Overview
CPT® Code 90840 is used to report psychotherapy provided to a patient experiencing a mental health crisis, billed for each additional 30-minute segment beyond the initial session (typically billed alongside 90839 for the first 60 minutes). Crisis psychotherapy is designed to stabilize acute emotional or behavioral disturbances, provide coping strategies, and ensure patient safety.
This code represents the psychotherapy service itself. Evaluation, medical management, or follow-up care are billed separately when applicable.
Key Facts About CPT® 90840
- Service type: Mental health psychotherapy
- Provider type: Psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, licensed counselors
- Medical services included:
- Assessment and management of a mental health crisis
- Therapeutic intervention for acute emotional or behavioral disturbances
- Support, coping strategies, and crisis stabilization
- Time increments: Each additional 30 minutes beyond the initial 60 minutes
- Common clinical indications:
- Severe anxiety, panic attacks, or emotional distress
- Acute suicidal ideation or self-harm risk
- Psychotic or mood disorder exacerbations
- Trauma-related crises or acute grief responses
When to Use CPT® 90840
CPT 90840 is appropriate when:
- Crisis psychotherapy exceeds the first 60 minutes of care (initially billed with 90839)
- The patient presents with acute psychological or emotional disturbance
- Services are medically necessary to stabilize the patient and prevent harm
- Each 30-minute increment of additional psychotherapy is clearly documented
Examples:
- Providing 90 minutes of psychotherapy to a patient experiencing an acute panic episode
- Extended crisis intervention for a patient with suicidal thoughts
- Additional psychotherapy following trauma exposure to stabilize emotional response
- Ongoing crisis management for acute exacerbation of bipolar or depressive disorder
Documentation Requirements
To properly support CPT 90840 billing, documentation should include:
- Patient identifiers and date of service
- Total duration of psychotherapy and number of additional 30-minute increments
- Nature of the crisis and presenting symptoms
- Therapeutic interventions provided
- Patient response and follow-up plan
- Clear link between the initial session (90839) and subsequent 30-minute increments
Thorough documentation ensures compliance, proper reimbursement, and continuity of crisis care.
Reimbursement and Coding Considerations
- CPT 90840 is typically reimbursed by Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurers when medically necessary
- Must be billed in conjunction with 90839 (initial 60 minutes)
- Separate E/M services or medication management are billed independently
- Time-based billing requires accurate documentation of start and end times
- Verify payer-specific rules for psychotherapy in crisis and session increments
How OptiMantra Supports Crisis Psychotherapy Documentation
OptiMantra’s integrated EMR and practice management system streamlines documentation, tracking, and billing for psychotherapy services, including CPT 90840.
With OptiMantra, providers can:
- Document crisis psychotherapy sessions
- Record patient symptoms, interventions, and outcomes in structured templates
- Generate audit-ready claims for initial and additional 30-minute increments
- Integrate crisis therapy notes into the patient’s broader behavioral health care plan
- Maintain compliance with payer documentation and billing requirements
By centralizing documentation, session tracking, and billing workflows, OptiMantra helps mental health providers deliver efficient, compliant, and patient-centered crisis care.
Try OptiMantra for free here!
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