Insurance
      Back to home
      1. Owl Practice Suite Help Center
      2. Billing, Payments, & Insurance
      3. Insurance

      CPT Code 90834

      45-minute Psychotherapy Sessions

      As a licensed mental health professional providing psychotherapy, it is important to be familiar with three essential CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) codes to ensure accurate reimbursement submissions. Each code corresponds with a psychotherapy session lasting a certain amount of time: Code 90837 is for sessions lasting 60 minutes, code 90832 is for sessions lasting 30 minutes, and code 90834 is for sessions lasting 45 minutes.

      CPT Code 90834 Explained:

      Code 90834 is a widely used CPT code in mental health, specifically for face-to-face psychotherapy sessions lasting between 38 and 52 minutes. Administrative and non-therapeutic activities are excluded from this duration. To meet the criteria for this code, you must be providing therapy to an individual adult. For virtual or telehealth sessions that meet these criteria, include the telehealth modifier: 90834-95.

      Key Information:

      • Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes, provided by the American Medical Association (AMA), serve as references for billing and reporting medical services and procedures. They ensure precise billing and insurance reimbursements, creating a universal standard across the U.S. healthcare system.
      • CPT Code 90834 is designated for face-to-face psychotherapy sessions lasting 45 minutes, with a duration range of 38 to 52 minutes. This code does not cover psychotherapy intake sessions.
      • Ensure that your treatment aligns with the definition of psychotherapy when using this code. The Mayo Clinic defines it as "an approach for treating mental health issues by talking with a psychologist, psychiatrist, or another mental health provider."
      • Use code 90834-95 for telehealth sessions that meet these criteria.
      • Maintain proper documentation, including session start and stop times and topics covered, to avoid billing issues.

      Additional Resources:

      The Top 18+ CPT Codes Used by Mental Health Professionals 

      CPT® overview and code approval

      Intro to CPT Coding

      CPT® code 90834: Psychotherapy, 45 minutes

      CPT Code 90834 (Description, Time Range, When & How to Use It)