90834·CPT (AMA)

Psychotherapy, 45 Minutes

The most commonly billed psychotherapy code in U.S. outpatient mental health. Covers 38–52 minutes face-to-face individual psychotherapy with the patient.

Code descriptor (verbatim AMA)

Psychotherapy, 45 minutes with patient.

Source: AMA Current Procedural Terminology, code 90834.

Time requirements

CodeTime rangeTypical reimbursement
9083216–37 minutes$60–95
90834**38–52 minutes**$95–140
9083753+ minutes$130–180

Time codes are based on actual face-to-face minutes, not appointment slot length. Document the start and end time of the therapeutic session in the visit note.

Billing rules

  • Individual psychotherapy with patient. Family or couple sessions use 90846 (without patient) or 90847 (with patient).
  • One unit per session. 90834 is not stackable across longer sessions; if the session exceeds 52 minutes, 90837 is the appropriate code.
  • Add-on compatible. Bill alongside 96127 (up to 4 units of brief assessment), interactive complexity 90785, or psychiatric evaluation codes when same-day eval is performed.
  • E/M services excluded. If medical management/E/M occurs in the same visit, prescribers bill psychotherapy add-on codes (90833, 90836, 90838) alongside the E/M, not 90834.
  • Documentation. Note must reflect therapeutic intervention, treatment plan progress, and clinical decision-making, not just session content.

Common ICD-11 pairings

The CPT code describes the service; the ICD-11 code establishes medical necessity. Common pairings for 90834:

  • F33.1 Recurrent MDD, Moderate, most common
  • F32.1 Single Episode MDD, Moderate
  • F41.1 Generalized Anxiety Disorder
  • F43.10 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • F40.10 Social Anxiety Disorder
  • F60.3 Borderline Personality Disorder

See the full ICD-11 reference for diagnosis-specific scale recommendations.

Documentation requirements

Each 90834 session note should include:

  • Date of service, start time, end time, total minutes face-to-face.
  • ICD-11 diagnosis (or diagnoses) being treated.
  • Therapeutic modality used (CBT, DBT, EMDR, IPT, ACT, psychodynamic, supportive, etc.).
  • Treatment plan goals addressed during the session.
  • Clinical interventions, patient response, and progress assessment.
  • Plan for next session and any homework/between-session tasks.
  • Risk assessment if relevant (suicidal ideation, self-harm, harm to others).

Notes that describe content only ("patient discussed work stress") without therapeutic intervention or clinical decision-making are at risk of denial on audit.

Sources

  • American Medical Association. Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) 2026, code 90834.
  • Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Physician Fee Schedule.
  • American Psychological Association. CPT Coding for Psychotherapy.

Frequently asked questions

What is CPT 90834?

CPT 90834 is the AMA billing code for 'Psychotherapy, 45 minutes with patient.' It is the most commonly billed psychotherapy code in U.S. outpatient mental health practice and represents the standard 45-minute therapy session.

How many minutes does 90834 cover?

CPT 90834 covers psychotherapy sessions of 38 to 52 minutes face-to-face with the patient. Sessions of 16–37 minutes are billed under 90832 (30 minutes); sessions of 53+ minutes are billed under 90837 (60 minutes). Time documentation must reflect actual face-to-face minutes, not appointment slot length.

What does 90834 reimburse?

Reimbursement varies by payer. Approximate national medians: $95–140 per session for commercial payers, somewhat lower for Medicare. Verify with your specific payer fee schedules. 90834 is reimbursed at substantially lower rates than 90837 (60 min) but with simpler documentation requirements.

What is the difference between 90834 and 90837?

Both are individual psychotherapy codes. 90834 covers 38–52 minutes; 90837 covers 53+ minutes. 90837 reimburses higher (~$130–180 vs ~$95–140) but some payers require additional medical-necessity documentation for 90837 to reduce inappropriate billing of longer sessions.

Can 90834 be billed alongside 96127?

Yes. 90834 is the primary service code; 96127 (brief assessment with scoring and documentation) is an add-on code billed in addition to 90834. A typical MBC visit administering PHQ-9 + GAD-7 alongside therapy bills 90834 + 96127×2.

How much does CPT 90834 pay?

CPT 90834 pays $113.89 per session under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule national non-facility average, up from $104.16 in 2025 per the CY 2026 Final Rule (an 8 to 9 percent increase). Commercial payer rates typically range from $95 to $140 per session and vary by contract. Locality adjustments via the Geographic Practice Cost Index (GPCI) apply. CPT 90834 is the most commonly billed psychotherapy code in U.S. outpatient mental health, accounting for the bulk of outpatient therapy claims.

Who can bill CPT 90834?

Licensed mental health clinicians bill CPT 90834, including licensed clinical social workers (LCSW, LICSW), licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT), licensed professional counselors (LPC, LMHC), licensed psychologists (PhD, PsyD), psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. Each state defines scope of practice and supervisory rules for trainees and pre-licensed clinicians. Many payers require independent licensure for direct CPT 90834 billing.

Is CPT 90834 billable for telehealth?

Yes, CPT 90834 is billable for telehealth sessions. Use place of service code 02 (telehealth, non-home) or 10 (telehealth, patient home), with modifier 95 for synchronous audio-video psychotherapy when required by the payer. Medicare and most commercial payers extended telehealth coverage for psychotherapy codes after the public health emergency. Audio-only psychotherapy has narrower payer rules; verify before billing telephone-only sessions.

How often can CPT 90834 be billed?

CPT 90834 can be billed once per session per patient per provider. Most payers cover weekly or biweekly therapy as medically necessary, with no annual session cap on Medicare. Some commercial plans impose a per-year visit limit (often 20 to 52 sessions) or require pre-authorization after a threshold. Medicare's Medically Unlikely Edit (MUE) limit is 1 unit per date of service. Document medical necessity and treatment-plan progress to support continued billing.

Can 90834 be billed alongside… · How much does CPT 90834… · Who can bill CPT 90834 · Is CPT 90834 billable for…
← All CPT codesICD-10 reference →Billing codes hub →