CPT codes are used by healthcare providers to report services rendered to patients. In psychiatry, they are used to report a variety of services, including diagnostic evaluations, psychotherapy, and other therapeutic procedures.
This article will provide a comprehensive overview of the most common psychiatry CPT codes for 2023. It will also discuss the key changes to CPT codes for the upcoming year, as well as tips for using CPT codes correctly.
Most common CPT codes for psychiatrist
Psychiatry services and procedures
90785 – Interactive Complexity Psychiatry Services and Procedures
Represents the provision of interactive complexity during a psychiatric evaluation or therapy session. It indicates that the clinician encountered specific challenges or complexities during the session that required additional time and effort to manage effectively.
When a clinician provides interactive complexity services, they use the CPT code 90785 to indicate the additional effort required to manage these complexities during the session. This code helps healthcare providers accurately document and bill for the extra time and skill involved in addressing these specific challenges in psychiatric care.
CPT code range (90791-90899) – Other psychiatric diagnostic procedures
Evaluation and Management (E/M) Services
90791: Psychiatric diagnostic evaluation (typically the initial visit)
This code represents a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation or assessment. When a patient seeks psychiatric services or has a significant change in condition, this CPT code takes place for the initial consultation. During this evaluation, a psychiatrist or other proficient mental health expert will obtain extensive information about the patient’s mental health history, symptoms, current concerns, and other relevant aspects. The examination determines a diagnosis or differential diagnosis and creates a treatment plan. This code does not include any additional medical services or evaluations.
90792: Psychiatric diagnostic evaluation with medical services (including a comprehensive medical evaluation)
This code represents a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation that includes psychiatric and medical assessments. In addition to the components covered in 90791, this code consists of a thorough medical evaluation by a healthcare provider. This evaluation typically involves gathering information about the patient.
Psychotherapy services and procedures
- 90832: It reflects 30-minute individual psychotherapy sessions. The therapist and patient discuss and perform therapeutic interventions in person.
- 90833: Similar to 90832, this code also represents individual psychotherapy sessions. However, it is used for sessions lasting around 30 to 45 minutes.
- 90834: This code represents individual psychotherapy sessions that typically last 45 to 50 minutes. It allows longer than 90832 and 90833, providing more time for in-depth therapeutic work.
- 90836: It is used for individual psychotherapy sessions that extend beyond 50 minutes. It is typically used for sessions that last for around 60 minutes.
- 90837: Similar to 90836, it represents individual psychotherapy sessions that exceed 50 minutes. However, it is used explicitly for sessions that last for around 60 to 80 minutes.
- 90838: This code is used for individual psychotherapy sessions that extend beyond 80 minutes. It represents prolonged therapy sessions that provide an extended duration for more comprehensive therapeutic interventions.
Psychotherapy for Crisis Services and Procedures
90839: Psychotherapy for Crisis Services (typically 60 minutes)
This code is used to describe psychotherapy sessions that are specifically focused on crisis intervention. The crisis is resolved with immediate, intense, and time-limited treatments. Each session lasts 60 minutes to resolve the situation and restore stability.
90840: Psychotherapy for Crisis Services (typically 30 minutes)
This code is similar to 90839 but denotes shorter psychotherapy sessions of around 30 minutes. It is used when the crisis intervention requires a briefer and more focused therapy session.
In both cases, the psychotherapist utilizes techniques and interventions designed to effectively manage crisis situations. These may include techniques such as active listening, validation, support, problem-solving, safety planning, and helping individuals develop coping strategies to manage their immediate difficulties.
Other psychotherapy procedures
90845: This code represents a psychotherapy session with a patient and/or their family member lasting 45 to 50 minutes. It involves evaluating and treating mental health conditions using verbal or interactive communication techniques. This code is typically used for individual or family therapy sessions.
90846: Similar to code 90845, this code is used for psychotherapy sessions lasting between 50 and 60 minutes. It also involves evaluating and treating mental health conditions using verbal or interactive communication techniques. This code is typically used for individual or family therapy sessions that require a longer duration.
90847: This code is used explicitly for family psychotherapy sessions. It covers sessions where the therapist provides treatment to the patient and their family members, typically lasting for 50 minutes. Family therapy involves addressing the dynamics and interactions within the family to improve overall mental health and resolve conflicts.
90849: This code is used for multiple-family group psychotherapy sessions. It involves the treatment of multiple families or family units in a group setting, typically lasting for 50 minutes. Multiple-family group therapy addresses similar difficulties, improves family communication and relationships, and provides a supportive environment for shared experiences and learning.
90853: In this code, numerous patients are treated in a group psychotherapy session. Sessions last 50–60 minutes. Group therapy lets patients share their experiences, motivate others, and learn coping methods.
Other psychiatric services or procedures
90863: This code is typically used with other psychotherapy codes to indicate the additional medication management service the therapist provides.
90865: This code is used when a physician or other qualified healthcare professional provides psychotherapy, medical E/M services during an individual therapy session.
90867: This code is used when a psychotherapy session involves factors that complicate service delivery. Examples of interactive complexity factors include the involvement of multiple individuals, the presence of a third party, or situations where the patient’s cognitive impairment or language barrier affects communication.
90868: Individual psychotherapy, insight-oriented, behavior modifying, or supportive, in an office or outpatient facility, approximately 20-30 minutes.
90869: Individual psychotherapy, insight-oriented, behavior modifying, or supportive, in an office or outpatient facility, approximately 45-50 minutes.
90870: Individual psychotherapy, insight-oriented, behavior modifying, or supportive, in an office or outpatient facility, approximately 75-80 minutes.
90875: This code is used when a therapist provides individual therapy that includes biofeedback techniques to help the patient gain control over physiological processes, such as heart rate or muscle tension.
90876: This code combines biofeedback techniques with individual psychotherapy services.
90880: This code is used when a healthcare provider uses hypnosis to treat anxiety, phobias, or smoking cessation.
90882: Environmental intervention(s) to regulate an individual’s behavior when offered with individual psychotherapy.
90885: Psychoanalytic treatment examines the unconscious mind and history to comprehend the patient’s psychological concerns.
90887: This code is used when a therapist consults with a patient’s family member.
90889: This code is used when a therapist writes a report on the patient’s psychiatric condition, therapy, history, or progress.
90899: This code is used when a service or procedure a mental health professional provides does not have a specific code available to describe it. This code is used for services that do not fit the descriptions of other established codes.
Conclusion
CPT codes are crucial to psychiatric therapy. They help healthcare professionals document services and ensure patients receive treatment. Providers can correctly charge and give the best treatment by understanding CPT codes. If you’re a psychiatric practitioner, you should learn about CPT codes and how they may help you provide the finest treatment to your patients
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