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Psychotherapy, as defined by CPT® Code 90832, involves a structured therapeutic interaction between a mental health professional and a patient, lasting for 30 minutes. This form of individual psychotherapy aims to facilitate behavior modification through various techniques, including re-education, support, reassurance, and insight discussions. The process may also involve the occasional use of medication to enhance the therapeutic effect. The primary goal is to foster self-understanding in the patient, which can lead to improved mental health outcomes. Additionally, psychotherapy can be utilized to evaluate and enhance family relationship dynamics that are pertinent to the patient's mental health condition. It is important to note that when psychotherapy is provided without any accompanying medical evaluation and management services, the appropriate code to report is 90832 for the 30-minute session. For longer sessions, different codes are designated: 90834 for 45 minutes and 90837 for 60 minutes. In cases where psychotherapy is combined with medical evaluation and management services, alternative codes should be used: 90833 for 30 minutes, 90836 for 45 minutes, and 90838 for 60 minutes.
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The indications for utilizing CPT® Code 90832 include various mental health conditions and situations where individual psychotherapy is deemed beneficial. These may encompass:
The procedure for CPT® Code 90832 involves several key steps that ensure effective delivery of psychotherapy within the designated 30-minute timeframe. These steps include:
After the completion of a psychotherapy session coded as 90832, the patient may be advised on several post-procedure considerations. These may include recommendations for self-care practices, such as journaling or mindfulness exercises, to reinforce the insights gained during the session. The therapist may also schedule follow-up appointments to continue the therapeutic process, ensuring ongoing support and monitoring of the patient's progress. It is essential for the patient to engage in any assigned tasks or exercises to maximize the benefits of therapy and facilitate personal growth. Additionally, the therapist may provide resources or referrals for further support if needed, depending on the patient's individual circumstances.
| Short Descr | PSYTX W PT 30 MINUTES | Medium Descr | PSYCHOTHERAPY W/PATIENT 30 MINUTES | Long Descr | Psychotherapy, 30 minutes with patient | Status Code | Active Code | Global Days | XXX - Global Concept Does Not Apply | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 0 - Physician Service Code | Multiple Procedures (51) | 0 - No payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply. | Bilateral Surgery (50) | 0 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures does NOT apply. | Physician Supervisions | 09 - Concept does not apply. | Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) | 9 - Concept does not apply. | Co-Surgeons (62) | 0 - Co-surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Team Surgery (66) | 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Diagnostic Imaging Family | 99 - Concept Does Not Apply | APC Status Indicator | Codes That May Be Paid Through a Composite APC | Type of Service (TOS) | 1 - Medical Care | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | M5B - Specialist - psychiatry | MUE | 2 | CCS Clinical Classification | 218 - Psychological and psychiatric evaluation and therapy |
This is a primary code that can be used with these additional add-on codes.
| 0770T | Add-on Code MPFS Status: Carrier Priced APC E1 Virtual reality technology to assist therapy (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) | 90785 | Telehealth Service (Medicare) Addon Code Telemedicine Service (AMA) Audio-Only Telemedicine (AMA) MPFS Status: Active Code APC N Interactive complexity (List separately in addition to the code for primary procedure) | 90863 | Addon Code Telemedicine Service (AMA) MPFS Status: Not valid for Medicare purposes APC E1 Pharmacologic management, including prescription and review of medication, when performed with psychotherapy services (List separately in addition to the code for primary procedure) |
| 95 | Synchronous telemedicine service rendered via a real-time interactive audio and video telecommunications system: synchronous telemedicine service is defined as a real-time interaction between a physician or other qualified health care professional and a patient who is located at a distant site from the physician or other qualified health care professional. the totality of the communication of information exchanged between the physician or other qualified health care professional and the patient during the course of the synchronous telemedicine service must be of an amount and nature that would be sufficient to meet the key components and/or requirements of the same service when rendered via a face-to-face interaction. modifier 95 may only be appended to the services listed in appendix p. appendix p is the list of cpt codes for services that are typically performed face-to-face, but may be rendered via a real-time (synchronous) interactive audio and video telecommunications system. | AJ | Clinical social worker | GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition | X2 | Continuous/focused services: for reporting services by clinicians whose expertise is needed for the ongoing management of a chronic disease or a condition that needs to be managed and followed with no planned endpoint to the relationship; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to: a rheumatologist taking care of the patient's rheumatoid arthritis longitudinally but not providing general primary care services | 59 | Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25. | AH | Clinical psychologist | FQ | The service was furnished using audio-only communication technology | GT | Via interactive audio and video telecommunication systems | GV | Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider | GY | Item or service statutorily excluded, does not meet the definition of any medicare benefit or, for non-medicare insurers, is not a contract benefit | 93 | Synchronous telemedicine service rendered via telephone or other real-time interactive audio-only telecommunications system : synchronous telemedicine service is defined as a real-time interaction between a physician or other qualified health care professional and a patient who is located away at a distant site from the physician or other qualified health care professional. the totality of the communication of information exchanged between the physician or other qualified health care professional and the patient during the course of the synchronous telemedicine service must be of an amount and nature that is sufficient to meet the key components and/or requirements of the same service when rendered via a face-to-face interaction. | HO | Masters degree level | CR | Catastrophe/disaster related | KX | Requirements specified in the medical policy have been met | Q2 | Demonstration procedure/service | FR | The supervising practitioner was present through two-way, audio/video communication technology | U4 | Medicaid level of care 4, as defined by each state | HB | Adult program, non geriatric | GQ | Via asynchronous telecommunications system | HP | Doctoral level | AQ | Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa) | XP | Separate practitioner, a service that is distinct because it was performed by a different practitioner | U1 | Medicaid level of care 1, as defined by each state | UB | Medicaid level of care 11, as defined by each state | 96 | Habilitative services: when a service or procedure that may be either habilitative or rehabilitative in nature is provided for habilitative purposes, the physician or other qualified health care professional may add modifier 96 to the service or procedure code to indicate that the service or procedure provided was a habilitative service. habilitative services help an individual learn skills and functioning for daily living that the individual has not yet developed, and then keep and/or improve those learned skills. habilitative services also help an individual keep, learn, or improve skills and functioning for daily living. | SF | Second opinion ordered by a professional review organization (pro) per section 9401, p.l. 99-272 (100% reimbursement - no medicare deductible or coinsurance) | GA | Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, individual case | U5 | Medicaid level of care 5, as defined by each state | UA | Medicaid level of care 10, as defined by each state | XE | Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter | HN | Bachelors degree level | Q1 | Routine clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study | UC | Medicaid level of care 12, as defined by each state | 25 | Significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional on the same day of the procedure or other service: it may be necessary to indicate that on the day a procedure or service identified by a cpt code was performed, the patient's condition required a significant, separately identifiable e/m service above and beyond the other service provided or beyond the usual preoperative and postoperative care associated with the procedure that was performed. a significant, separately identifiable e/m service is defined or substantiated by documentation that satisfies the relevant criteria for the respective e/m service to be reported (see evaluation and management services guidelines for instructions on determining level of e/m service). the e/m service may be prompted by the symptom or condition for which the procedure and/or service was provided. as such, different diagnoses are not required for reporting of the e/m services on the same date. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 25 to the appropriate level of e/m service. note: this modifier is not used to report an e/m service that resulted in a decision to perform surgery. see modifier 57 for significant, separately identifiable non-e/m services, see modifier 59. | GJ | "opt out" physician or practitioner emergency or urgent service | GZ | Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary | HF | Substance abuse program | QJ | Services/items provided to a prisoner or patient in state or local custody, however the state or local government, as applicable, meets the requirements in 42 cfr 411.4 (b) | U2 | Medicaid level of care 2, as defined by each state | CC | Procedure code change (use 'cc' when the procedure code submitted was changed either for administrative reasons or because an incorrect code was filed) | HJ | Employee assistance program | HW | Funded by state mental health agency | Q6 | Service furnished under a fee-for-time compensation arrangement by a substitute physician or by a substitute physical therapist furnishing outpatient physical therapy services in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area | SA | Nurse practitioner rendering service in collaboration with a physician | AF | Specialty physician | AM | Physician, team member service | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | GX | Notice of liability issued, voluntary under payer policy | HL | Intern | U6 | Medicaid level of care 6, as defined by each state | U7 | Medicaid level of care 7, as defined by each state | UD | Medicaid level of care 13, as defined by each state | X1 | Continuous/broad services: for reporting services by clinicians, who provide the principal care for a patient, with no planned endpoint of the relationship; services in this category represent comprehensive care, dealing with the entire scope of patient problems, either directly or in a care coordination role; reporting clinician service examples include, but are not limited to: primary care, and clinicians providing comprehensive care to patients in addition to specialty care | XU | Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service | 4Q | Hla-drb3* | 24 | Unrelated evaluation and management service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during a postoperative period: the physician or other qualified health care professional may need to indicate that an evaluation and management service was performed during a postoperative period for a reason(s) unrelated to the original procedure. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 24 to the appropriate level of e/m service. | 32 | Mandated services: services related to mandated consultation and/or related services (eg, third party payer, governmental, legislative or regulatory requirement) may be identified by adding modifier 32 to the basic procedure. | 51 | Multiple procedures: when multiple procedures, other than e/m services, physical medicine and rehabilitation services or provision of supplies (eg, vaccines), are performed at the same session by the same individual, the primary procedure or service may be reported as listed. the additional procedure(s) or service(s) may be identified by appending modifier 51 to the additional procedure or service code(s). note: this modifier should not be appended to designated "add-on" codes (see appendix d). | 52 | Reduced services: under certain circumstances a service or procedure is partially reduced or eliminated at the discretion of the physician or other qualified health care professional. under these circumstances the service provided can be identified by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 52, signifying that the service is reduced. this provides a means of reporting reduced services without disturbing the identification of the basic service. note: for hospital outpatient reporting of a previously scheduled procedure/service that is partially reduced or cancelled as a result of extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well-being of the patient prior to or after administration of anesthesia, see modifiers 73 and 74 (see modifiers approved for asc hospital outpatient use). | 76 | Repeat procedure or service by same physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was repeated by the same physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 76 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | 77 | Repeat procedure by another physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a basic procedure or service was repeated by another physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 77 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | 97 | Rehabilitative services: when a service or procedure that may be either habilitative or rehabilitative in nature is provided for rehabilitative purposes, the physician or other qualified health care professional may add modifier 97 to the service or procedure code to indicate that the service or procedure provided was a rehabilitative service. rehabilitative services help an individual keep, get back, or improve skills and functioning for daily living that have been lost or impaired because the individual was sick, hurt, or disabled. | 99 | Multiple modifiers: under certain circumstances 2 or more modifiers may be necessary to completely delineate a service. in such situations modifier 99 should be added to the basic procedure, and other applicable modifiers may be listed as part of the description of the service. | A9 | Dressing for nine or more wounds | AG | Primary physician | AK | Non participating physician | AO | Alternate payment method declined by provider of service | CG | Policy criteria applied | F3 | Left hand, fourth digit | FS | Split (or shared) evaluation and management visit | G0 | Telehealth services for diagnosis, evaluation, or treatment, of symptoms of an acute stroke | GR | This service was performed in whole or in part by a resident in a department of veterans affairs medical center or clinic, supervised in accordance with va policy | H9 | Court-ordered | HA | Child/adolescent program | HE | Mental health program | HH | Integrated mental health/substance abuse program | HI | Integrated mental health and intellectual disability/developmental disabilities program | HK | Specialized mental health programs for high-risk populations | HM | Less than bachelor degree level | HQ | Group setting | HS | Family/couple without client present | KA | Add on option/accessory for wheelchair | MC | Ordering professional is not required to consult a clinical decision support mechanism due to the significant hardship exception of electronic health record or clinical decision support mechanism vendor issues | NB | Nebulizer system, any type, fda-cleared for use with specific drug | PD | Diagnostic or related non diagnostic item or service provided in a wholly owned or operated entity to a patient who is admitted as an inpatient within 3 days | PN | Non-excepted service provided at an off-campus, outpatient, provider-based department of a hospital | PO | Excepted service provided at an off-campus, outpatient, provider-based department of a hospital | Ordering professional consulted a qualified clinical decision support mechanism for this service and the related data was provided to the furnishing professional | SC | Medically necessary service or supply | SJ | Third or more concurrently administered infusion therapy | TD | Rn | TE | Lpn/lvn | TG | Complex/high tech level of care | TH | Obstetrical treatment/services, prenatal or postpartum | TN | Rural/outside providers' customary service area | TP | Medical transport, unloaded vehicle | TV | Special payment rates, holidays/weekends | U3 | Medicaid level of care 3, as defined by each state | U8 | Medicaid level of care 8, as defined by each state | U9 | Medicaid level of care 9, as defined by each state | UF | Services provided in the morning | UH | Services provided in the evening | V3 | Demonstration modifier 3 | X4 | Episodic/focused services: for reporting services by clinicians who provide focused care on particular types of treatment limited to a defined period and circumstance; the patient has a problem, acute or chronic, that will be treated with surgery, radiation, or some other type of generally time-limited intervention; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to, the orthopedic surgeon performing a knee replacement and seeing the patient through the postoperative period |
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| 2017-01-01 | Changed | Long, Medium and Short descriptions changed. |
| 2013-01-01 | Added | Added |
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