CPT · Psychotherapy
90834: Individual psychotherapy, 45-minute session
90834 reports individual psychotherapy with the patient for a session of approximately 45 minutes, generally 38 to 52 minutes of therapy time. It is the most commonly reported outpatient therapy length.
What it covers
The time reported is therapy time with the patient, not the length of the appointment slot and not documentation time afterwards. Sessions are measured against a range around the nominal length rather than requiring an exact duration.
Because 90834 sits directly below 90837 in both length and payment, the boundary between them is the most examined element in behavioral health billing.
When to use it
- A standard outpatient individual therapy session running roughly 45 minutes
- Any session where therapy time falls in the 38–52 minute range
Where the boundary sits
| Compared with | The deciding rule |
|---|---|
| 90837 | 90837 begins at 53 minutes of therapy time. A 50-minute session is 90834, however the appointment was scheduled. |
| 90832 | 90832 covers shorter sessions, roughly 16–37 minutes. |
Documentation that keeps it paid
- Start and stop times, or the total therapy time
- The therapeutic modality and interventions used
- Progress against the treatment plan goals
Denial & audit triggers
Session length not documented
Time-defined codes require the time in the note. A session type without a duration cannot support either 90834 or 90837 on review.
Visit frequency limits
Some plans cap sessions per period or require authorization past a threshold. These deny cleanly and are preventable with tracking.
How it pairs with other codes
- Not reported alongside 90837 for the same session
- Reported with an E/M code only in the add-on structure, using 90833 rather than the standalone therapy code
Questions we get asked
- Is a 50-minute session 90834 or 90837?
- 90834. The threshold for 90837 is 53 minutes of therapy time, and the scheduled length of the appointment does not change that.
- Does documentation time count toward the session length?
- No. The time reported is therapy time with the patient.
Reference only, and typical rather than universal: coverage, modifier requirements, and payment vary by payer, plan, state, and provider type. Confirm current payer policy before billing. CPT is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association; official descriptors are not reproduced here.
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