Tell it what kind of session it was, how long, and where. It gives you the CPT code, units, place of service and telehealth modifier, and what to document.
Time in session with the client, not including notes.
Time-based: document the start and end times, or the total face-to-face minutes.
General guidance from the CPT time rules and common payer practice, not billing advice. Payers, Medicaid plans especially, set their own telehealth rules.
CPT counts psychotherapy time by the midpoint rule: 16 to 37 minutes is 90832, 38 to 52 minutes is 90834, and 53 minutes or more is 90837. Under 16 minutes cannot be billed as psychotherapy.
Which modifier and place of service do I use for telehealth therapy?⌄
Most payers use modifier 95 for live video, with place of service 10 when the client is at home and 02 when they are somewhere else. Phone-only sessions usually take modifier 93. Some payers still want GT, or the office place of service (11) with modifier 95, so check each payer’s telehealth policy.
When do I bill crisis psychotherapy?⌄
90839 covers the first 30 to 74 minutes of psychotherapy for crisis, and 90840 is added for each further 30 minutes from 75. Under 30 minutes, bill the session as ordinary psychotherapy by its length.
Can I bill a PHQ-9 or GAD-7 on top of the session?⌄
Many payers accept 96127, one unit per standardized instrument given and scored, alongside the session code. Payers often cap the units, so check. Our screenings can be handed to a client on your device or sent by link.
