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Family psychotherapy, as defined by CPT® Code 90846, is a therapeutic intervention aimed at enhancing the communication skills and mutual understanding among family members. This type of therapy is particularly beneficial for families facing challenges such as stress, anger, grief, or interpersonal conflicts. The process may involve all family members, those specifically experiencing difficulties, or only those willing to participate in the therapeutic process. Family psychotherapy is often necessary when a family member is dealing with a mental health condition, addiction, or a physical illness, requiring the entire family to learn how to cope with these issues collectively. The therapy focuses on examining the dynamics of family interactions, assessing communication skills, and evaluating the family's ability to collaboratively address problems. During sessions, the therapist may explore family roles, discuss rules and discipline, and analyze individual behavior patterns. Additionally, the therapy delves into the sources of stress, anger, grief, and conflict within the family unit. The therapist collaborates with the family to identify challenges, enhance coping strategies, and modify behavioral patterns. Recommendations may be made to improve interactions among family members, fostering more constructive communication and behavior. It is important to note that CPT® Code 90846 is specifically used for family psychotherapy conducted without the patient present, typically lasting 50 minutes. In contrast, CPT® Code 90847 is utilized for conjoint family psychotherapy when the patient is present during the session.
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Family psychotherapy (CPT® Code 90846) is indicated for various situations where family dynamics are affected by individual or collective challenges. The following conditions may warrant the use of this code:
The procedure for family psychotherapy (CPT® Code 90846) involves several structured steps to ensure effective therapy without the patient present. Each step is designed to facilitate communication and understanding among family members.
After the family psychotherapy session (CPT® Code 90846), it is essential for family members to continue practicing the skills and strategies discussed during therapy. Families are encouraged to maintain open lines of communication and to support one another in implementing the changes suggested by the therapist. Follow-up sessions may be scheduled to assess progress, address any new challenges, and reinforce the coping strategies developed during therapy. It is important for families to remain engaged in the therapeutic process to achieve lasting improvements in their interactions and overall family dynamics.
| Short Descr | FAMILY PSYTX W/O PT 50 MIN | Medium Descr | FAMILY PSYCHOTHERAPY W/O PATIENT PRESENT 50 MINS | Long Descr | Family psychotherapy (without the patient present), 50 minutes | Status Code | Restricted Coverage | 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) | 0 - Payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure... | 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 | 1 | CCS Clinical Classification | 218 - Psychological and psychiatric evaluation and therapy |
| 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. | 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. | FQ | The service was furnished using audio-only communication technology | AJ | Clinical social worker | GT | Via interactive audio and video telecommunication systems | GV | Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider | 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. | GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition | KX | Requirements specified in the medical policy have been met | GA | Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, individual case | 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 | AH | Clinical psychologist | HB | Adult program, non geriatric | HW | Funded by state mental health agency | AF | Specialty physician | U4 | Medicaid level of care 4, as defined by each state | HL | Intern | SA | Nurse practitioner rendering service in collaboration with a physician | 22 | Increased procedural services: when the work required to provide a service is substantially greater than typically required, it may be identified by adding modifier 22 to the usual procedure code. documentation must support the substantial additional work and the reason for the additional work (ie, increased intensity, time, technical difficulty of procedure, severity of patient's condition, physical and mental effort required). note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | 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. | 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). | 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. | AQ | Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa) | CC | Procedure code change (use 'cc' when the procedure code submitted was changed either for administrative reasons or because an incorrect code was filed) | CR | Catastrophe/disaster related | FR | The supervising practitioner was present through two-way, audio/video communication technology | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | GJ | "opt out" physician or practitioner emergency or urgent service | GQ | Via asynchronous telecommunications system | GZ | Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary | HE | Mental health program | HF | Substance abuse program | HJ | Employee assistance program | HN | Bachelors degree level | HO | Masters degree level | HQ | Group setting | HS | Family/couple without client present | Q1 | Routine clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study | Q2 | Demonstration procedure/service | Q5 | Service furnished under a reciprocal billing 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 | 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) | U3 | Medicaid level of care 3, as defined by each state | U6 | Medicaid level of care 6, as defined by each state | U7 | Medicaid level of care 7, as defined by each state | UA | Medicaid level of care 10, as defined by each state | UB | Medicaid level of care 11, as defined by each state | UD | Medicaid level of care 13, as defined by each state | UH | Services provided in the evening | V3 | Demonstration modifier 3 | 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 | 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 | XE | Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter | XP | Separate practitioner, a service that is distinct because it was performed by a different practitioner | XU | Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service |
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| 2017-01-01 | Changed | Long, Medium and Short descriptions changed. |
| 1998-01-01 | Changed | Code description changed |
| 1990-01-01 | Added | First appearance in code book in 1990. |
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