How to use CPT code 99051
Learn how to properly use CPT code 99051 for sessions outside of a traditional weekday schedule.
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How to use CPT code 90845
When you should use unspecified ICD 10 codes (and when you should not)
Billing and coding
ICD-10 codes for phobias
Explore our guide to phobia ICD-10 codes for diagnosis and billing. Learn about F40 categories and streamline your mental health practice.
Proper documentation is essential for accurate billing and timely payment. Along with identifying a billing code, you’ll need to find the right ICD-10 code for a diagnosis to include in your session notes and insurance claim.
Phobias are one diagnosis therapists frequently treat and bill. Below, learn more about ICD-10 codes for phobias to streamline your documentation and billing process as a therapist.
It’s important you make a clear, accurate and specific diagnosis that is appropriate to your individual patient clinical picture. These examples should be for reference and are not intended to guide a diagnosis. The client must meet diagnostic criteria for the F code they are assigned.
Complete breakdown of F40 phobia codes
Phobias fall under the ICD-10 F-code F40, or “Phobic anxiety disorders.” As with other F-codes, there are several subtypes of phobias, so it’s important to use the most accurate code possible when you’re diagnosing your client and filing insurance claims.
F40.0 Agoraphobia
F40.0 Agoraphobia is characterized by intense fear and avoidance of situations where escape might be difficult or help unavailable in the event of panic-like symptoms. Common triggers include crowded places, public transportation, or being outside alone. People with agoraphobia may become housebound, which can significantly impact daily functioning and quality of life. The fear is often disproportionate to the actual danger posed and leads to marked distress or avoidance behavior.
F40.1 Social phobias
F40.1 Social phobias, also known as social anxiety disorder, involve an intense and persistent fear of social situations where a person may be exposed to possible scrutiny or judgment by others. Individuals with social phobia often fear embarrassment, humiliation, or rejection, leading them to avoid situations like public speaking, meeting new people, or eating in public. The anxiety can interfere with daily activities, work, and relationships.
F40.2 Specific (isolated) phobias
F40.2 Specific (isolated) phobias are marked, persistent fears of particular objects or situations — such as heights, animals, flying, or receiving injections — that are out of proportion to the actual threat posed. This fear leads to avoidance behavior and significant distress or interference with daily life. People with specific phobias usually recognize their fear as irrational but feel powerless to control it.
Subtypes include:
- F 40.21, Animal type phobia
F40.210, Arachnophobia
F40.218, Other animal type phobia
- F40.22, Natural environment type phobia
F40.220, Fear of thunderstorms
F40.228, Other natural environment type phobia
- F40.23, Blood injection, injury type phobia
F40.230, Fear of blood
F40.231, Fear of injections and transfusions
F40.232, Fear of other medical care
F40.233, Fear of injury
- F40.24, Situational type phobia
F40.240, Claustrophobia
F40.241, Acrophobia
F40.242, Fear of bridges
F40.243, Fear of flying
F40.248, Other situational type phobia
- F40.29, Other specific phobia
F40.290, Androphobia
F40.291, Gynephobia
F40.298, Other specific phobia
F40.8 Other phobic anxiety disorders
F40.8 Other phobic anxiety disorders include phobias that don’t fall neatly into the categories of agoraphobia, social phobia, or specific phobia. These may involve unusual or complex fears, such as fear of choking, vomiting, or loud noises, that cause significant anxiety and avoidance behavior. Although the specific triggers vary, the core feature is an irrational and excessive fear leading to distress or disruption in daily life.
F40.9 Phobic anxiety disorder, unspecified
F40.9 Phobic anxiety disorder, unspecified, is used when a person experiences significant fear and avoidance consistent with a phobic disorder, but the specific type of phobia does not clearly fit into defined categories like agoraphobia, social phobia, or specific phobias. This diagnosis may be applied when symptoms are present but insufficient information is available for a more precise classification.
Translating between DSM-V-TR and ICD-10 for phobias
Phobias are recognized in both the ICD-10 and the DSM-V-TR. The DSM-V-TR classifies phobias within the broader category of Anxiety Disorders and provides clinical criteria for diagnoses such as Specific Phobia, Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia), and Agoraphobia.
These DSM-V-TR diagnoses map directly to corresponding anxiety ICD-10 codes used for billing and insurance:
- Agoraphobia → F40.0
- Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia) → F40.1
- Specific Phobia → F40.2
When a phobia doesn’t fit neatly into one of these categories, clinicians may use:
- F40.8 for other specified phobic anxiety disorders
- F40.9 for unspecified phobic anxiety disorders
While both the DSM-V-TR and ICD-10 can guide clinical assessment and diagnosis, the ICD-10 provides the coding structure required for documentation and reimbursement. Understanding how DSM-V-TR categories map to ICD-10 codes can help with accurate record keeping and insurance billing, saving you time along with ensuring prompt reimbursement.
Documentation requirements for phobia ICD-10 codes
Proper documentation is essential for diagnosing and billing for phobias. To be diagnosed with phobias, clients typically meet the below criteria, usually for a period of six months or longer.
F40.0 Agoraphobia
- Marked fear or anxiety in situations where escape may be difficult or help unavailable, such as crowds, public places, or traveling away from home.
- Avoidance of feared situations
- Significant distress or impairment in functioning
- Symptoms must not be secondary to other mental disorders, such as delusions or obsessions
F40.1 Social phobias
- Marked and persistent fear of one or more social or performance situations where the individual is exposed to unfamiliar people or scrutiny by others
- Fear of acting in a way that will be embarrassing or humiliating
- Exposure to the feared situation almost always provokes anxiety or panic
- Avoidance of feared situations
- Recognition that fear is excessive or unreasonable (not required in children)
- Significant interference with social, occupational, or other areas of functioning
F40.2 Specific (isolated) phobias
- Marked fear of a specific object or situation, such as flying, heights, animals, or seeing blood
- Immediate anxiety response upon exposure to the phobic stimulus
- Avoidance or extreme distress in the presence of the stimulus
- The fear is disproportionate to the actual danger posed
- Individual recognizes the fear as excessive and unreasonable
- Significant interference with daily life
F40.8 Other phobic anxiety disorders
- Presence of phobic symptoms that do not meet the criteria for agoraphobia, social phobia, or specific phobia
- Fear and avoidance behaviors are present and cause significant distress or functional impairment
- Must not be better explained by another mental disorder
- Significant distress or impairment
F40.9 Phobic anxiety disorder, unspecified
- Presence of phobic anxiety symptoms that are significant but do not fit into any of the specific categories above
- Used when there is insufficient information to assign a more specific phobia diagnosis
- Symptoms still must cause marked distress or functional impairment
- This code is often used provisionally or when a full diagnostic picture is not yet available
If you diagnose a client with a phobia, you can create your treatment plan accordingly and use the correct CPT codes when you file insurance claims.
How Headway simplifies phobia coding and billing
Struggling to navigate insurance billing for phobia treatment? Headway makes it easier. We connect licensed therapists with clients seeking care for anxiety and phobias while handling the headaches of insurance billing for you. From verifying benefits to submitting claims and tracking payments, Headway streamlines the process so you can focus on what matters most: helping your clients heal.
Whether you're treating social anxiety, specific phobias, or panic disorders, Headway ensures you're paid reliably and on time. Join a growing network of mental health professionals who trust Headway to simplify billing and grow their practice. Get started with Headway today.
Billing and coding
How to use CPT code 99051
How to use CPT code 90845
Learn how to bill CPT code 90845 correctly, along with critical information like reimbursement rates, timeframes, and billable types in this guide.
When you should use unspecified ICD 10 codes (and when you should not)
Learn when to use unspecified ICD-10 codes to ensure proper reimbursement, avoid claim denials, and maintain ethical coding practices in your therapy practice.