Summary & Overview
CPT 90833: Psychotherapy, 30 Minutes with E/M Service
CPT code 90833 is a nationally recognized billing code for a 30-minute psychotherapy session provided in addition to an evaluation and management (E/M) service. This add-on code is widely used in psychiatric and mental health practices to capture the extra time and clinical effort involved when psychotherapy is delivered alongside a medical assessment. The code is relevant for office-based and outpatient settings, where integrated behavioral health care is increasingly common.
Major payers including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, Medicare, and UnitedHealthcare cover services billed under CPT code 90833, making it a key component in reimbursement for mental health professionals. The code is associated with both physician and non-physician mental health providers, reflecting its broad applicability across the behavioral health landscape.
Readers will find a comprehensive overview of CPT code 90833, including its clinical context, payer coverage, and related billing practices. The publication highlights benchmarks, policy updates, and the role of psychotherapy add-on codes in supporting integrated care models. Understanding the nuances of CPT code 90833 is essential for stakeholders seeking clarity on billing, compliance, and reimbursement trends in psychiatric and psychotherapy services.
CPT Code Overview
CPT code 90833 represents a 30-minute psychotherapy session with a patient and/or family member, performed in conjunction with an evaluation and management service. This code is classified as an add-on service in the field of psychiatry and psychotherapy, and is typically reported in office settings (Place of Service 11) or other outpatient environments where evaluation and management services are provided. The use of this code allows clinicians to document and bill for additional psychotherapy time when it is delivered alongside a primary medical assessment.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A patient with morbid (severe) obesity due to excess calories (E66.01) presents to a psychiatrist or psychologist in an outpatient office setting. The provider conducts an evaluation and management (E/M) service to assess the patient's medical and psychiatric status. During the same visit, the provider delivers a 30-minute psychotherapy session focused on behavioral modification and emotional support related to obesity management. The psychotherapy service is reported separately using CPT code 90833 as an add-on to the primary E/M service. This workflow is typical in settings where both medical and psychological aspects of care are addressed in a single encounter.
Coding Specifications
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Modifier
25: Used when a significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service is performed by the same provider on the same day as the psychotherapy procedure. This allows the E/M service to be billed in addition to the psychotherapy add-on code. -
Modifier
59: Indicates a distinct procedural service, used when psychotherapy is performed separately from other procedures or services on the same day.
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