When you receive a bill or explanation of benefits (EOB) from your insurance company, you may notice codes like "90837" or "99213" listed next to your charges. These are CPT codes — a standardized system that healthcare providers use to describe the services they deliver. This guide explains what they mean and how they affect you as a client.
Key Points
CPT codes identify the type and length of service your provider delivered, which determines how your insurance processes and reimburses the visit.
You can find the CPT codes for your sessions on your billing summary or explanation of benefits (EOB).
If you see two CPT codes on a bill, it typically means you received both therapy and medication management during the same visit — these are billed separately.
If you believe an incorrect code was used, contact your provider first. They can correct and resubmit the claim.
How do CPT codes affect you?
As a client, you don't need to manage CPT codes — your provider handles that. But understanding them can help you in a few practical ways:
Verify your coverage. Knowing the CPT code for a service helps you confirm whether your insurance plan covers it and at what rate.
Review your bills. If a charge on your billing summary doesn't match what you expected, the CPT code can help you identify what service was billed and whether it aligns with what you received.
Dispute errors. If you believe the wrong code was used, you can reference it when contacting your provider or insurance company to request a correction.
You can find the CPT codes from your sessions on your billing summary or on the explanation of benefits (EOB) from your insurance company.
What are common CPT codes?
Here’s are some common CPT codes for therapy and psychiatry sessions:
For therapy sessions:
90791: Initial psychiatric evaluation or first therapy session
90832: Individual therapy session lasting 16 to 37 minutes
90834: Individual therapy session lasting 38 to 52 minutes
90837: Individual therapy session lasting 53 minutes or more
90846: Family or couples therapy session with the client not present
90847: Family or couples therapy session with the client present
For psychiatry sessions:
90792: Initial evaluation, similar to 90791, but includes additional medical services, such as prescribing medications
99202-99205: New client evaluation and management (E/M) codes, varying based on the complexity of the service provided
99212-99215: Established client E/M codes, varying based on the complexity of the service provided
90833: Therapy session lasting 16-30 minutes, with an additional E/M service
90836: Therapy session lasting 38-45 minutes, with an additional E/M service
90838: Therapy session lasting 53-60 minutes, with an additional E/M service
99212: Low-complexity E/M session lasting 10-19 minutes for an established client
Frequently asked questions
Why do I have two CPT codes on my bill? Therapy and medication management are billed separately. One code typically reflects the therapy or evaluation portion of the visit, and the second reflects the time spent managing your medications.
Will my insurance cover telehealth sessions? Generally, the same CPT codes used for in-person visits apply to telehealth. Some insurers require a special modifier to indicate the service was provided remotely. Check with your insurance company to confirm whether telehealth is covered under your plan.
Can CPT codes affect my out-of-pocket costs? Yes. The code used for a service determines your insurance company's reimbursement rate, which in turn affects what you owe. If you have questions about a specific charge, reviewing the CPT code alongside your EOB is a good starting point.
What should I do if I think an incorrect code was used?
Review your bill and your explanation of benefits (EOB) and compare the CPT codes to the services you received.
Contact your provider if you spot an error — they can correct the code and resubmit the claim to your insurance company.
Contact your insurance company directly if the provider submitted correctly, but the claim was processed incorrectly.
Follow up with your insurer to confirm the issue has been resolved.