CPT Code 90834 is widely used in mental health billing, specifically for individual psychotherapy sessions lasting 45 minutes. Understanding this code is key to accurate billing and timely reimbursements.
90834 represent 45-minute individual psychotherapy sessions in outpatient settings. It includes supportive, behavior-modifying, or insight-oriented therapy but excludes services like recreational therapy or teaching life skills.
For sessions involving medical evaluation and management, pair 90834 with an add-on code like +90833.
The 2025 rate is $104.16, reflecting a steady annual increase. Here’s how it compares to prior years:
Reimbursement typically covers 70%-80% of what a 60-minute session (CPT 90837) would receive.
Enhance medical billing accuracy with these common add-ons:
Modifiers help clarify the context of the service and ensure accurate reimbursement. Here are common modifiers for CPT Code 90834:
Telehealth Modifiers
Service Location Modifiers
Mastering CPT Code 90834 ensures smoother reimbursements and better transparency in treatment records. Accurate billing supports a healthy cash flow for practices and fosters client trust. By staying informed and proactive, mental health professionals can focus on delivering quality care while maintaining financial stability.
For expert assistance with billing, consider partnering with a trusted mental health billing service.
CPT 90834 is the billing code for a 45-minute individual psychotherapy session with a licensed mental health professional such as a psychologist, therapist, clinical social worker, or psychiatrist.
When I started therapy, I didn’t care what the code was I just needed help. But I soon learned that 90834 was the code used to bill my insurance for those 1:1 sessions where I cried, unpacked trauma, and slowly started feeling like myself again.
Not always. It depends on the length and type of session:
My therapist and I usually did 50-minute sessions, and 90834 fit best for insurance purposes. It’s the most frequently used code in outpatient therapy.
No, it does not. 90834 is for psychotherapy only. If your psychiatrist provides both talk therapy and medication management in the same visit, they may bill with different or add-on codes (like 90833 or 99213).
When I was seeing both a therapist and a psychiatrist, my bills showed 90834 for therapy, and separate evaluation codes for med checks.
Costs vary based on location, provider, and insurance, but here’s a general range:
When I was uninsured, I paid $90/session out-of-pocket. Later, with insurance, my copay was just $25. The financial piece can feel overwhelming—but help is out there.
Yes, most private insurance plans, Medicaid, and Medicare cover 90834 sessions—especially when paired with a valid mental health diagnosis code (like F41.1 for generalized anxiety or F33.1 for major depression).
Tip: Make sure your provider is in-network, and check if preauthorization is needed. I learned this the hard way after an OON session I had to pay for entirely out-of-pocket.
This code can be used for many therapeutic styles, including:
My therapist used a mix of CBT and mindfulness. Even though we talked about some pretty dark times, 45 minutes always felt like a safe space—a place to breathe and be heard.
90834 is not tied to a specific diagnosis, but it is often used with these ICD-10 codes:
My diagnosis was F41.9 (unspecified anxiety), and my provider billed 90834 every week. It wasn’t about the code—it was about getting better. But the right codes kept that care going.
From personal experience:
Some weeks, I showed up just to cry or sit in silence. Other times, I had breakthroughs. But every 45-minute session helped me carry a little less weight.
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