2025 CPT code 90846
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Psychiatry Services - Psychotherapy Medicine Services and Procedures > Psychiatry Services and Procedures Feed
Family psychotherapy (without the patient present), 50 minutes.
Modifiers may be applicable depending on the circumstances of service, such as place of service or the use of telehealth. Consult the official CPT guidelines for appropriate modifier usage.
Medical necessity is established when family therapy is deemed essential to address significant family dynamics that directly affect the patient's mental health and treatment outcome.The absence of the patient during the session should be clinically justified, for example, when the patient's presence would be counterproductive or when the focus is specifically on the family's ability to support the patient's treatment.
The clinical responsibility involves assessing the family's understanding of the patient's condition, identifying family dynamics impacting the patient's mental health, providing education and coping strategies to the family, and collaborating with the patient's treatment team to enhance overall care.
- Medicine Services and Procedures > Psychiatry Services and Procedures
- Psychiatry Services > Psychotherapy
In simple words: This code is for a 50-minute meeting with a therapist where the therapist talks with the patient's family about the patient's mental health issues without the patient being present. The therapist helps the family understand the patient's problems and how they can help or hinder the patient's recovery.
CPT code 90846 is used to bill for family psychotherapy sessions lasting 50 minutes where the patient is not present for the majority of the session.This code encompasses a biopsychosocial assessment of the family dynamic,counseling regarding the patient's psychological issues and its impact on the family, and strategies to improve family functioning and support the patient's treatment. The focus is on the family's understanding of the patient's condition and how their interactions influence the patient's well-being.The session must be at least 26 minutes in duration.This code cannot be billed on the same day as other specific psychotherapy or evaluation and management services (90785-90899, 90839, 90840, 97151-97158, 0362T, 0373T).
Example 1: A therapist meets with the parents of a teenager struggling with depression and anxiety.The therapist helps the parents understand the symptoms, the importance of medication adherence, and strategies for effective communication with their child. The patient is not present during this session. , A couple attends therapy following a recent infidelity. The therapist works with the couple to explore the underlying issues that contributed to the infidelity and develops communication skills to prevent future issues. The patient’s focus is their relationship, not their individual mental health and the patient is not present. , A therapist conducts a session with the family members of a patient struggling with addiction. They explore the family's dynamics and the role of enabling behaviors, educating them on healthy boundaries and methods to support the patient's recovery without enabling.
Detailed notes documenting the session's content, family interactions, interventions used, treatment plans discussed, and any significant progress or challenges observed.The documentation should clearly indicate the absence of the patient and the focus on family dynamics.
** The term "family" can include traditional family members, significant others, or live-in companions involved in the patient's care.
- Revenue Code: M5B (SPECIALIST - PSYCHIATRY)
- Payment Status: Active
- Specialties:Psychiatry, Psychology, Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy
- Place of Service:Office, Hospital Inpatient, Hospital Outpatient,Telehealth Provided in Patient’s Home, Telehealth Provided Other than in Patient’s Home