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90832, 90834, 90837: Psychotherapy Time Codes Guide

Last Updated: October 8, 2025

Standard individual psychotherapy is billed based on strictly defined time increments. If you are a therapist or a doctor providing therapy without medical evaluation and management on that day, you use the standalone therapy codes.

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2026 Medicare National Fee (90832): Non-Facility (Office): $100.29 · Facility (Hospital): $77.22
✓ 2,054 Medicare-Approved ICD-10 Diagnoses on file for 90832:

The Time Thresholds

Unlike the PT 8-minute rule, psychotherapy has its own specific time brackets:

  • 90832 (30 Minutes): Must be at least 16 minutes. (Range: 16-37 mins)
  • 90834 (45 Minutes): Must be at least 38 minutes. (Range: 38-52 mins)
  • 90837 (60 Minutes): Must be at least 53 minutes. (Range: 53+ mins)

Medical Necessity & The 90837 Audit Trap

Verify Medical Necessity

Don't risk a denial. See if your ICD-10 code is on the approved Medicare LCD list.

CPT 90837 (60 minutes) is heavily audited by Medicare and commercial payers because it pays the most. Routine billing of 90837 for every patient, every week, will trigger a Targeted Medical Review. Ensure your documentation proves the patient's acuity required a full hour of intense therapy.

NCCI Edits

These codes cannot be billed with crisis codes (90839) or group therapy (90853) on the same day without explicitly documented distinct sessions and Modifier 59.

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