What Is CPT Code 90832 for Psychotherapy Billing?

CPT codes provide a standardized language for healthcare professionals to describe medical services and procedures. These five-digit codes are fundamental for reporting services to both federal and private payers, facilitating accurate billing and efficient claims processing. CPT codes are updated annually to reflect advancements in medical practice. CPT Code 90832 is utilized within the mental health field for billing psychotherapy services.

Defining CPT Code 90832

CPT Code 90832 defines “Psychotherapy, 30 minutes with patient.” This code represents an individual psychotherapy session requiring between 16 and 37 minutes of documented face-to-face therapeutic interaction. This duration refers solely to direct therapy time, excluding administrative tasks like scheduling or note-taking.

Psychotherapy involves therapeutic communication aimed at alleviating emotional disturbances, changing maladaptive behavior patterns, and encouraging personal growth. It focuses exclusively on therapeutic intervention, not medical evaluation or medication management. Services billed under this code can include evidence-based treatments for mental health disorders, such as talk therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), or dialectical behavior therapy.

Licensed mental health professionals are eligible to bill for services under CPT Code 90832. This includes:
Licensed clinical psychologists
Licensed clinical social workers
Licensed professional counselors
Licensed mental health counselors
Licensed marriage and family therapists
Psychiatrists and nurse practitioners can also use this code when providing individual therapy.

Clinical Use of the Code

CPT Code 90832 is used when a shorter, focused psychotherapy session is beneficial. These 30-minute sessions address specific issues or provide supportive counseling. For example, they might be used for brief interventions to manage anxiety symptoms, cope with a recent stressful event, or offer emotional support during grief.

Shorter sessions are effective for certain patient populations, such as children and adolescents, who may have shorter attention spans. Patients with anxiety disorders might also tolerate shorter sessions better initially, progressing to longer formats as their comfort increases. The code applies to follow-up appointments not requiring longer sessions, or for crisis intervention when brief, targeted support is appropriate.

The session must involve active therapeutic engagement, focusing on the patient’s presenting symptoms and progress toward treatment goals. While the 30-minute format may be less common than longer sessions, its utility has increased, particularly with the rise of teletherapy, where shorter, more frequent contacts can be practical.

Key Billing and Documentation Requirements

Accurate billing for CPT Code 90832 requires adherence to specific documentation and procedural requirements. Providers must include essential claim information such as patient details, provider information, the date of service, and the diagnosis code. Diagnosis codes, typically from the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM), demonstrate the medical necessity of the service. For mental health services, these codes often fall within the F01-F99 range.

Documentation must be accurate and reflect session details promptly. This includes recording the exact start and end times, or total face-to-face time, to confirm it falls within the 16 to 37-minute range for CPT 90832. Notes should detail therapeutic interventions, topics addressed, and the patient’s response or progress toward treatment goals. This record justifies the session’s necessity for patient care.

Medical necessity is a prerequisite for reimbursement, meaning the psychotherapy service must be clinically appropriate and needed for the patient’s condition based on accepted standards of practice. Documentation must clearly link the treatment to the patient’s diagnosed mental health condition and their individualized treatment plan. This demonstrates the service’s necessity and its contribution to improving patient functioning.