Reference
Mental health CPT codes: a billing guide for private practices
The codes psychotherapy and psychiatric practices bill most, explained the way our billers explain them to clinicians: what the code is for, who can bill it, what the note has to show, and what pairs with it.
Diagnostic evaluations
The intake codes. 90791 for non-prescribers, 90792 when medical services are part of the evaluation.
Individual psychotherapy (time-based)
Three codes separated only by time. Documentation of the time is what holds the level.
90832
Psychotherapy, 30 minutes
16 to 37 minutes of psychotherapy
90834
Psychotherapy, 45 minutes
38 to 52 minutes of psychotherapy
90853
Group psychotherapy
No time requirement; groups typically run 45 to 90 minutes
90839
Psychotherapy for crisis, first 60 min
30 to 74 minutes; 90840 for each additional 30 minutes
90837
Psychotherapy, 60 minutes
53 minutes or more of psychotherapy
Family and couples psychotherapy
With or without the patient present. Not billed by time in the way individual codes are.
Evaluation and management (psychiatry)
Office visits for prescribers, chosen by medical decision making or total time.
99204
New patient office visit, moderate MDM or 45 minutes
Moderate medical decision making, or 45 to 59 minutes of total time on the date of service
99213
Established patient visit, low MDM or 20 minutes
Low medical decision making, or 20 to 29 minutes of total time on the date of service
99214
Established patient visit, moderate MDM or 30 minutes
Moderate medical decision making, or 30 to 39 minutes of total time on the date of service
Add-on codes
Billed only alongside a primary service: psychotherapy with an E/M visit, and interactive complexity.
90785
Interactive complexity add-on
No time; billed with a primary service
90833
Psychotherapy add-on, 30 minutes
16 to 37 minutes of psychotherapy, in addition to the E/M service
90836
Psychotherapy add-on, 45 minutes
38 to 52 minutes of psychotherapy, in addition to the E/M service
90838
Psychotherapy add-on, 60 minutes
53 minutes or more of psychotherapy, in addition to the E/M service
Testing and assessment
Psychological and neuropsychological testing, billed in timed units with evaluation and administration tracked separately. Prior authorization and unit limits vary by payer.
96130
Psychological testing evaluation, first hour
First hour (at least 31 minutes); 96131 for each additional hour
96131
Psychological testing evaluation, each additional hour
Each additional hour (at least 31 minutes into the hour); add-on to 96130
96136
Test administration and scoring, first 30 min
First 30 minutes (at least 16 minutes); 96137 for each additional 30 minutes
96137
Test administration by professional, each additional 30 min
Each additional 30 minutes (at least 16 minutes into the block); add-on to 96136
96116
Neurobehavioral status exam, first hour
First hour (at least 31 minutes); 96121 for each additional hour
96121
Neurobehavioral status exam, each additional hour
Each additional hour (at least 31 minutes into the hour); add-on to 96116
96132
Neuropsychological testing evaluation, first hour
First hour (at least 31 minutes); 96133 for each additional hour
96133
Neuropsychological testing evaluation, each additional hour
Each additional hour (at least 31 minutes into the hour); add-on to 96132
96138
Test administration by technician, first 30 min
First 30 minutes (at least 16 minutes); 96139 for each additional 30 minutes
96139
Test administration by technician, each additional 30 min
Each additional 30 minutes (at least 16 minutes into the block); add-on to 96138
96127
Brief emotional/behavioral assessment, per instrument
Not time based; one unit per standardized instrument scored and documented
96146
Single automated test, automated result
Not time based; a single automated instrument with an automated result
96112
Developmental testing with interpretation and report, first hour
First hour (at least 31 minutes); 96113 for each additional 30 minutes
How to use this guide
Start with the decision your practice makes most often. Therapists: 90834 versus 90837, decided by documented time. Prescribers: 90792 versus 99204 at intake and 99213 versus 99214 at follow-up. Family work: 90847 versus 90837.
Two cautions apply to every page. CPT descriptors are maintained by the American Medical Association and change; confirm the current descriptor. Payer policy decides reimbursement and documentation requirements, and payers differ. Our billers keep a payer-by-payer matrix for exactly this reason. See psychiatry billing and billing for psychiatric Nurse Practitioners and solo practice billing for how that works in practice.