90847 CPT Code: Family Psychotherapy Billing Guide

The 90847 CPT code reports family or couples psychotherapy conducted with the patient present, typically around a 50-minute session. The defining feature is participation: the identified patient takes part in the session along with family members or a partner. It is the code behind most billable couples and family work in behavioral health, and it hinges on a diagnosed identified patient and the right documentation of who attended.

What is the 90847 CPT code? 90847 is the Current Procedural Terminology code for family psychotherapy (conjoint therapy) with the patient present, a face-to-face session that treats the identified patient together with family members or a partner.

Undeny's Take

90847 trips up practices on two fronts that have nothing to do with clinical skill. First, the identified patient: the claim is billed under one diagnosed patient, so "couples therapy" with no identified patient and no covered diagnosis is frequently non-covered — set that expectation before the first session. Second, presence: 90847 requires the patient in the room, while 90846 is the without-patient code. Mislabeling which session occurred is a common, avoidable denial. Document who attended and the identified patient's diagnosis every time, and 90847 holds up.

What the 90847 Code Covers

90847 covers conjoint family psychotherapy with the patient present — a session in which the clinician works with the identified patient and family members or a partner together. Its counterpart, 90846, covers family psychotherapy without the patient present. Both are framed around treating the identified, diagnosed patient; the family work is a modality of that treatment, not a separate benefit for each attendee.

Time, Units, and Reimbursement

90847 is a single-unit session code, generally described around 50 minutes; it is not billed in 15-minute increments. You report one unit per qualifying family session. Reimbursement follows each payer's fee schedule — Medicare from the code's RVUs on the Physician Fee Schedule, commercial plans by contract. Because coverage for family and couples work varies widely, verify benefits and use the CPT estimator or your contract for a working figure.

Modifiers and Add-Ons

95 — synchronous telehealth family session, where the payer allows it.
90785 — interactive complexity add-on when communication factors apply.
Some Medicaid and managed-care plans require program or discipline modifiers.

Common 90847 Denials

No identified patient or no covered diagnosis for the identified patient.
Billed as 90847 when the patient was not present (should be 90846).
Plan excludes or limits family/couples therapy benefits.
Multiple attendees billed separately, or a same-day conflict with individual therapy.

Related Codes

90847 is the family modality alongside the individual psychotherapy codes. 90837 is 60-minute individual therapy. 90791 is the diagnostic evaluation that establishes the identified patient's diagnosis. Browse the full set under CPT codes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 90847 cover?

90847 covers family or couples psychotherapy with the patient present — a conjoint session treating the identified patient together with family members or a partner. It is the standard code for billable family therapy in behavioral health.

What is the difference between 90846 and 90847?

The difference is patient presence: 90847 is family therapy with the patient present, and 90846 is family therapy without the patient present. Bill the code that matches who actually attended the session.

Is couples therapy billable under 90847?

Couples therapy can be billed under 90847 only when there is an identified patient with a covered diagnosis, and the work treats that patient's condition. Relationship counseling without a diagnosed identified patient is often non-covered.

How long is a 90847 session?

90847 is generally described as about a 50-minute family session. It is a single-unit code rather than a timed, 15-minute service, so you report one unit per qualifying session.

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

Estimate 90847 reimbursement

See typical units, modifiers, and reimbursement for 90847 in seconds. Try the CPT estimator · Browse CPT codes