Definition:
CPT® 90839 describes a psychotherapy session provided to a patient in crisis, focusing on immediate stabilization, assessment, and intervention. This code is used for the first 60 minutes of crisis psychotherapy and emphasizes urgent emotional or behavioral needs.
When to Use:
- For patients experiencing acute psychiatric or behavioral crises that require immediate attention.
- When the clinician provides direct intervention, safety planning, and support to manage high-risk symptoms or behaviors.
- Appropriate for initial crisis management, including de-escalation, assessment, and short-term stabilization.
Documentation Requirements:
To support billing for CPT® 90839, clinicians should document:
- Nature of the crisis and precipitating factors.
- Interventions used to stabilize or manage the patient.
- Duration of face-to-face crisis therapy.
- Follow-up recommendations or coordination with other providers.
Key Notes:
- CPT® 90839 is time-based; additional 30-minute increments use 90840.
- Proper documentation is essential for payer compliance and accurate reimbursement.
- Not intended for routine psychotherapy; reserved for acute crisis situations.
How OptiMantra Supports 90839:
OptiMantra’s EMR and practice management platform enables providers to document crisis psychotherapy sessions in detail, track patient progress, and integrate notes into the patient record. Integrated billing tools help generate clean, compliant claims, ensuring accurate reimbursement while supporting high-quality mental health care.
.png)
