2027 ABA CPT Codes: What Changes on January 1 and How to Get Ready
Updated: Oct 16
Quick Answer
The 2027 ABA CPT codes bring six new adaptive behavior codes (97148, 97149, 97159, 97160, 97173, 97180), archive the temporary codes 0362T and 0373T, and narrow 97155 to direction of technicians and analysis. Rates, authorizations, system code tables and documentation all need updating before the first 2027 session is scheduled.
Key Take Aways
• Six new adaptive behavior codes take effect January 1, 2027, all in 15-minute units.
• 0362T and 0373T are deleted and replaced by permanent Category I harmful behavior codes.
• 97155 narrows: face-to-face treatment by the behavior analyst moves to the new 97173.
• Expect to negotiate rates for the new codes payor by payor; many contracts will not have them on January 1.
• Update code tables, fee schedules and authorization templates before the first 2027 session is booked.
On January 1, 2027, the codes ABA practices bill with change more than they have in years. There are six new adaptive behavior codes, two temporary codes are going away, and several familiar codes have new descriptors that will ripple into payor policies.
I attended the ABA Coding Coalition's September 21 webinar on the new code set. Here is what is changing, what it means for billing, and what I would have on a practice's list before year end.
What are the new ABA CPT codes for 2027?
The AMA released the 2027 CPT code set in September. Six of the new codes are for adaptive behavior services:
• 97148: behavior identification supporting assessment of harmful behavior, involving two technicians.
• +97149: add-on for each additional technician during a 97148 assessment.
• 97159: adaptive behavior treatment of harmful behavior, involving two technicians.
• +97160: add-on for each additional technician during 97159 treatment.
• 97173: adaptive behavior treatment with analysis, delivered face to face by a physician or other qualified health care professional.
• 97180: adaptive behavior non-face-to-face services, such as reviewing and analyzing data, personally performed by a physician or other qualified health care professional.
All of them are reported in 15-minute units.
Which ABA codes are deleted in 2027?
The temporary Category III codes for the highest-acuity harmful behavior services, 0362T and 0373T, are deleted. They cannot be reported for dates of service on or after January 1, 2027. The four new harmful behavior codes (97148, 97149, 97159 and 97160) replace them with permanent Category I codes.
What changes in the ABA codes you already use?
How does 97155 change?
97155 now describes adaptive behavior direction of technician and analysis by the behavior analyst. Direct treatment delivered face to face by the behavior analyst moves to the new 97173. If your BCBAs both direct technicians and deliver treatment themselves, that work now splits across two codes.
What other descriptors change?
97156, 97157 and 97158 add "with analysis" to their descriptors. 97152, 97153 and 97154 drop the "under the direction of" language. Neither change alters who can perform the service, but payors write medical policy from these descriptors, so expect policy updates to follow.
What do the 2027 code changes mean for ABA billing?
The codes are the easy part. The work is everything that references them.
• Rates. CMS extended carrier pricing through 2027, so there is no national Medicare rate for these services. You will be negotiating rates for the new codes payor by payor, and many contracts will not have them on January 1.
• Authorizations that cross the year. Authorizations issued this year that reference 0362T or 0373T will run into 2027, after those codes stop existing. Find them now and ask payors how they will handle the transition.
• Your system. Code tables, service templates, fee schedules and authorization templates all need updating before the first 2027 session is scheduled, not after the first claim rejects.
• Documentation. With 97155 and 97173 separated, notes need to show clearly which service was delivered. That is what supports the code on review.
• Telehealth. Existing codes 97151 to 97158 are proposed to stay on Medicare's telehealth list. The new codes have not been addressed yet; the Coalition has asked for permanent telehealth status, and the final rule is expected in November.
What should ABA practices do before January 1, 2027?
• List every active authorization that references 0362T or 0373T.
• Contact each payor about rates and authorization rules for the six new codes.
• Update code tables, fee schedules and service templates in your practice management system.
• Walk your BCBAs through the 97155 and 97173 split, with documentation examples.
• Watch for the Medicare final rule in November, especially telehealth status for the new codes.
• Plan a check of your first two weeks of 2027 claims to catch problems early.
Frequently asked questions about the 2027 ABA CPT codes
What are the new ABA CPT codes for 2027?
Six new adaptive behavior codes take effect January 1, 2027: 97148 and add-on 97149 for harmful behavior assessment, 97159 and add-on 97160 for harmful behavior treatment, 97173 for face-to-face treatment with analysis by a qualified professional, and 97180 for non-face-to-face services. All are reported in 15-minute units.
When do the 2027 ABA CPT codes take effect?
The new code set applies to dates of service on or after January 1, 2027. Code tables, fee schedules, authorization templates and documentation should all be updated before the first 2027 session is scheduled, so the first claims of the year go out on the right codes.
What happens to 0362T and 0373T in 2027?
Both temporary Category III codes are deleted and cannot be reported for dates of service on or after January 1, 2027. The four new harmful behavior codes, 97148, 97149, 97159 and 97160, replace them as permanent Category I codes. Authorizations that reference the old codes need attention now.
How does 97155 change in 2027?
97155 narrows to adaptive behavior direction of technician and analysis by the behavior analyst. Treatment the behavior analyst delivers face to face moves to the new 97173. Practices whose BCBAs both direct technicians and treat directly will split that work across two codes and should document each clearly.
Will payors have rates for the new ABA codes on January 1?
Many will not. CMS extended carrier pricing through 2027, so there is no national Medicare rate to anchor on. Practices should contact each payor now about rates and authorization rules for the six new codes rather than waiting for the first 2027 claims to come back.
Are the new 2027 ABA codes covered for telehealth?
Not yet confirmed. Existing codes 97151 to 97158 are proposed to stay on Medicare's telehealth list, but the new codes have not been addressed. The ABA Coding Coalition has asked for permanent telehealth status, and the Medicare final rule is expected in November 2026.
Want to go deeper? Boost's own Tori Bejar is walking through the 2027 code changes with payer contracting expert Emily Roche in a free Boost webinar, “What’s Changing for CPT Codes in 2027,” on November 5, 2026, from 1 to 2 pm ET. We will cover what the new codes mean for rates, authorizations and documentation, and take your questions.
This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute billing, legal, or financial advice. Payer rules and requirements vary; confirm specifics with your payers.
