CPT 90832: Psychotherapy, 16–37 Minute Individual Session
Medicare pays $88 and commercial payers pay $164 on average nationally for this procedure.
CPT code 90832 describes a psychotherapy session lasting approximately 16 to 37 minutes focused on treating psychiatric disorders; this code represents a face-to-face outpatient psychotherapy service where the clinician provides therapeutic techniques to address the patient’s mental health symptoms and functioning. The service type is brief individual psychotherapy and the typical site of service is an outpatient behavioral health or office setting.
For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: DRG Newborn Inpatient Stays - Facility, Pediatric Preventive Screening, Pediatric Preventive Screening.
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National Reimbursement Benchmarks
Medicare’s mean rate for CPT 90832 sits near $88.4, which is roughly half the average commercial level represented by BUCA at $164.2; this highlights a sizable gap between Medicare and the typical commercial benchmark for a brief psychotherapy visit. The commercial cohort (BUCA) therefore prices this service substantially higher on average than Medicare, reflecting divergent reimbursement baselines between public and commercial payers.
Dispersion measured by the interquartile spread (P75–P25) varies materially across payers. Blue Cross Blue Shield shows the widest IQR at $70.0 (P75 $246.4 minus P25 $175.4), while Aetna and Cigna are tighter at $33.0 (Aetna P75 $99.5 − P25 $63.7) and $49.0 (Cigna P75 $121.2 − P25 $69.2) respectively. UnitedHealth Group’s IQR is $60.1 (P75 $126.8 − P25 $66.7), and BUCA’s IQR is $61.6 (P75 $190.4 − P25 $128.8). Medicare’s IQR is narrow at $4.0 (P75 $89 − P25 $85).