# Mental Health Billing Codes (CPT) for Therapy & Psychiatry | PRMS

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Coding

# Mental Health Billing Codes (CPT), Explained

By PRMS Billing Solutions · July 15, 2026 · 6 min read

Mental health billing runs on a small set of CPT codes, but they carry strict time thresholds and add-on rules that decide whether a session is paid in full. Here are the mental health billing codes you use most, and how to code them correctly.

## Psychotherapy codes (by time)

Individual psychotherapy is coded by the time spent face to face, using the closest threshold.

| CPT code | Service | Time |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **90832** | Psychotherapy | 30 minutes (16 to 37 min) |
| **90834** | Psychotherapy | 45 minutes (38 to 52 min) |
| **90837** | Psychotherapy | 60 minutes (53 min and up) |

## Evaluations, family, and group

| CPT code | Service |
| --- | --- |
| **90791** | Psychiatric diagnostic evaluation (no medical services) |
| **90792** | Psychiatric diagnostic evaluation with medical services |
| **90846** | Family psychotherapy without the patient present |
| **90847** | Family psychotherapy with the patient present |
| **90853** | Group psychotherapy |

## Add-on and crisis codes

| CPT code | Service |
| --- | --- |
| **90785** | Interactive complexity (add-on to an eval or psychotherapy) |
| **90833 / 90836 / 90838** | Psychotherapy add-on billed with an E/M visit (30 / 45 / 60 min) |
| **90839 / 90840** | Psychotherapy for crisis (first 60 min / each additional 30 min) |

## Testing and E/M

Psychological and neuropsychological testing use the **96130 to 96139** series (evaluation plus administration), and **96146** for automated testing. Psychiatrists who manage medication bill office **E/M codes** (99202 to 99215), and can add a psychotherapy add-on (90833/90836/90838) when both services are provided and documented.

## The rules that get sessions denied

- **Time must match the code.** A 90837 (60 min) needs documented time in its range. Billing 90837 for a 40-minute session is a downcode risk or a denial.

- **Add-ons need their base code.** 90785 and the 908xx psychotherapy add-ons cannot stand alone; they attach to an eval or an E/M.

- **Authorization and session limits.** Many plans cap visits or require prior authorization, a leading cause of mental health denials.

- **Telehealth modifiers.** Behavioral health leans heavily on telehealth, so the correct place-of-service and modifier must match each payer’s current policy.

We handle all of this on our [mental health and behavioral health billing](https://prmsbs.com/specialties/behavioral-health-billing/) page. If sessions are getting denied or downcoded, a [free revenue analysis](https://prmsbs.com/contact) will find the pattern.

## FAQs

**What CPT code is used for a 60-minute therapy session?

90837. It is individual psychotherapy for 60 minutes, used when the documented face-to-face time is 53 minutes or more.

**What is the difference between 90834 and 90837?

90834 is a 45-minute psychotherapy session (38 to 52 minutes) and 90837 is a 60-minute session (53 minutes and up). The correct code depends on the documented face-to-face time.

**What is CPT code 90791?

90791 is a psychiatric diagnostic evaluation without medical services, typically the intake assessment. 90792 is the same evaluation when medical services are included, used by prescribers.

**Can you bill an E/M visit and psychotherapy together?

Yes. A prescriber can bill an office E/M code (99202 to 99215) plus a psychotherapy add-on (90833, 90836, or 90838) when both services are provided and separately documented in the same visit.

**Ready to see the numbers for your practice?** Get a [free revenue analysis](https://prmsbs.com/contact). We’ll measure your denial rate, days in AR, and recoverable revenue at no cost.