CPT Code 90837: The Complete Guide to 60-Minute Psychotherapy Sessions

CPT code 90837 is one of the most frequently billed codes in mental and behavioral health, representing a 60-minute individual psychotherapy session. Whether you're a licensed therapist, clinic administrator, or billing specialist, understanding how and when to use 90837 is essential to ensure accurate reimbursement and avoid denials.

In this guide, we’ll cover:

• What CPT code 90837 is

• Who can bill 90837

• Documentation requirements

• Reimbursement rates

• 90834 vs 90837: Key differences

• Common billing errors

What Is CPT Code 90837?

CPT 90837 is defined as “Psychotherapy, 60 minutes with patient”. It is used to bill for extended, face-to-face psychotherapy sessions for the treatment of mental health conditions.

Duration: Typically 53–60 minutes of direct interaction

Setting: Office, telehealth, or other outpatient settings

Includes: Therapeutic conversation, behavioral interventions, and insight-oriented or cognitive therapy

This code is most often used by:

• Psychologists

• Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs)

• Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs)

• Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs)

Note: It does not include medical evaluation or management. If you’re a psychiatrist or other prescribing provider, you may need to consider +90863 or an E/M code.

Who Can Bill 90837?

Eligible providers generally include independently licensed mental health professionals acting within their scope of practice. Requirements may vary by payer, but commonly accepted credentials include:

• PhD/PsyD psychologists

• LCSWs

• LPCs

• LMFTs

• Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs)

Telehealth services using 90837 are typically covered when rendered with audio and video, assuming payer parity and state guidelines are met.

Documentation Requirements for 90837

To avoid denials, your documentation should support the medical necessity of the full 60-minute session. Include:

• Start and stop times (or total duration)

• Patient’s symptoms and progress

• Interventions used during the session

• Clinical rationale for extended time (if audited)

• Treatment plan updates or changes

Pro tip: Many payers are more likely to audit 90837 than 90834 due to higher reimbursement. Clear documentation helps reduce that risk.

CPT 90837 Reimbursement Rates

Reimbursement for 90837 varies by payer and region, but here's a general range:

Payers may reduce payment or deny claims if documentation doesn’t justify the longer session. Consider pre-authorization for certain commercial plans.

90834 vs. 90837: What's the Difference?

Use 90837 only when you actually spend 53+ minutes in session and can document it. Otherwise, default to 90834.

Common Billing Errors to Avoid

• Overuse of 90837: Frequent billing without clear justification can trigger audits.

• Missing time documentation: Always record the duration of session.

• Inappropriate use by non-licensed staff: Interns or unlicensed providers may not be reimbursed.

• Telehealth modifier errors: Use appropriate modifiers (e.g., 95) for virtual care.

• Using 90837 with E/M codes without a modifier: If combining with medication management, proper modifier use is critical.

Final Tips

• Check each payer's policy on 90837—some require prior authorization or limit frequency.

• Review claims periodically to ensure correct use of time-based codes.

• Train clinical staff to document duration and content thoroughly.

• Consider using 90834 if the full 60 minutes isn’t clinically necessary.

Need help ensuring compliant and optimized billing for psychotherapy codes? Brellium helps behavioral health practices catch documentation errors before submission—reducing denials and increasing clean claims.