How to do Bill CPT Code 90839 effectively for crisis medical sessions

Crisis therapy is an important service that provides immediate psychological care to individuals facing mental health emergencies. For mental health professionals, billing may be slightly complicated for crisis therapy, especially when using specific CPT codes.

One such code is CPT code 90839, which is designated for crisis psychiatry sessions running from 60 to 90 minutes. If the session exceeds 90 minutes, the CPT code 90840 is used as an add-on. In 2025, there is a simple guide on how to bill properly for these services and avoid normal billing mistakes.

What is CPT Code 90839?

The CPT code 90839 refers to psychiatry for crisis conditions. This process code is used when a licensed mental health provider takes immediate care of a patient who experiences a mental health crisis. The session should be between 60 and 90 minutes.

Who Can Bill for Crisis Therapy?

Not all therapists can bill CPT 90839. Only licensed professionals with the following credentials are eligible:

Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW)
Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC)
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT)
Psychologists (PsyD, PhD)
Psychiatrists (MD)

These licensed professionals are authorized to provide crisis therapy and bill using CPT code 90839.

Billing for Extended Crisis Therapy (CPT Code 90840)

If the crisis therapy session extends beyond the initial 90 minutes, you will need to use CPT Code 90840, an add-on code. This code accounts for additional 30-minute intervals of therapy.

CPT Code 90840: Used for every 30 minutes of additional crisis therapy after the first 90 minutes.

CPT Code 90839 Major Requirements for Billing

Length of the session: The therapy session CPT 90839 should run between 60 and 90 minutes for the bill. If the session is small, you may need to use a separate CPT code, such as 90834, such as a different CPT code.
Documentation: With all medical services, it is necessary to document the nuances of the session. This includes the situation of the crisis, the status of the patient, and the details of the services provided. Proper documentation of crisis supports medical requirements for therapy.
Telehealth Crisis Therapy: Given the rise of telehealth, if you are conducting crisis therapy through telemedicine, then the use of Telehealth Modifier 95 or GT location (POS) Code 02 based on the requirements of the insurance provider (POS) code 02 based on the requirements of the insurance provider.

Reimbursement Rates for 2025

CPT Code 90839: The reimbursement rate for 2025 is $148.47 for the initial 60-90 minute session.
CPT Code 90840: For the extended 30-minute increments, the reimbursement rate is $72.78.

Special Billing Considerations

After-hour crisis therapy: If the crisis therapy is outside regular commercial hours, then you additional code CPT 99050 (for regular office time services) or CPT 99051 (evening, weekend, or services during the hours of holidays).
Authorization: Usually, the nature of the service does not require pre-authorization for crisis therapy. However, some insurance companies including Medicare may have specific guidelines or limitations, so it is recommended to contact the insurer to confirm the reimbursement details.

Medical Billing issues

If you are facing challenges in obtaining reimbursement for CPT 90839 or 90840, make sure you are:

Using the correct diagnosis code supporting medical requirement.
Billing with a modifier suitable for telehealth or hours of services.
The reason for the time of the session and the intervention of the crisis.

If you still face issues, getting help from a professional mental health billing service can be a good option to avoid delay and ensure compliance.

By following these simple guidelines, you will be better equipped with the bill for crisis medical sessions using the CPT code 90839 and make sure that you are making accurate payments for the services provided by you. Remember to always be updated on reimbursement rates and coding updates to maintain memorial billing practices.

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