Common Behavioral Health CPT Codes

A quick reference guide for mental health and behavioral health providers — including psychotherapy, evaluation, and crisis service codes.

Important: CPT codes and payer reimbursement policies are updated annually. Always verify current codes with the AMA CPT manual and confirm coverage with individual payers before billing. This guide reflects commonly used codes as of 2025–2026.

Psychotherapy — Individual

CPT Code	Description	Time	Notes
90832	Psychotherapy, individual	16–37 min	Short session; verify payer acceptance VERIFY
90834	Psychotherapy, individual	38–52 min	Most common individual therapy code STANDARD
90837	Psychotherapy, individual	53+ min	Higher reimbursement; document time carefully STANDARD
90845	Psychoanalysis	45–50 min	Requires specific training/credential; limited payer coverage
90839	Psychotherapy for crisis	First 60 min	Crisis intervention; requires crisis documentation CRISIS
90840	Psychotherapy for crisis — add-on	Each additional 30 min	Used with 90839; billed for each additional 30 min segment ADD-ON

Psychotherapy Add-On Codes (with E&M)

CPT Code	Description	Time	Notes
90833	Psychotherapy add-on with E&M	16–37 min	Used by psychiatrists alongside E&M code ADD-ON
90836	Psychotherapy add-on with E&M	38–52 min	Requires separate E&M code on same claim ADD-ON
90838	Psychotherapy add-on with E&M	53+ min	Highest-level add-on; document medical necessity ADD-ON

Group & Family Therapy

CPT Code	Description	Time	Notes
90847	Family psychotherapy with patient present	50 min	Patient must be present; document who attended
90846	Family psychotherapy without patient present	50 min	Patient not present; limited payer coverage VERIFY
90849	Multiple family group psychotherapy	—	Multiple families in one session; document all participants
90853	Group psychotherapy	—	Not family therapy; typically 2–10 unrelated patients STANDARD

Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluation

CPT Code	Description	Time	Notes
90791	Psychiatric diagnostic evaluation	—	Without medical services; used by LCSWs, LPCs, psychologists STANDARD
90792	Psychiatric diagnostic evaluation with medical services	—	With medical services; typically used by psychiatrists/APRNs STANDARD

Telehealth — Modifiers & Notes

CPT Code	Description	Modifier	Notes
90834 / 90837	Individual therapy via telehealth	95 or GT	Use modifier 95 (commercial) or GT (Medicare/Medicaid) TELEHEALTH
90791 / 90792	Diagnostic eval via telehealth	95 or GT	Verify payer-specific telehealth coverage policies TELEHEALTH
90853	Group therapy via telehealth	95	Some payers restrict group telehealth — verify first VERIFY
POS 10	Telehealth — patient home	—	Place of Service 10 required for telehealth in patient home POS
POS 02	Telehealth — not patient home	—	Use when patient is at another clinical site POS

Commonly Used Modifiers

Interactive Audio & Video

Used for Medicare/Medicaid telehealth services

Synchronous Telehealth

Used for commercial payer telehealth claims

Distinct Procedural Service

Identifies services not normally billed together

Master's Level

Required by some Medicaid payers for master's-level clinicians

Bachelor's Level

Required by some Medicaid payers for bachelor's-level staff

U1–UD

State-Specific Medicaid

Varies by state — verify with your state Medicaid program

Common Place of Service Codes

Office

Most common — services in provider's office

Telehealth (Home)

Patient receiving telehealth in their home

Telehealth (Other)

Patient at another clinical site via telehealth

Community Mental Health

CMHC outpatient services

Non-residential Substance Abuse

SUD outpatient treatment facility

Psychiatric Facility Partial

Partial hospitalization program (PHP)

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