CPT code reference for therapists
CPT 90834: 45-minute psychotherapy
90834 is the most common psychotherapy code: an individual session of about 45 minutes. A standard “therapy hour” of 45 to 50 minutes is a 90834, not a 90837.
Prescribers who also do an E/M service in the same visit bill the add-on 90836 instead.
Updated October 5, 2026
- What it is
- Individual psychotherapy, about 45 minutes
- Time
- 38 to 52 minutes
- 53 minutes or more
- Use 90837
- With an E/M visit
- 90836 (prescribers)
When to use 90834
- A psychotherapy session where you spent 38 to 52 minutes with the client.
- Sessions where family members join for part of the time and the focus is the client’s treatment.
Time rules
- Count face-to-face (or live video) psychotherapy time with the client and any family members present. Note writing and between-session work don’t count.
- 52 minutes is still 90834. The session has to reach 53 minutes to be a 90837.
- Use the actual time, not the length of the appointment slot.
| Code | Described as | Bill when the session ran |
|---|---|---|
| 90832 | 30 minutes | 16 to 37 minutes |
| 90834 | 45 minutes | 38 to 52 minutes |
| 90837 | 60 minutes | 53 minutes or more |
Choosing between the two? See 90834 vs 90837.
What to document
- Start and stop times, or the total time, of the psychotherapy.
- Interventions used and the client’s response.
- Progress toward treatment plan goals, symptoms and mental status.
- Risk assessment when indicated, and the plan.
Billing rules and common denials
- Don’t bill 90834 with 90791 on the same day for the same client.
- A session that ran 53 minutes or more should be billed as 90837; a session under 38 minutes as 90832.
- Add-on 90785 can go with 90834 when interactive complexity applied.
- For telehealth, payers differ: Medicare uses place of service 10 or 02, while many commercial plans want the in-person place of service (usually 11) with modifier 95. Check each payer’s telehealth policy.
Telehealth modifiers
- 95
- Live (synchronous) video visit. The modifier most commercial plans and Medicaid programs ask for.
- GT
- Older “via interactive audio and video” modifier. A few payers and some institutional claims still want it instead of 95.
- 93
- Audio-only (phone) visit, where the payer covers it. Some payers ask for FQ instead.
Add-on 90785 (interactive complexity) can be billed with this code when communication was made harder by something like an interpreter, a third party or caregivers in conflict.
Typical place of service codes
- 11
- Office. The usual in-person place of service for private practice.
- 10
- Telehealth with the client in their home.
- 02
- Telehealth with the client somewhere other than home (work, car, a clinic).
- 12
- In person at the client’s home.
- 03
- School.
- 53
- Community mental health center.
Common questions
- How many minutes is 90834?
- 38 to 52 minutes of psychotherapy. A 50-minute session is a 90834. From 53 minutes, bill 90837.
- Is a 50-minute session 90834 or 90837?
- 90834. The 60-minute code, 90837, starts at 53 minutes of psychotherapy time.
- Can I bill 90834 for telehealth?
- Yes, where the payer covers telehealth psychotherapy. Use modifier 95 (GT for payers that still require it) and the payer’s telehealth place of service, often 10 for a client at home.
CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association. This page summarizes common billing practice in plain language and isn’t billing or legal advice; payer policies vary, so check each payer’s current rules.