CPT Code 90833: Psychotherapy Add-on (30 minutes)

CPT code 90833 is an add-on code used to report psychotherapy services lasting between 16 and 37 minutes provided during a visit that also includes an evaluation and management (E/M) service. It captures skilled therapeutic interventions such as insight-oriented, behavior-modifying, or supportive psychotherapy delivered face-to-face with the patient (and/or family), alongside medical management. This code cannot be billed alone and must accompany an E/M code documenting the medical evaluation component.

Yes, CPT codes 99214 (an E/M code for an established patient visit) and 90833 can be billed together when psychotherapy is provided during the same encounter as the medical evaluation. The psychotherapy portion must be separately documented, including the time spent (minimum 16 minutes), and the E/M service must be medically necessary and distinct. Proper documentation should reflect the division of time between the E/M and psychotherapy services, and the total visit time should support both codes.

A 90833 psychotherapy session must last at least 16 minutes and up to 37 minutes to qualify for billing. This time includes direct, face-to-face therapeutic interventions with the patient (and/or family) and is counted separately from the time spent on the evaluation and management portion of the visit. Sessions shorter than 16 minutes do not meet the criteria for 90833.