Psychiatry & Behavioral Health CPT Codes
Behavioral health billing uses its own set of CPT codes from the Medicine section. The key distinction is between diagnostic evaluation codes (90791, 90792), psychotherapy codes (90832–90838), and the E&M codes used for medication management (99213–99215). Knowing which applies, and when they can be combined in one visit, is where most psychiatry billing errors start.
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Psychiatry & Behavioral Health CPT codes
Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluation
Initial psychiatric evaluation without medical services. Used once per episode of care to establish diagnosis and treatment plan.
Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluation with Medical Services
Initial eval that includes medical assessment or prescription, used when a physician evaluates and prescribes at the initial visit.
Psychotherapy, 30 Minutes
Individual therapy, 16–37 minutes of face-to-face therapeutic time.
Psychotherapy, 45 Minutes
Individual therapy, 38–52 minutes. The most common mid-length therapy session code.
Psychotherapy, 60 Minutes
Individual therapy, 53+ minutes of face-to-face therapeutic time. Standard full-hour session code.
Psychotherapy Add-on, 30 min (with E&M)
Add-on billed alongside E&M when psychiatrist provides 16–37 min of therapy at same medication management visit.
Psychotherapy Add-on, 45 min (with E&M)
Add-on for 38–52 minutes of therapy at same visit as medication management.
Psychotherapy Add-on, 60 min (with E&M)
Add-on for 53+ minutes of therapy at same medication management visit.
Group Psychotherapy
Billed per patient for group sessions. Requires a licensed therapist to facilitate a therapeutic group.
Codes in blue have full detail pages with documentation requirements, billing mistakes, and FAQ.
Psychiatry & Behavioral Health billing notes
90837 needs 53 minutes of actual psychotherapy time. Under that, the session drops to 90834 (38 to 52 minutes) or 90832 (16 to 37). Note the start and stop times, because auditors count.
Medication management plus therapy in one session bills as an E&M code with an add-on: 90833, 90836, or 90838 by therapy time. Billing 90837 next to an E&M is the combination payers reject on sight.
90791 is the intake code. Most payers pay it once per episode of care, and everything after intake belongs on therapy or E&M codes.
Most psychotherapy codes work over video telehealth with modifier 95 or place-of-service 02. The rules have shifted every year since 2020, so confirm each payer's current policy rather than last year's.
Medicare pays behavioral health at the same 80% coinsurance as medical services. Parity law killed the old, higher mental-health cost share.
Frequently asked questions about psychiatry & behavioral health billing
When do I bill 90837 vs 90834?▼
By actual therapeutic time. 90837 needs 53 minutes or more of face-to-face psychotherapy; 38 to 52 minutes is 90834; 16 to 37 is 90832. Document the session's start and stop times, because a 50-minute session billed as 90837 is a classic audit finding.
Can I bill psychotherapy and medication management in the same session?▼
Yes, but not with the standalone therapy codes. Bill the E&M code for the med management plus the matching add-on: 90833, 90836, or 90838 depending on therapy time. Billing 99214 and 90837 together for one visit is the mistake payers reject.
How often can 90791 be billed?▼
Generally once per episode of care per provider, since it's an initial diagnostic evaluation. A new 90791 is defensible after a long gap in treatment or a significant clinical change, but routine visits after intake belong on therapy or E&M codes.
Sources
- Code set structure and updates: American Medical Association — CPT
- Fee schedule and component billing rules: CMS Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
- How we research and verify: our editorial policy
CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association. Content on this page is original educational writing, not a reproduction of AMA-copyrighted descriptions. Verify codes and payer rules before billing.