90837 CPT Code: 60-Minute Psychotherapy Billing Guide

The 90837 CPT code reports individual psychotherapy of 60 minutes with a patient. It is the longest of the standard time-based psychotherapy codes, billed when the face-to-face session reaches the 53-minute threshold that CPT assigns to the 60-minute service. Because it pays more than the 45-minute code and is billed often, 90837 draws more payer scrutiny than any other outpatient therapy code — so documentation and time tracking matter.

What is the 90837 CPT code? 90837 is the Current Procedural Terminology code for 60 minutes of individual psychotherapy with a patient, reported when the timed, face-to-face session meets the code's 53-minute floor.

Undeny's Take

90837 is the code payers love to audit, and therapists lose money two ways. They over-use it — billing 60 minutes for sessions that ran 50, which invites clawbacks — or they under-use it out of fear, downcoding genuine hour-long sessions to 90834 and leaving revenue on the table. Neither is necessary. Record actual start and stop times, bill 90837 when you cross 53 minutes, and keep a note that justifies the clinical need for the longer session. Clean time documentation is the entire defense against a 90837 review.

What the 90837 Code Covers

90837 covers individual, face-to-face psychotherapy with a patient (and optionally informant) when the session length corresponds to the 60-minute service. Under CPT's time rules, the timed psychotherapy codes step up by duration: 90832 for 30 minutes, 90834 for 45 minutes, and 90837 for 60 minutes. You report the code matching the time actually spent, using the midpoint thresholds CPT defines for each.

Time, Units, and Reimbursement

90837 is a single-unit, time-defined code — you bill one unit per qualifying session, not multiple 15-minute units. It is reported when the face-to-face time reaches at least 53 minutes. Reimbursement is set by each payer's fee schedule; for Medicare, the amount derives from the code's RVUs on the Physician Fee Schedule, and commercial rates vary by contract. Check your contracted rate or the CPT estimator for a working figure rather than assuming a national number.

Modifiers and Add-Ons

• 95 — synchronous telehealth delivery (many payers require it; place of service also matters).
• 90785 — interactive complexity add-on, when communication factors complicate care.
• Some payers and Medicaid programs require discipline or program modifiers (such as HO/HN) on behavioral-health claims.

Common 90837 Denials

• Time not documented or session shorter than the 53-minute threshold (downcode to 90834).
• Frequency or medical-necessity edits when 90837 is billed at high volume.
• Missing or incorrect telehealth modifier and place of service.
• Authorization absent for plans that gate routine psychotherapy.

Related Codes

90837 sits in a family of time-based and intake codes. 90834 is the 45-minute psychotherapy session. 90791 is the diagnostic evaluation that typically precedes ongoing therapy. Browse the full set under CPT codes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the time requirement for 90837?

90837 represents a 60-minute psychotherapy session and is reported when face-to-face time reaches at least 53 minutes. Below that, the 45-minute code 90834 applies. Document actual start and stop times to support the code.

What is the difference between 90834 and 90837?

The two codes differ by session length: 90834 is the 45-minute service (38–52 minutes) and 90837 is the 60-minute service (53 minutes or more). Bill the code that matches the time you actually spent face to face.

How many units of 90837 can I bill?

90837 is a single-unit code billed once per qualifying session. It is time-defined rather than billed in 15-minute increments, so you do not stack multiple units for one session.

Why do payers scrutinize 90837?

Because 90837 pays more than the 45-minute code and is billed frequently, some payers apply frequency or medical-necessity edits and audit time documentation. Accurate start/stop times and a note supporting the longer session length are the best protection.

Informational only — not legal, medical, or billing advice. Always verify against current CPT guidance and your payer policy.

Estimate 90837 reimbursement

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