CPT Code 90837: How to Bill the 53-Minute-Plus Psychotherapy Session
CPT code 90837 is psychotherapy with the patient, and sometimes a family member, for 53 minutes or more. It is the longest of the three timed individual psychotherapy codes. This guide shows when to bill CPT code 90837, how it differs from 90834, what happens with sessions over 90 minutes, and what the note has to show. It is written for psychotherapists and for psychiatrists.
For the full code-by-code reference, see our individual psychotherapy guide.
What CPT code 90837 means
CMS says “CPT Codes 90832-90838 represent psychotherapy. Psychotherapy without medical evaluation and management services are reported as 90832, 90834 and 90837” (CMS Coverage Database, Article A57480, WPS, rev. 1/1/2026). The AMA descriptor for 90837 is psychotherapy with the patient, 60 minutes as the typical time. Bill by the minute ranges below, not the typical time.
CPT code 90837 time range
| Code | Service | Time range |
|---|---|---|
| 90832 | Psychotherapy, patient and/or family member | 16–37 minutes |
| 90834 | Psychotherapy, patient and/or family member | 38–52 minutes |
| 90837 | Psychotherapy, patient and/or family member | 53 minutes or more |
Contractor article A57520 (First Coast, rev. 1/1/2025) quotes the 90832 range. A 53-minute session is CPT code 90837, and a 52-minute session is 90834. There is no 46–52 minute tier and no separate code for 75 or 90 minutes. See CPT code 90834 and our 90837 or 90834 guide for the comparison.
Sessions over 90 minutes
Under CMS Coverage Database, Article A57480, a session over 90 minutes is paid only if the record shows the face-to-face time and the medical necessity for the extra time. CPT code 90837 still covers every session of 53 minutes or more, so the note carries the weight. Record the start and end time every time.
What counts as time
CMS says “Psychotherapy times are for face-to-face services with the patient. The patient must be present for all or some of the service” (Article A57520). Start and stop times, or total times, must be documented for 90832, 90834 and 90837.
When CPT code 90837 is the wrong code
- Crisis session: CMS says not to bill crisis codes with 90832–90838. See the CPT code 90839 guide and the crisis psychotherapy guide.
- Intake: the diagnostic evaluation is 90791 or 90792, and NCCI does not allow psychotherapy codes with 90791 on the same date.
- Medication management: CMS says psychotherapy codes should not be used as generic psychiatric service codes when an E/M or pharmacological management code fits better.
Who bills CPT code 90837
Psychotherapists: use 90837 for a session of 53 minutes or more where psychotherapy is the focus.
Psychiatrists: use 90837 only when the visit is psychotherapy without an E/M service. When you bill an E/M service the same day, psychotherapy is reported with an add-on code instead. See the psychotherapy add-on codes guide and the E/M and home-visit guide.
What to document
- Date of service, start time and end time
- Why the session needed 53 minutes or more
- The focus of the session and the treatment goal it supports
- Interventions used, the patient’s response and the plan
See documentation requirements for the full list. Private payers and state Medicaid programs set their own limits and review rules, and these vary by state. Check each payer, and see the CPT & E/M code guide for the other code families.
Frequently asked questions about CPT code 90837
How many minutes is CPT code 90837?
53 minutes or more of face-to-face psychotherapy. Use 90834 for 38 to 52 minutes.
Is there a code for a 75 or 90 minute session?
No. CPT code 90837 covers 53 minutes or more. Over 90 minutes, the record has to show the face-to-face time and the medical necessity for the extra time.
Do I have to document the time for CPT code 90837?
Yes. Start and stop times or total times must be documented for 90832, 90834 and 90837.
Can I bill CPT code 90837 with crisis codes?
CMS says not to bill crisis codes with psychotherapy codes 90832–90838 for the same service.
Where this applies
MCM South supports psychotherapists and psychiatrists in Georgia, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Texas, Florida, New York, Colorado, Tennessee, North Carolina and Illinois. Payer rules differ by state. Get a free quote or schedule a consultation.
For quick reference only: verify against the current AMA CPT manual and each payer’s policy before billing. Operational billing guidance, not legal advice. Current as of last search (sources checked 9/29/26).
