90832

Psychotherapy, 30 minutes with patient and/or family member

CPT code 90832 represents individual psychotherapy, face-to-face, lasting 30 minutes. This service involves the therapeutic exploration of psychological issues affecting the patient's mental health, behavior, and overall well-being. It typically includes insight-oriented, behavior-modifying, supportive, or interactive psychotherapy. This code is appropriate for sessions where the actual face-to-face time spent with the patient and/or family member performing psychotherapy is between 16 minutes and 37 minutes. The focus is on specific symptoms, disorders, or life circumstances contributing to mental health challenges.

Clinical Indications

  • Depressive disorders (e.g., Major Depressive Disorder, Persistent Depressive Disorder)
  • Anxiety disorders (e.g., Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Specific Phobias)
  • Adjustment disorders with features such as depressed mood, anxiety, or mixed disturbance of emotions and conduct
  • Trauma- and stressor-related disorders (e.g., Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Acute Stress Disorder)
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder
  • Behavioral issues in children or adolescents requiring individual therapeutic intervention
  • Stress management and coping skill development for life transitions, grief, or chronic medical conditions
  • Early intervention for emerging mental health symptoms before they become severe
  • Supportive psychotherapy for individuals with chronic mental illnesses or personality disorders to maintain stability and improve functioning

Procedure Steps

  1. Establishment of a therapeutic alliance and rapport with the patient.
  2. Identification and assessment of the patient's presenting problems, symptoms, and treatment goals.
  3. Engagement in therapeutic dialogue, utilizing evidence-based techniques (e.g., cognitive restructuring, behavioral strategies, psychoeducation, psychodynamic exploration, interpersonal therapy).
  4. Exploration of thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and interpersonal patterns relevant to the patient's condition.
  5. Development and practice of coping mechanisms, problem-solving skills, and adaptive strategies.
  6. Review of progress towards treatment goals and adjustment of the treatment plan as necessary.
  7. Documentation of the session's start and end times, key therapeutic interventions, patient's response, and future plan.

Coding Guidelines

  • Report CPT code 90832 for psychotherapy sessions that last a minimum of 16 minutes and a maximum of 37 minutes.
  • Services must be rendered face-to-face with the patient and/or family member when the family's involvement is integral to the patient's treatment.
  • Psychotherapy codes (90832, 90834, 90837) are time-based codes; choose the code that best reflects the actual time spent.
  • This code may be billed on the same day as an Evaluation and Management (E/M) service (e.g., 99202-99215) if the psychotherapy service is distinct and separately identifiable. When billed with an E/M, modifier 25 (Significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional on the same day of the procedure or other service) should be appended to the E/M code.
  • Interactive complexity (add-on code +90785) may be reported in conjunction with 90832 when specific communication factors complicate the delivery of psychiatric procedures (e.g., communication barriers, emotional intensity, engagement of collateral sources, or interpretation for the patient).
  • Documentation must clearly reflect the actual start and end times of the psychotherapy session, the therapeutic interventions provided, and the medical necessity of the service.

Associated ICD-10 Codes