CPT 90837: psychotherapy session, 60 minutes. What Medicare pays and what to ask
Therapy sessions are billed by length. This page explains 90837, the 60-minute session, and the Medicare rate.
What this code means
CPT 90837 is individual psychotherapy with the patient lasting about 60 minutes (53 minutes or more). The 45-minute code is 90834 and the 30-minute code is 90832.
The code is chosen by the length of the session.
Why the bill can be much higher than the Medicare rate
Because the code depends on time, a shorter session billed at 60 minutes is worth a question.
Insurance often pays a negotiated amount, and the Medicare rate is a reference point, not a price you must accept.
| If a line is billed at | It would be |
|---|---|
| 5x the Medicare rate | $835.00 |
| 10x the Medicare rate | $1,670.00 |
| 20x the Medicare rate | $3,340.00 |
The Medicare rate is a published benchmark, not a legal ceiling on what a provider may charge. Our free scan flags a line as worth a closer look when it is billed at more than 10 times the Medicare rate.
Questions worth asking before you pay
- How long was my session, and does it match the code?
- Was the same session billed twice?
- Is a separate visit code billed on the same date?
Check every line against the official Medicare rates in about a minute. The scan is free.
Related codes
Source: Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (CMS, July 2026 release), national payment amount, non-facility setting. Last updated October 2026. This page is general information, not legal or medical advice. Rates change each year and a hospital bill can include charges that the benchmark does not cover.