A psychologist spends 45 minutes with a 68-year-old who keeps losing the thread of conversations. She works through attention, language, memory, and planning. That evening she spends another 40 minutes interpreting what she saw and writing it up. Two weeks later the claim comes back denied. The code was right. The record couldn't prove it. That is how most 96116 problems start. The code is easy to choose and surprisingly easy to lose money on. This article covers the 96116 CPT code description in plain language, when the code fits, how time is counted, what payers look for, and where claims fall apart. Payer policies differ and change often, so verify every payer-specific point against the current policy. https://mentalhealthbilling.us/cpt-code-96116-description-billing-rules-documentation-and-faqs-2026/