Review Score and Summary of Reviews

4.5 / 5
Based on Google (4.5, 16 reviews), checked November 2026. Reviewers praise responsive, personal support, including help through the first years of a new practice. Sixteen reviews is a small sample, so ask for references from practices like yours.

7. Prosperity Behavioral Health (formerly Elevated Billing Solutions)

Prosperity Behavioral Health Logo

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

Billing, utilization review, credentialing, and analytics for treatment centers and behavioral practices, plus payer contracting and relationship management.

Company Overview

Prosperity Behavioral Health, which operated as Elevated Billing Solutions until its rebrand, provides billing, utilization review, credentialing, and analytics for substance use treatment centers and for outpatient mental health, psychiatry, and group practices. Its services include revenue cycle management, insurance verification, prior authorization, denial management, A/R management, contracting, payer relationship management, and consulting, with a free revenue cycle assessment tool. Its Google reviews were posted under its former name and are mixed, with long-term clients praising the team and one reviewer describing repeated billing errors.
Free, with no obligation

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

Not published. Prosperity quotes on request.

Best For

Behavioral health organizations that want payer contracting and reporting support with their billing.

Key Features / USPs

Revenue cycle managementPrior authorizationUtilization reviewContracting and credentialingAnalytics

Our Verdict

A broad behavioral health partner whose review history needs context. Ask for current client references under the new name and a sample denial report.

Reviews from Reddit, Google, and Trustpilot

Average Review Score and Summary of Reviews

4.2 / 5

Based on Google (4.2, 13 reviews), checked in November 2026. Feedback is mixed: long-term clients praise professionalism and thoroughness, while one reviewer describes repeated billing errors. Thirteen reviews is a small sample, so ask for current treatment-center references under the Prosperity name.


Note: These reviews were posted under the company’s former name, Elevated Billing Solutions.

8. Mental Health Insurance Billing Inc

Mental Health Insurance Billing Logo

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

An owner-led boutique firm that handles benefits verification, pre-authorization, utilization review, and appeals for treatment programs and families.

Company Overview

Mental Health Insurance Billing Inc. is a boutique firm that works with a small number of clients, each handled by the owner and long-time affiliates. It specializes in verification of benefits, pre-authorization, utilization review, claims appeals, and legal support, and it guides treatment programs and families through each step. It calls every family to explain their policy and the coverage they can expect. Reviewers describe winning out-of-network reimbursement, negotiating single case agreements, and walking families through appeals and external reviews over months. The model suits programs and families with complex cases more than high-volume practices.
Free, with no obligation

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

Not published. Mental Health Insurance Billing quotes on request.

Best For

Treatment programs and families with complex authorizations, appeals, or out-of-network claims.

Key Features / USPs

Verification of benefitsPre-authorizationUtilization reviewClaims appealsLegal support

Our Verdict

A specialist in hard cases rather than routine volume. Ask how many clients it takes on and who handles your account when the owner is unavailable.

Reviews from Reddit, Google, and Trustpilot

Average Review Score and Summary of Reviews

5.0 / 5

Based on Google (5.0, 14 reviews), checked in November 2026. Reviewers describe efficient, responsive service, long working relationships, and success getting claims paid. Fourteen reviews are a small sample, and the firm takes on few clients, so ask for references from programs like yours.


Note: Mental Health Insurance Billing Inc. is an affiliate member of the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs. Membership is not a client review, so it does not count toward this score.

9. United Billing Solutions

United Billing Solutions Logo

United Billing Solutions

Palm Springs, FL

5.0 / 5 · Our rating

Best for

Facilities that want underpaid claims recovered

Behavioral health revenue cycle management with utilization review and underpayment recovery, including claims that reach back three years.

Company Overview

United Billing Solutions offers full-service revenue cycle management with a specialty in behavioral health, from account setup through reimbursement. It handles billing and utilization review for treatment programs, and it recovers underpaid claims, including one client whose underpayments reached back three years. Its leadership team has a decade or more each in billing, and one director specializes in behavioral health facility operations. The company says it recovers millions in underpaid claims each year, a figure to test against references. It also works with newer billing companies that need underpayment recovery.
Free, with no obligation

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

Not published. United Billing Solutions quotes on request.

Best For

Treatment programs that suspect they have been underpaid and want a team that audits for it.

Key Features / USPs

Revenue cycle managementUtilization reviewUnderpayment recoveryClaims follow-upAccount setup

Our Verdict

A good second opinion for a program with unexplained payment gaps. Ask for a recovery example with dates and amounts.

Reviews from Reddit, Google, and Trustpilot

Average Review Score and Summary of Reviews

5.0 / 5
Based on Google (5.0, 7 reviews), checked November 2026. Reviewers praise the team’s experience, organization, and communication, including a direct working relationship of close to two years. Seven reviews is a small sample, so ask for treatment-program references as well.

10. Saints Billing Services

Saints Billing Services Logo

Saints Billing Services

Colorado Springs, CO

5.0 / 5 · Our rating

Best for

Therapists opening or fixing a private practice

Credentialing, insurance enrollment, and billing help for therapists starting or fixing a private practice, with owner-led follow-up.

Company Overview

Saints Billing Services helps therapists start and run private practices, with credentialing, insurance enrollment, and billing support. Reviewers describe an owner who fixed errors left by an earlier credentialing and billing company, answers quickly, and stays on a task until it is finished. It is a small team, and public detail about its services and fees is limited, so confirm what is included, what it costs, and which EHRs it supports before you commit. Ask for two therapist references and a sample monthly report.
Free, with no obligation

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

Not published. Saints Billing Services quotes on request.

Best For

New and solo therapists who want hands-on help with panels and billing.

Key Features / USPs

Credentialing supportInsurance enrollmentBilling supportError cleanupOwner-led service

Our Verdict

A personal option for a solo clinician getting started. Ask for references and written scope before you sign.

Reviews from Reddit, Google, and Trustpilot

Average Review Score and Summary of Reviews

5.0 / 5
Based on Google (5.0, 4 reviews), checked November 2026. Reviewers praise an owner who is knowledgeable and always available, and who helped with credentialing applications and with fixing errors left by earlier billers. Four reviews is a small sample, so ask for therapist references as well.

Mental Health Billing Companies in the USA: The Short Comparison

Ten companies, five columns. "Not listed" means we could not find the detail publicly.
Mental Health Billing Companies in the USA: The Short Comparison
CompanyPricing modelSpecialtiesTech / EHR integrationsBest for
TruCare% of collections, from 2.49%Mental health and behavioral health billing20+ EHRs, including TheraNest, TherapyNotes, Carepatron, and SimplePracticeOne record for billing and credentialing
Nextus Billing SolutionsQuote-basedSubstance use and behavioral treatment centersCereus softwareTreatment centers
Therapeutic BillingFlat-rateMental health practicesNot listedSame-day credentialing
Sawgrass Behavioral Resources6% of collectionsTherapists and outpatient clinicsPractice management software, or your EHRA published rate
Integrity BillingQuote-basedAddiction and behavioral facilitiesi-bot portalAudits and utilization review
MHMIQuote-based, flat credentialing feeTherapists and psychiatristsProvider portalPersonal, long-tenured support
Prosperity Behavioral HealthQuote-basedBehavioral health facilities and practicesNot listedAnalytics and contracting
Mental Health Insurance Billing IncQuote-basedAuthorizations, appeals, and legal supportNot listedComplex cases
United Billing SolutionsQuote-basedBehavioral health facilitiesNot listedUnderpayment recovery
Saints Billing ServicesQuote-basedTherapistsNot listedOpening a private practice

The Rules Behind Every Mental Health Claim

Most of what a mental health claim pays is decided before anyone submits it, by the minutes in the note, the clinician's enrollment, and the authorization on file. Treat the list below as mental health billing best practices, and use it to test any company offering behavioral health billing services in the USA.
  1. Coding and time

    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.
  2. Coding and time

    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.
  3. Coding and time

    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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. 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.
  15. 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 claims fail by payer, and what a good billing partner does
Where it breaksWhat it costsWhat a good partner does
Session billed above its documented minutesDowncode or denialChecks start and stop times before submission
Clinician not credentialed before the first visitUnpaid sessionsTracks enrollment dates and CAQH renewals
Authorization expires mid-treatmentDenial after care is deliveredSends clinical updates and extends before the date
ABA units used beyond what was authorizedDenied unitsTracks authorized units against units used
Telehealth billed with the wrong place of serviceRejected claimChecks place of service and modifiers by payer
Facility claim sent on the practice formRejected claimUses the UB-04 with revenue codes for facilities and the CMS-1500 for practices
Medicaid H-code billed as a CPT codeDenialMaps the state's own code set
Provisionally licensed clinician billed under the wrong providerDenial or recoupmentConfirms each plan's supervised-billing rules before the first claim
Out-of-network client without a superbill or good faith estimatePayment disputePrepares both up front
Substance use records shared without proper consentCompliance exposureUses Part 2-aware consents and notices

How to Test a Mental Health Billing Company

Reading a company’s website tells you what it says. Ask the same eight questions of everyone you shortlist, and listen for answers that name a person, a step, and a timeline.

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.

8 questions
  1. Experience
    How many practices or programs like mine do you bill for today?
  2. Time Codes
    How do you check session length and start and stop times before a claim goes out?
  3. Credentialing
    How long does credentialing take, and who tracks enrollment and CAQH dates?
  4. Authorizations
    How do you track authorizations and utilization review for ongoing treatment?
  5. Telehealth
    How do you handle place of service and modifiers for telehealth sessions?
  6. Privacy
    How do you handle substance use records and consent under 42 CFR Part 2?
  7. EHR Fit
    Which EHRs has the team actually worked in?
  8. Exit Terms
    What happens to my data and open claims if I leave?
  9. 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?

In-house versus outsourced billing
QuestionIn-house teamOutsourced partner
What you pay forSalary, benefits, software, trainingA share of collections or a flat fee
What happens when someone quitsClaims stall for weeksAnother biller picks up the queue
Depth of rule knowledgeWhatever your hires bringBuilt across many practices and payers
How you superviseDaily and directThrough reports and scheduled calls
Where it fits bestLarger organizations with a stable teamSolo practices, growing groups, or after turnover

Compliance Essentials Your Biller Should Already Know

Credentialing and enrollment.

Payer enrollment, CAQH, and Medicare enrollment decide what a clinician can bill and from what date. A mental health billing company should track renewal dates, not just claims.

Documentation that survives review.

Start and stop times, interventions, diagnoses, and medical necessity should be complete in the note. Time-based codes draw review, and a vague note leaves the claim without support.

Telehealth rules.

Place of service, modifiers, and audio-only conditions vary by payer. Medicare's in-person visit requirement for mental health telehealth is on hold through 2027, but commercial and Medicaid plans set their own terms.

Privacy and consent.

HIPAA covers every record, and 42 CFR Part 2 adds stricter consent and notice rules for substance use disorder records. Confirm that your behavioral health billing company has updated its processes for the February 2026 compliance date.

What Does Mental Health Billing Cost?

Most mental health billing companies charge a share of collections, so their income follows yours. Published guides put mental health billing services at roughly 4% to 8%, and Sawgrass lists 6% outright. Scope moves the number more than the model: whether verification of benefits, credentialing, utilization review, and patient statements are included, and what any AI medical billing for mental health actually decides.

Percentage of collections

4% to 8%

of collections is the typical range. TruCare’s published 2.49% falls below it, so ask what each quote covers.

Flat monthly fee

Fixed

Monthly pricing suits a steady caseload but gets expensive when sessions drop. Get the included services in writing.

Credentialing fees

Separate

credentialing is often priced apart from billing, as a flat monthly fee or per payer application. Ask for both numbers.
Ranges are from published industry pricing guides. Ask every company for a written quote that lists setup fees, monthly minimums, clearinghouse charges, and anything billed separately, with credentialing on its own line. Sawgrass lists a 6% fee with minimums and onboarding from $99, and MHMI lists a flat monthly credentialing fee. Several firms here offer a free assessment or consultation, which is a low-risk way to test a company against your own numbers.

Five Expensive Assumptions

  1. 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. 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. 3

    "We can credential later."

    A clinician who sees patients before enrollment completes may not be able to bill those sessions.
  4. 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. 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

Every company here is scored against the same six criteria below, weighted as shown, then ranked by weighted total. TruCare tops the list. Mental health depth carries the most weight, which is why a focused specialist can outrank a larger firm with a broader menu. Placement is not for sale, and testimonials published on a company's own website do not count toward its score. A rating drawn mainly from employee or recruitment reviews is shown but not scored.
Scoring criteria and weights
CriterionWeightWhat we look at
Mental health depth30%Time-based coding, credentialing, authorizations, telehealth, and share of behavioral health clients
Multi-state readiness20%Payer panels, Medicaid code sets, and telehealth rules across states
Transparency15%Published pricing or a clear quote process, contract terms, data access
Technology and EHR fit15%Works inside your EHR, reporting the client can see
Verified client feedback10%Google, Trustpilot, and Reddit ratings and written reviews
Onboarding and support10%Named contact, written onboarding plan, credentialing timeline

Data sources

Company websites and service pages, public business records, CMS and HHS guidance, and verified public reviews.

Review process

Each profile is drafted from primary sources, checked by a second reviewer, and re-verified at every update.

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

It depends on whether you run a practice or a treatment center. TruCare is our top pick for most mental health practices because billing and credentialing run on one record with a published rate. Nextus Billing Solutions and Integrity Billing are strong fits for treatment centers, and Therapeutic Billing suits new therapy practices.

TruCare Service Details

Service type
Mental health billing and revenue cycle management
Subsidiary
USA Mental Health Billing
Company
Trucare
Service price
From 2.49% of collections
Specialties served
  • 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
Platform
TruCare OS, with certified billers working every flagged claim
  • TruIntake

    Scheduling, intake, and eligibility

  • TruRev

    Charge submission to cash posting

  • TruCred

    Credentialing and payer enrollment

  • TruIntel

    Live revenue analytics

Connects to TheraNest, TherapyNotes, Carepatron, SimplePractice and 20+ home health EHRs

Service area
USA
Business hours
Mon–Fri: 8 AM – 6 PM (EST)
Location
USA

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