Billing and Coding: Outpatient Psychotherapy

Outpatient psychotherapy codes are covered when the documented focus is psychotherapy: individual (90832/90834/90837), psychotherapy-with-E/M add-ons (90833/90836/90838) when billed with an E/M, family (90846/90847), group (90853), and crisis services (90839/90840). Interactive complexity (90785) is an add-on allowed with specified psychiatric codes when communication difficulties are present but is excluded with many procedure and assessment codes; detailed clinical documentation (time, interventions, goals, progress, and quarterly treatment plan updates) and separate identifiable documentation are required for billing and reimbursement.

"Individual psychotherapy CPT codes 90832, 90834, and 90837 are covered when the primary focus of treatment is individual psychotherapy."

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