EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) does not have its own CPT code. It is billed under standard psychotherapy codes based on session length — but there are documentation practices and insurance considerations specific to EMDR that every billing therapist should know.
Which CPT Codes to Use for EMDR
EMDR sessions are billed using the standard individual psychotherapy time-based codes:
- 90837 — 60-minute individual psychotherapy. The most common code for EMDR sessions, which typically run 60–90 minutes to allow adequate processing time.
- 90834 — 45-minute individual psychotherapy. Used for shorter EMDR preparation phase sessions or follow-up stabilization sessions.
- 90832 — 30-minute individual psychotherapy. Rarely used for EMDR given the minimal time needed, but appropriate for brief check-ins between processing sessions.
- 90791 — Psychiatric diagnostic evaluation. Used for the initial assessment session where you complete the trauma history and determine EMDR candidacy.
How to Document EMDR for Insurance
While EMDR has no unique code, your progress notes should specifically identify the modality and EMDR phase:
- Phase 1 — History taking and treatment planning
- Phase 2 — Preparation and resource installation
- Phases 3–6 — Assessment, desensitization, installation, body scan
- Phase 7 — Closure
- Phase 8 — Reevaluation
Documenting "EMDR Phase 4 desensitization, target memory: [description], SUDS at start 9/10, SUDS at close 3/10" gives payers the clinical specificity they need to substantiate medical necessity for trauma-focused therapy.
Diagnosis Codes Paired With EMDR
EMDR is evidence-based primarily for PTSD. Common diagnosis codes:
- F43.12 — PTSD, chronic (most common for established trauma cases)
- F43.11 — PTSD, acute
- F43.10 — PTSD, unspecified
- F32.1, F32.2 — Major depressive disorder, moderate/severe (EMDR also used for depression with trauma components)
- F41.1 — Generalized anxiety disorder
Prior Authorization for PTSD Treatment
Some insurers require prior authorization for PTSD treatment — and therefore for EMDR sessions billed with F43 diagnosis codes. Check the client's plan before beginning trauma-focused therapy. If preauth is required, submit the request with:
- Clinical justification: PTSD diagnosis, symptom severity, functional impairment
- Evidence base: EMDR is an APA-recommended, WHO-endorsed treatment for PTSD
- Estimated number of sessions requested (typically 8–12 for a complete protocol)
Intensive EMDR: Multiple Sessions Per Day
Intensive EMDR formats (2–3 sessions per day, over consecutive days) are billed as separate sessions with separate CPT codes and dates/times. Each session gets its own entry on the superbill. Some insurers limit the number of sessions per day or per week — verify benefits and document medical necessity for intensive formats explicitly.
EMDR on a Superbill
Include the CPT code (e.g., 90837), the session date, fee, and ICD-10 trauma diagnosis code. You may add a note line like "Modality: EMDR" — while not required for insurance processing, it helps clients understand what was billed. Superbilled generates compliant superbills for EMDR sessions the same as any other therapy service.