CPT Code 90847: Family Psychotherapy with Patient Present (50 Minutes)

Learn about CPT Code 90847, its description, documentation requirements, and billing guidelines through this guide!

What is the 90847 CPT code all about?

Code 90847 is one of the mental health services that can be billed. It revolves around a 50-minute family psychotherapy session with the patient present, and one or more of the patient's family members are accompanying them. Through this session, the mental healthcare provider will discuss the patient's psychological disorders that not only impact the patient but also their family.

This group therapy session will be used as an opportunity not only to educate patients and their family members/caregivers, but also to develop the necessary treatment plan that involves the whole family.

Through family therapy sessions such as this, a mental health professional specializing in family psychotherapy services or family counseling (therapists, psychologists, licensed professional counselors, licensed clinical social workers, etc.), can help develop strategies that help the patient and family improve their interpersonal relationships, learn how to communicate with each other better in light of the patient's mental health condition(s), how to provide each other with emotional support, and how to cope healthily.

Do note that while it's mostly known for being one of many psychotherapy and family therapy codes, it can also count for couples therapy. However, the patient must be present, and it cannot be used for individual therapy sessions.

CPT code 90847 documentation requirements

To ensure that using this CPT code will be considered eligible by the insurance provider, it's important to document the following important information during the family therapy session:

Patient information
Patient's family members' information
Information of mental health practitioners involved in the session
Person-centered details
Patient-centered observations
Family dynamics observed
Any clinical interventions used during the session
Risk assessments
Any measurable patient progress, and if any goals have been reached
Clinical plans moving forward (especially what has been determined as medical necessity)

Please ensure you have all these for smooth insurance billing.

CPT code 90847 billing guidelines

Please note that CPT code 90847 is for a 50-minute family psychotherapy session. For an insurance company to consider this eligible, the session must be at least 26 minutes long and have been an actual psychotherapy session with interventions.

You cannot use this code if the session was meant to gather the patient's and their family's medical history or to request an update on progress.

Frequently asked questions

No. This is meant to be used for family group sessions.

90846 is used for family sessions where the designated patient is not present. Be cognizant of this difference and use the correct code when organizing the billing documents.

This will vary from provider to provider. Please inquire with your insurance provider directly.