Psychotherapy CPT Code Calculator for 90832, 90834, 90837, Crisis & Family Therapy
Enter the service type and documented session time to identify the likely psychotherapy CPT code and review the billing caveats that go with it. Built for clinicians, billers, and behavioral health admins who need the right time-based code without guesswork.
Psychotherapy CPT coding is largely a question of documented time. Submit a code that does not match the documented minutes and you risk claim denial, delayed reimbursement, payer audits, or compliance exposure. Choose a lower-value code than the time supports and you leave revenue on the table. This calculator gives clinicians, billing staff, and practice administrators a fast, plain-language way to match documented session time to the likely CPT code.
Individual psychotherapy is selected by face-to-face time. CPT 90832 covers 16 to 37 minutes, 90834 covers 38 to 52 minutes, and 90837 applies to 53 minutes or more. Sessions under 16 minutes do not meet the threshold for a time-based individual psychotherapy code. The single most important factor in defending these codes during an audit is accurate time documentation in the clinical note.
Crisis psychotherapy has its own dedicated codes for patients in high distress or a life-threatening situation. CPT 90839 covers the first 30 to 74 minutes of crisis service. The add-on code 90840 reports each additional 30 minutes beyond the first 74 minutes, so 75 to 104 minutes supports one unit of 90840, 105 to 134 minutes supports two units, and so on. Sessions under 30 minutes do not meet the crisis threshold.
Family therapy codes turn on whether the identified patient is present. CPT 90847 is family or couples psychotherapy with the patient present, and CPT 90846 is family psychotherapy without the patient present. Both generally require at least 26 documented minutes. Document who attended the session so the code matches the encounter.
Group psychotherapy is reported with CPT 90853, billed per patient, per group session. It is not selected by session-time thresholds. Education-only, support, or skills groups may not qualify as billable group psychotherapy under every payer, so confirm that the session meets your payer’s definition before billing.
A few rules cut across every service type. Never round up. Use the actual documented time, not the time you scheduled. Payer type and place of service can change coverage, required modifiers, and reimbursement, particularly for telehealth, so confirm the payer’s policy for the code you land on.
This tool is a reference resource, not a substitute for payer-specific contract review or compliance guidance. CPT codes are maintained by the American Medical Association, and requirements vary by payer, state, and program. When in doubt, check the payer’s coverage policy directly and verify with qualified billing or compliance support.
Frequently asked questions
CPT 90837 applies to individual psychotherapy sessions of 53 minutes or more. If the documented face-to-face time is 38 to 52 minutes, the correct code is 90834. If it is 16 to 37 minutes, the correct code is 90832. Sessions under 16 minutes do not meet the threshold for a time-based individual psychotherapy code. You should bill from the actual documented time and never round up to reach the next code.
Both codes describe individual psychotherapy, and the difference is documented session length. CPT 90834 covers 38 to 52 minutes, and CPT 90837 covers 53 minutes or more. Because 90837 reimburses at a higher rate, some payers monitor its frequency, which makes accurate time documentation in the clinical note essential. Use the time you actually documented rather than the time you scheduled.
CPT 90839 reports psychotherapy for crisis and covers the first 30 to 74 minutes of service for a patient in high distress or a life-threatening situation. The add-on code 90840 reports each additional 30 minutes beyond the first 74 minutes. For example, 75 to 104 documented minutes supports 90839 plus one unit of 90840, and 105 to 134 minutes supports 90839 plus two units. Sessions under 30 minutes do not meet the crisis threshold, in which case a routine psychotherapy code may apply if its own time threshold is met.
CPT 90846 is family psychotherapy without the patient present, and CPT 90847 is family or couples psychotherapy with the patient present. Both generally require at least 26 documented minutes. The deciding factor is whether the identified patient took part in the session. Document who attended and the time spent so the code you choose matches the encounter.
CPT 90853 reports group psychotherapy and is billed per patient, per group session. Unlike individual psychotherapy, it is not selected by session-time thresholds. Each participant in the group is documented and billed individually. Education-only, support, or skills groups may not qualify as billable group psychotherapy under every payer, so confirm that the session meets your payer’s definition of 90853 before submitting claims.
No. Time-based psychotherapy codes must reflect the actual documented face-to-face time, and rounding up to reach a higher-value code is a compliance risk. A session documented at 52 minutes is 90834, not 90837, even though it is close to the next threshold. Record the real start and stop time or total time in the note, and let the documented minutes determine the code.
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