Medical billing contains a string of confusing five-digit numbers and a dollar sign. But those five-digit numbers, known as CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) codes, tell the story of what happened in the exam room. The May 2026 issue of AAPC’s Healthcare Business Monthly, included some of the standard codes for psychotherapy, here they are broken down, and additional codes are expanded upon.

The Opening Act: Diagnostic Evaluations

Every journey starts with an evaluation; the first meeting is billed differently depending on the type of provider performing it.

• CPT 90791: Psychiatric diagnostic evaluation.  This is used for a standard diagnostic evaluation, looking at a person’s history and symptoms.  This code would be used by therapists, counselors and social workers.
• CPT 90792: Psychiatric diagnostic evaluation with medical services.  This is the medical version and includes the same evaluation but adds a medical component, like checking vital signs, prescribing, managing medications or how physical health interacts with mental health.
• The Nuance: Only providers with medical prescribing authority (like Psychiatrists or Nurse Practitioners) can use this code.

Counselling/psychotherapy: Who Was in the Room?

There are a few different codes for this service, depending on who is present for the session. The providers that can bill using these codes include licensed mental health professionals including psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed social workers, licensed professional counselors and marriage and family therapists.

• Individual therapy:
• CPT 90832: Psychotherapy, 30 minutes with patient
• CPT 90834: Psychotherapy, 45 minutes with patient
• CPT 90837: Psychotherapy, 60 minutes with patient
• The Nuance: one of the few areas where billing is dictated by the clock. AAPC guidelines state, minimum time to bill for 90832 is 16 mins, minimum for 90834 is 38 mins and 53 mins minimum to bill for 90837.
• Family therapy:
  • CPT 90846: Family therapy without the patient present
  • CPT 90847: Family therapy with the patient present
• Group therapy:
  • CPT 90853: Group psychotherapy (other than of a multiple family group)

The “Combo” Visit: Therapy and Meds

• Sometimes a psychiatrist does more than just write a prescription, they provide a follow-up and therapy in the same setting. In these cases, they don’t just pick one code, they use a primary code for the medical follow-up; E/M (Evaluation and Management) codes like 99211-99215 and an “add-on” code for the therapy.
  • CPT 90833: Psychotherapy, 30 minutes with patient when performed with an evaluation and management service
  • CPT 90836: Psychotherapy, 45 minutes with patient when performed with an evaluation and management service
  • CPT 90838: Psychotherapy, 60 minutes with patient when performed with an evaluation and management service

Why It Matters?

Reporting the appropriate timed codes and operating within a provider’s specific scope of practice is the cornerstone of healthcare transparency. Accurate billing does more than just facilitate payment, prevents the “unbundling” of services and ensures that the record stands up to scrutiny. As coding standards evolve, maintaining this remains the best way to ensure that the care documented is the care that was actually delivered.