What Is a Superbill for Therapy? (And What Must Be On It)

A superbill is an itemized receipt you give a client so they can seek reimbursement from their insurance directly, when you are out-of-network or pending credentialing. Here is exactly what it needs.

What a superbill is for

When you are not in-network with a client's insurance (or your credentialing is still pending), you collect payment from the client and give them a superbill. They submit it to their insurer for out-of-network reimbursement. It shifts the insurance paperwork to the client while you still get paid up front.

What must be on a superbill

Required elements: your name, credentials, NPI, and tax ID; your practice address; the client's name and date of birth; date(s) of service; CPT code(s) and the fee for each; the ICD-10 diagnosis code; and your signature. Missing any of these can get the client's reimbursement denied.

Superbills during credentialing

Superbills are the standard bridge during the 90-120 day credentialing wait. Clients pay you directly and recover what their out-of-network benefits allow, so you are not losing revenue while paneling is pending.

Superbill vs. billing insurance directly

With a superbill, the client handles the claim and reimbursement risk. When you are in-network and bill directly, you submit the claim and carry the denial/collection work. Direct billing is smoother for clients but requires credentialing and denial management.