Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes are an integral part of the healthcare system, serving as a standardized language for reporting medical procedures, treatments, and evaluations.
Developed and maintained by the American Medical Association (AMA), the CPT code set includes more than 8,000 codes, updated annually to reflect advancements and trends in medical care.
CPT codes for mental health, specifically 90785 through 90899, fall under the Psychiatry section. These codes include a wide range of mental health services provided not only by medical professionals, such as psychiatrists, but also by licensed non-medical practitioners, including clinical psychologists, professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, and clinical social workers.
According to recent data, more than 1 in 5 adults in the United States experience mental illness each year, underscoring the importance of efficient coding and billing systems to support access to care.
Common CPT Codes for Mental Health
Mental health professionals frequently use specific CPT codes for mental health to bill for various services.
Here’s a list of the most common CPT codes for mental health billing:
Diagnostic Evaluation and Intake
- 90791 – Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluation. Typically used for the initial assessment of a client. Usually, only one evaluation per client is covered.
Outpatient Psychotherapy Codes
- 90832 – Psychotherapy, 30 minutes. For sessions lasting between 16 and 37 minutes.
- 90834 – Psychotherapy, 45 minutes. For sessions lasting between 38 and 52 minutes.
- 90837 – Psychotherapy, 60 minutes. For sessions lasting 53 minutes or longer.
- 90846 – Family or Couples Psychotherapy, without the patient present.
- 90847 – Family or Couples Psychotherapy, with the patient present.
- 90853 – Group Psychotherapy. Not including family therapy.
- 98966 – Telephone Therapy (non-psychiatrist): Limited to 1 unit/hour per application.
- 98967 – Telephone Therapy (non-psychiatrist): Limited to 2 units/hours per application.
- 98968 – Telephone Therapy (non-psychiatrist): Limited to 3 units/hours per application.
Crisis Psychotherapy Codes
- 90839 – Psychotherapy for Crisis, 60 minutes. Used for urgent mental health interventions lasting 30 to 74 minutes.
- +90840 – Add-on Code for Crisis Therapy. Used for an additional 30 minutes (75 minutes or more) in conjunction with code 90839.
Other Behavioral Health Services
- +90785 – Interactive Complexity Add-on. Used for cases requiring extra communication complexity.
- 90404 – Cigna/MHN Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Code. Used specifically by these companies for EAP sessions.
- 96101 – Psychological Testing, Interpretation, and Reporting (per hour). Administered by a psychologist.
- 90880 – Hypnotherapy. Limited to 10 units/hours per application.
- 90876 – Biofeedback. For the purpose of treating certain medical and psychological issues.
- 90849 – Multiple Family Group Psychotherapy. Therapy sessions involving several families.
- 90845 – Psychoanalysis. A particular type of therapy where the goal is to examine unconscious thoughts.
Common Add-On CPT Codes for Mental Health
Add-on CPT codes are used in conjunction with primary codes to indicate additional services or complexities in treatment.
Here’s a list of the most frequently used add-on CPT codes for mental health billing:
Interactive Complexity and Pharmacologic Management
- 90785 – Interactive Complexity. Used when treatment involves significant communication barriers or additional time is required due to patient factors. For instance, this could be applied in cases where a therapist is working with a patient who has a speech or language disorder, requiring the use of interpreters or specialized communication tools during therapy.
- 90863 – Pharmacologic Management. Applied when a provider manages a patient’s medication after a therapy session.
Office Visit Add-On Codes
- 99050 – After-Hours Service. For services provided during times outside of regular office hours or when the office is normally closed.
- 99051 – Evening, Weekend, or Holiday Service. This is for services delivered during regularly scheduled evening, weekend, or holiday office hours.
Extended Session Add-On Codes
- 99354 – Prolonged Service (First 30 minutes). Used to add an additional 30 minutes after an initial 74-minute session, applicable if a session reaches at least 90 minutes for codes like 90837 or 80 minutes for 90847.
- 99355 – Prolonged Service (Additional 60 minutes). For the first 30 to 74 minutes beyond the initial prolonged time.
- 90840 – Additional 30 Minutes for Psychotherapy in Crisis. Used only with CPT code 90839 for crisis situations requiring more time.
- 90833 – 30-Minute Psychotherapy Add-On. Applied when psychotherapy is provided along with evaluation, such as when a psychiatrist assesses medication response and conducts a 30-minute session.
- 90836 – 45-Minute Psychotherapy Add-On. Used in scenarios where a clinician, such as a clinical nurse specialist, evaluates medication response and then provides a 45-minute therapy session.
Common CPT Codes for Outpatient Psychiatry Services
Medical professionals use specific CPT codes to bill for outpatient psychiatric evaluations, Here’s a list of the most commonly used codes in outpatient psychiatry:
Diagnostic Evaluation and Client Intake
- 90792 – Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluation with Medical Services. Used for initial psychiatric assessments that include medical services. Typically, only one evaluation per client is covered.
Outpatient Psychiatry Evaluation and Management (E/M) Codes for New Patients
- 99201 – New Patient Office Visit. (10-minute consultation)
- 99202 – New Patient Office Visit. (20-minute consultation)
- 99203 – New Patient Office Visit. (30-minute consultation)
- 99204 – New Patient Office Visit. (45-minute consultation)
- 99205 – New Patient Office Visit. (60-minute consultation)
Outpatient Psychiatry Evaluation and Management (E/M) Codes for Established Patients
- 99211 – Established Patient Office Visit. (5-minute consultation)
- 99212 – Established Patient Office Visit. (10-minute consultation)
- 99213 – Established Patient Office Visit. (15-minute consultation)
- 99214 – Established Patient Office Visit. (25-minute consultation)
- 99215 – Established Patient Office Visit. (40-minute consultation)
Other Psychiatry Services
- 99443 – Telephone Therapy. Limited to 3 units/hours per application.
Psychological and Neuropsychological Testing CPT Codes
Here’s is a list of the most relevant CPT codes in psychological and neuropsychological testing:
Neurobehavioral Status Exam Codes
- 96116 – Neurobehavioral Status Exam. Clinical assessment for 1 hour of cognitive functions such as thinking, reasoning, judgment, memory, attention, language, and problem-solving. Administered by a physician or qualified health professional, this code includes both face-to-face time with the patient and time interpreting test results and preparing the report.
- +96121 – Add-on Code. Each additional hour is billed separately in addition to the primary procedure (96116).
Test Evaluation Services Codes
- 96130 – Psychological Testing Evaluation. Includes data integration, interpretation of standardized test results, clinical decision-making, treatment planning, and interactive feedback to the patient, family members, or caregivers. Billed for the first hour by a physician or qualified health professional.
- +96131 – Add-on Code. Each additional hour is listed separately in addition to 96130.
- 96132 – Neuropsychological Testing Evaluation. This code applies to neuropsychological evaluations, covering data integration, test interpretation, clinical decision-making, and interactive feedback. Billed for the first hour by a physician or qualified health professional.
- +96133 – Add-on Code. Each additional hour is listed separately in addition to 96132.
Test Administration and Scoring Codes
- 96136 – Psychological/Neuropsychological Test Administration and Scoring. Administered by a physician or qualified health professional, covering the administration and scoring of two or more tests using any method. Billed for the first 30 minutes.
- +96137 – Add-on Code. Each additional 30 minutes, is listed separately in addition to 96136.
- 96138 – Psychological/Neuropsychological Test Administration by Technician. This code is used when a technician administers and scores two or more tests, using any method. Billed for the first 30 minutes.
- +96139 – Add-on Code. Each additional 30 minutes, is listed separately in addition to 96138.
Automated Testing and Results Codes
- 96146 – Automated Psychological/Neuropsychological Test Administration. Involves administering a single automated instrument via an electronic platform with automated result generation.
Mental Health Evaluation and Management (E/M) Codes
Evaluation and Management (E/M) codes are used in conjunction with psychotherapy, primarily by psychiatrists, authorized prescribers, and MDs.
E/M codes are generally more complex to document and are subject to audit, but they often result in higher reimbursement rates. There are also E/M codes that can be used without a psychotherapy component.
- +90833 – Add-on E/M Code. For 30 minutes of psychiatry, used in conjunction with psychotherapy code 90832.
- +90836 – Add-on E/M Code. For 45 minutes of psychiatry, used with psychotherapy code 90834.
- +90838 – Add-on E/M Code. For 60 minutes of psychiatry, used with psychotherapy code 90837.
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