Psychotherapy plays a vital role in supporting individuals facing mental health challenges. As a provider, your focus is on delivering compassionate care, but ensuring accurate and compliant billing is just as important to keep your practice running smoothly and sustainably.
CPT code 90832 is one of the most commonly used codes in behavioral health. It’s designed for short, 30-minute individual psychotherapy sessions and is essential for proper documentation and reimbursement. Using this code correctly helps ensure compliance with payer guidelines, including private insurance and Medicare, but we understand that staying on top of coding rules can be overwhelming.
That’s where RPM CCM Health comes in. Our dedicated team works alongside mental health professionals like you to simplify the billing process, reduce claim denials, and help you stay compliant with the latest requirements, so you can focus more on your clients, and less on paperwork.
What Is CPT Code 90832?
CPT code 90832 is used to report short individual psychotherapy sessions that last between 16 and 37 minutes. This code applies to therapy services that concentrate on improving a patient’s mental health, emotional well-being, and coping strategies.
- Session Duration
The duration of individual psychotherapy sessions is a minimum of 16 minutes. While the sessions that exceed 37 minutes must use CPT 90834 for 45 minutes or 90837 for 60 minutes.
- Covered Services
The code covers services, such as individual therapy, where mental, emotional, or behavioral issues are addressed.
- Eligible Providers
Clinical social workers, psychiatrists, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and other licensed mental health professionals are considered eligible providers.
Note: This code is not intended for use in family, group therapy, or evaluation and management visits.
90832 Billing Guidelines
It’s essential to follow the 90832 billing guidelines to avoid claim denials:
- Time Requirements
- 16-37 minutes dedicated to face-to-face psychotherapy
- Do not bill 90832 if the session was less than 16 minutes.
- What’s Covered?
- It assesses mental health
- Develops coping skills.
- Supportive or cognitive-behavioral interventions.
- What’s Not Covered?
- Sessions shorter than 16 minutes.
- Family or group therapy (use separate codes such as 90846 or 90853).
- Solely medication management without psychotherapy (use E/M codes).
Follow these guidelines to remain in compliance with both CMS and commercial payers.
Documentation Requirements for 90832
Accurate documentation is essential for supporting medical necessity and minimizing audit risks. Payers expect providers to submit claims that include 90832 documentation requirements, like:
- Session Details
When did the session start and stop? The exact duration and the type of intervention.
- Patient’s Mental Health Status
Show the patient’s mental health status. Present their symptoms, progress, if any, or setbacks.
- Treatment Goals
Tell about the connection of the session to the patient’s care plan.
- Interventions Used
What interventions were used to treat the patient? Cognitive-behavioral therapy, supportive therapy, psychodynamic interventions, or others.
- Medical Necessity
Highlight the evidence that psychotherapy was required to diagnose or treat the mental health disorder.
Having these complete details not just supports reimbursement, but also guards providers during audits.
90832 and Telehealth Billing
As virtual care has risen, many providers now prefer delivering therapy remotely. 90832 telehealth billing is allowed when these sessions meet all coverage requirements:
- CMS Guidance
If the provided psychotherapy sessions are interactive and meet time requirements, then Medicare allows the use of 90832 via telehealth.
- Payer Variations
Always confirm with each payer, as private insurers might have different telehealth policies.
- Modifiers Used
- 95 Modifier: It indicates a telehealth service.
- Place of Service Code: This is typically 02 for telehealth or 10 for the patient’s home. It depends on the payer.
Write about the telehealth platform used, the exact patient’s location, and the provider’s situation to remain compliant.
90832 Reimbursement and Medicare Coverage
Reimbursement varies, too. This depends on the payer and the region, but you should have a proper understanding of 90832 reimbursement Medicare, and the relevant private insurance rules:
- Medicare Coverage
- When therapy meets medical necessity, Medicare Part B reimburses 90832.
- The amounts for reimbursements are based on the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.
- Private Insurance
- This insurance often mimics Medicare, but allowable amounts are different.
- It verifies the benefits of the patients before scheduling psychotherapy.
- Common Challenges
- Denials can be claimed due to incomplete documentation.
- Using incorrect modifiers for telehealth services.
- Time discrepancies in session notes.
To avoid these challenges, work with RPM CCM Health. As a billing partner, we help you minimize these mistakes and ensure timely payment.
Common FAQs About CPT Code 90832
- What is the difference between 90832 and 90834?
90832 covers 16-37-minute lasting sessions, whereas 90834 covers longer sessions, such as 38-52 minutes.
- Can 90832 be billed with an E/M code?
Certainly, but only if the provider offers both medical management and psychotherapy during the same session. Use an add-code and document the services.
- Is 90832 covered for telehealth by all payers?
Medicare does allow coverage, but not always, as private insurers might have different policies. Therefore, always cross-check the payer-specific policies.
- What documentation is required to avoid claim denials?
To refrain from getting stuck with claim denials, you need to document progress and include patient status, session time, treatment goals, and interventions.
Why Work With RPM CCM Health for Billing Support?
Psychotherapy billing and coding can be quite complicated, so RPM CCM Health simplifies everything. We specialize in mental health billing and coding, ensuring that providers quickly and accurately get reimbursed.
- Expertise in Mental Health Billing
Our team is well aware of the psychotherapy codes like 90832, 90834, and 90837.
- Accurate Claim Submission
Our professionals follow payer-specific rules to reduce errors and rejections.
- Compliance-Focused Approach
RPM CCM Health assists providers in meeting the documentation standards to prevent audit risks.
- Faster Reimbursement
We streamline the psychotherapy billing procedure so you can spend more time with the patients and less on the paperwork.
Get Expert Help with CPT Code 90832
Make sure your psychotherapy billing is accurate and compliant. Contact RPM CCM Health today for expert billing support and guidance on CPT code 90832
