CPT code reference for therapists
90834 vs 90837: which psychotherapy code to bill
Both are individual psychotherapy. The only thing that separates them is time: 53 minutes. Below that (down to 38), bill 90834; at 53 or more, bill 90837.
Updated October 5, 2026
| 90834 | 90837 | |
|---|---|---|
| Described as | 45 minutes | 60 minutes |
| Bill when psychotherapy time is | 38 to 52 minutes | 53 minutes or more |
| A 50-minute “therapy hour” | Yes, this code | No |
| Pays | Less | More |
| Payer scrutiny | Routine | Higher: frequent use gets reviewed |
| Prescriber add-on version | 90836 | 90838 |
| Add-on 90785 allowed | Yes | Yes |
How to choose, session by session
- Write down when the psychotherapy started and ended. That number, not the calendar slot, picks the code.
- Count only time with the client (and family members who joined). Writing the note afterward doesn’t count.
- 38 to 52 minutes: 90834. 53 minutes or more: 90837. 16 to 37 minutes: 90832.
- If you usually run 50-minute sessions, you’re a 90834 practice. Booking 60-minute slots is what makes 90837 billable.
Documenting a 90837 so it holds up
- Start and stop times on every note, not only the total.
- One sentence on why the longer session was clinically needed: trauma processing, EMDR, a crisis that didn’t meet the 90839 threshold, a complex family situation.
- Interventions used, the client’s response and progress toward treatment plan goals, as for any session.
- A treatment plan that supports the session length and frequency.
Why payers review 90837
90837 pays more than 90834, and many sessions booked as an hour actually run 45 to 50 minutes. Some commercial payers compare each clinician’s share of 90837 with their peers and send outliers a records request or a notice to change their billing. The fix is the same either way: bill the code that matches the session’s time and keep start and stop times in the note.
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
- Is a 50-minute session 90834 or 90837?
- 90834. 90837 starts at 53 minutes of psychotherapy time; 38 to 52 minutes is 90834.
- What is the time requirement for 90837?
- At least 53 minutes of psychotherapy with the client (and family members, if present). Time spent on notes or scheduling doesn’t count.
- Can I bill 90837 for every session?
- Only if every session really runs 53 minutes or more and the record shows why. Payers flag clinicians whose 90837 share is far above their peers and ask for notes, so match the code to each session’s actual time.
- Should I round up to 90837?
- No. CPT time rules already round at the midpoint; 52 minutes is 90834. Billing 90837 for a shorter session is upcoding.
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.