[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"guide-en-alberta-mental-health-billing":3},{"doc":4,"fallback":353},{"id":5,"title":6,"author":7,"authorSlug":7,"badge":7,"body":8,"category":335,"color":7,"description":336,"extension":337,"icon":7,"lastReviewed":338,"meta":339,"navigation":340,"path":341,"publishedAt":342,"reviewedBy":343,"seo":344,"slug":345,"stem":346,"subtitle":7,"tags":7,"takeaways":347,"updatedAt":342,"__hash__":352},"guides\u002Fguides\u002Falberta-mental-health-billing.md","Alberta Mental Health Billing Guide 2026",null,{"type":9,"value":10,"toc":315},"minimark",[11,15,20,23,159,163,170,175,203,207,222,226,229,233,250,254,257,283,287,291,294,298,301,305,308,312],[12,13,14],"p",{},"AHCIP coverage, Alberta Blue Cross, private insurance billing, and AHS-funded programs, a complete reference for Alberta psychologists, counsellors, RTs, and social workers.",[16,17,19],"h2",{"id":18},"who-bills-what-in-alberta","Who Bills What in Alberta",[12,21,22],{},"Alberta's mental health funding model primarily covers physician-delivered care through the provincial plan, while other practitioners rely on private insurance or public programs.",[24,25,26,49],"table",{},[27,28,29],"thead",{},[30,31,32,37,40,43,46],"tr",{},[33,34,36],"th",{"align":35},"left","Provider Type",[33,38,39],{"align":35},"College \u002F Body",[33,41,42],{"align":35},"AHCIP?",[33,44,45],{"align":35},"Private Insurance?",[33,47,48],{"align":35},"Notes",[50,51,52,73,89,107,124,142],"tbody",{},[30,53,54,61,64,67,70],{},[55,56,57],"td",{"align":35},[58,59,60],"strong",{},"Psychiatrist",[55,62,63],{"align":35},"CPSA",[55,65,66],{"align":35},"Yes",[55,68,69],{"align":35},"Rarely",[55,71,72],{"align":35},"Bills via SOMB codes",[30,74,75,80,82,84,86],{},[55,76,77],{"align":35},[58,78,79],{},"General Practitioner",[55,81,63],{"align":35},[55,83,66],{"align":35},[55,85,69],{"align":35},[55,87,88],{"align":35},"Mental health visits billed to AHCIP",[30,90,91,96,99,102,104],{},[55,92,93],{"align":35},[58,94,95],{},"Psychologist (R.Psych)",[55,97,98],{"align":35},"CAP",[55,100,101],{"align":35},"No",[55,103,66],{"align":35},[55,105,106],{"align":35},"PAA fee guide for private fees",[30,108,109,114,117,119,121],{},[55,110,111],{"align":35},[58,112,113],{},"Social Worker (RSW)",[55,115,116],{"align":35},"ACSW",[55,118,101],{"align":35},[55,120,66],{"align":35},[55,122,123],{"align":35},"MSW often required by insurers",[30,125,126,131,134,136,139],{},[55,127,128],{"align":35},[58,129,130],{},"Counsellor (RCT)",[55,132,133],{"align":35},"CPCA \u002F assoc.",[55,135,101],{"align":35},[55,137,138],{"align":35},"Varies",[55,140,141],{"align":35},"Coverage expanding but inconsistent",[30,143,144,149,152,154,156],{},[55,145,146],{"align":35},[58,147,148],{},"Occupational Therapist",[55,150,151],{"align":35},"ACOT",[55,153,101],{"align":35},[55,155,66],{"align":35},[55,157,158],{"align":35},"Covered by most plans",[16,160,162],{"id":161},"ahcip-coverage-and-the-somb","AHCIP Coverage and the SOMB",[12,164,165,166,169],{},"The Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) covers medically necessary physician services. Psychiatrists and GPs bill using codes from the ",[58,167,168],{},"Schedule of Medical Benefits (SOMB)",".",[171,172,174],"h3",{"id":173},"key-somb-psychiatry-categories","Key SOMB Psychiatry Categories:",[176,177,178,185,191,197],"ul",{},[179,180,181,184],"li",{},[58,182,183],{},"Psychiatric Consultation",": Initial detailed assessment.",[179,186,187,190],{},[58,188,189],{},"Psychiatric Re-assessment",": Follow-up assessment.",[179,192,193,196],{},[58,194,195],{},"Individual Psychiatric Therapy",": Time-based psychotherapy sessions.",[179,198,199,202],{},[58,200,201],{},"Mental Health Visit (GP)",": GP-delivered assessment and management.",[16,204,206],{"id":205},"alberta-blue-cross-two-different-plans","Alberta Blue Cross: Two Different Plans",[208,209,210,216],"ol",{},[179,211,212,215],{},[58,213,214],{},"Government-Sponsored Non-Group Plan",": For Albertans without employer benefits (seniors, AISH recipients, etc.). May cover psychological services with a referral.",[179,217,218,221],{},[58,219,220],{},"Employer Group Plan",": Commercial extended health benefits. Typically covers psychologists, RSWs, and RCTs depending on the specific plan.",[16,223,225],{"id":224},"private-insurance-billing","Private Insurance Billing",[12,227,228],{},"Major national insurers (Canada Life, Sun Life, Manulife, etc.) cover psychological and counselling services through employer plans. Annual maximums typically range from $500 to $2,500+.",[171,230,232],{"id":231},"receipt-requirements","Receipt Requirements:",[176,234,235,238,241,244,247],{},[179,236,237],{},"Practitioner full legal name and professional designation.",[179,239,240],{},"College registration number.",[179,242,243],{},"Client full name and date of birth.",[179,245,246],{},"Session date and duration.",[179,248,249],{},"Service type and fee charged.",[16,251,253],{"id":252},"public-programs-ahs-mental-health-addiction-services","Public Programs: AHS Mental Health & Addiction Services",[12,255,256],{},"Alberta Health Services (AHS) operates no-cost community mental health programs:",[176,258,259,265,271,277],{},[179,260,261,264],{},[58,262,263],{},"Access 24\u002F7",": Urgent walk-in assessment in Calgary and Edmonton.",[179,266,267,270],{},[58,268,269],{},"AHS Mental Health Clinics",": Outpatient assessment and short-term therapy.",[179,272,273,276],{},[58,274,275],{},"Mental Health Helpline",": 24\u002F7 phone support (1-877-303-2642).",[179,278,279,282],{},[58,280,281],{},"Addiction Services",": Assessment and treatment for substance use.",[16,284,286],{"id":285},"frequently-asked-questions","Frequently Asked Questions",[171,288,290],{"id":289},"does-ahcip-cover-therapy-in-alberta","Does AHCIP cover therapy in Alberta?",[12,292,293],{},"AHCIP covers services provided by physicians (psychiatrists and GPs). It does NOT cover psychologists or counsellors in private practice.",[171,295,297],{"id":296},"can-alberta-psychologists-bill-ahcip","Can Alberta psychologists bill AHCIP?",[12,299,300],{},"No. Psychological services are not insured benefits under AHCIP in private practice. They are covered only when provided within AHS-funded programs.",[171,302,304],{"id":303},"what-is-alberta-blue-cross","What is Alberta Blue Cross?",[12,306,307],{},"It refers to both government-subsidized plans for eligible individuals and commercial employer-group plans. Coverage rules differ significantly between them.",[171,309,311],{"id":310},"what-documentation-is-needed-for-insurance-billing","What documentation is needed for insurance billing?",[12,313,314],{},"Insurers require detailed receipts including your registration number, client info, session duration, and service type. Validated outcome scores are increasingly requested for reviews.",{"title":316,"searchDepth":317,"depth":317,"links":318},"",2,[319,320,324,325,328,329],{"id":18,"depth":317,"text":19},{"id":161,"depth":317,"text":162,"children":321},[322],{"id":173,"depth":323,"text":174},3,{"id":205,"depth":317,"text":206},{"id":224,"depth":317,"text":225,"children":326},[327],{"id":231,"depth":323,"text":232},{"id":252,"depth":317,"text":253},{"id":285,"depth":317,"text":286,"children":330},[331,332,333,334],{"id":289,"depth":323,"text":290},{"id":296,"depth":323,"text":297},{"id":303,"depth":323,"text":304},{"id":310,"depth":323,"text":311},"Billing","Alberta mental health billing guide for psychologists, counsellors, and social workers. Covers AHCIP, Blue Cross, private insurance, and AHS programs.","md","April 2026",{},true,"\u002Fguides\u002Falberta-mental-health-billing","2026-02-21","HiBoop",{"title":6,"description":336},"alberta-mental-health-billing","guides\u002Falberta-mental-health-billing",[348,349,350,351],"AHCIP covers mental health services provided by physicians (psychiatrists and GPs) only.","Private practice psychologists and social workers bill through insurance or self-pay.","Alberta Blue Cross has two distinct plans: government-sponsored and employer-group.","AHS funds various free community mental health programs like Access 24\u002F7.","hrw6VklU98jwoH67Pd11R8hYuPU_AefPxJI60zdIFyQ",false]