Mental Health CPT Codes Introduction
Mental health billing can be complex, but having a clear understanding of the correct CPT codes is critical. Proper coding helps ensure accurate reimbursement, reduce claim denials, and streamline operations for behavioural health and psychiatric practices. Whether you’re an individual provider or manage a group practice, this 2025 guide to mental health billing CPT codes will help you stay compliant and improve collections.
What Are Mental Health CPT Codes and Why Are They Important in Mental Health Billing?
CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) codes are standardized codes used by healthcare providers to describe medical, surgical, and diagnostic services. In the context of mental health services, they are essential for documenting care, billing insurance companies, and supporting continuity of care.
Misused or outdated codes can result in claim denials and lost revenue, which makes staying up to date on the latest codes more important than ever. Learn more about CPT code structures and updates at AAPC.com.
Most Common Mental Health CPT Codes in 2025
Below are the most frequently used CPT codes for mental health billing. These are widely accepted by insurance payers and cover services ranging from evaluations to psychotherapy and collaborative care.
90791 – Psychiatric Diagnostic Code for Initial Mental Health Evaluation
Used for initial patient assessments, this code represents a psychiatric diagnostic evaluation without medical services. It is typically billed for a 60-minute, face-to-face session. This is often the first code used when starting treatment with a new patient. More guidance on mental health evaluation practices can be found at Coping.us.
90834 – 45-Minute Individual Therapy CPT Code
This code is used for standard psychotherapy sessions of approximately 45 minutes. It is one of the most common codes for billing cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), trauma-focused therapy, and other outpatient mental health services. Learn how practices implement this at CarePaths.com.
90837 – Extended 60-Minute Mental Health CPT Code
90837 is used for extended individual psychotherapy sessions. These 60-minute face-to-face sessions are usually billed for complex or intensive treatment cases such as mood disorders or PTSD. While reimbursed at a higher rate, this code often requires medical necessity documentation.
90832 – Individual Psychotherapy (30 Minutes)
Used for shorter follow-up or maintenance sessions, this code covers 20 to 30 minutes of psychotherapy. It is appropriate for patients who do not require extended therapy sessions but need consistent care, and is often seen in integrated behavioral health settings.
90853 – Group Psychotherapy
This code represents group psychotherapy sessions involving multiple patients. Group therapy usually lasts 45 to 60 minutes and is often used in programs for addiction recovery, DBT skills training, or peer support groups. See how platforms like TheraPlatform.com support group therapy documentation and billing.
99492, 99493, 99494 – Psychiatric Collaborative Care Management
These codes support psychiatric care integrated with primary care teams. They are used for psychiatric collaborative care models that include a behavioural health care manager and a consulting psychiatrist.
- 99492: Initial 70 minutes of care in the first month
- 99493: 60 minutes in subsequent months
- 99494: Each additional 30 minutes as needed
These codes are crucial for clinics providing value-based care or integrated behavioural health services. Tools like Psychiatry-Cloud.com help manage these workflows effectively.
96127 – Brief Emotional/Behavioural Assessment
96127 is used for standardized mental health screenings such as PHQ-9, GAD-7, and Vanderbilt. It is often billed alongside other services and supports the early identification of behavioural health conditions.
96110 – Developmental Behavioural Screening
Used primarily in pediatric settings, this code covers developmental screenings for children. It includes tools like the M-CHAT or Ages and Stages Questionnaire and helps identify developmental delays early. Visit DayofDifference.org.au for more insights on pediatric mental health.
96116 – Neurobehavioral Status Exam
96116 is billed for face-to-face assessments of cognitive function or neurological status. It is often used in evaluations for traumatic brain injury, memory loss, or dementia, and typically covers the first 30 minutes of testing.
96130/96131 – Health Behaviour Assessment and Intervention
These codes are used to assess and address how physical health conditions impact mental health. They are common in pain management, diabetes education, and chronic illness counselling.
- 96130: First 60 minutes
- 96131: Each additional 30 minutes
You can explore behavioural health practice tools at OwlPracticeSuite.com.
Tips for Billing Mental Health Services Effectively
- Verify patient insurance coverage before each session
- Document time spent (20, 30, 45, or 60 minutes) and face-to-face interaction clearly
- Use proper modifiers when billing multiple services on the same day
- Stay informed about payer policies and CPT code changes
- Use secure EHR or billing platforms like Compoundent.com
Certification resources such as NBCC.org can also help your team stay updated.
Conclusion
Using the correct mental health billing CPT codes is essential for maximizing reimbursement and minimizing billing errors. Whether you’re providing group psychotherapy (90853), conducting a psychiatric diagnostic evaluation (90791), or managing collaborative care, billing accurately is key to maintaining financial health in your practice.
Need help with CPT coding or claim submission? Explore Medical Billing Services. Struggling with denials or low reimbursement? Check out our solutions for Denial Management and Revenue Optimization. New to mental health billing or starting your practice? Book a free consultation to get started
With the right codes and support, your practice can deliver exceptional care while improving revenue cycle efficiency in 2025.
CPT codes in mental health billing are standardized codes used to describe services like therapy sessions, psychiatric evaluations, and group psychotherapy. These codes ensure providers are reimbursed properly.
The CPT code for a 60-minute individual therapy session is 90837. It is one of the most commonly used mental health billing CPT codes in outpatient settings.
Yes, group psychotherapy is billed using CPT code 90853. This is typically used for 45 to 60-minute sessions with multiple patients participating in structured therapy.
90791 is used for psychiatric diagnostic evaluations, typically during a patient’s first visit. It involves a 60-minute face-to-face session but does not include medication management.
Yes, codes 99492, 99493, and 99494 are used for psychiatric collaborative care management, which involves coordination between a primary care provider, behavioural health manager, and psychiatric consultant.