CPT Code 90847: Family psychotherapy with patient present

When to Use CPT 90847

Use CPT code 90847 when billing for family psychotherapy with patient present. This code is used by licensed therapists (LCSW, LPC, MFT, Psychologist) for outpatient sessions.

Adding CPT 90847 to a Superbill

When generating a superbill with CPT 90847, include the ICD-10 diagnosis code, date of service, fee charged, amount paid, and your NPI number. Superbilled pre-fills common therapy CPT codes automatically.

Common ICD-10 Pairings

These diagnosis codes are frequently used alongside CPT 90847:

Documentation Requirements

Document all participants, the identified patient, and how family involvement supports the treatment plan. Include session focus and interventions used.

Common Denial Reasons

• ✗ Patient not documented as present in the session — should use 90846
• ✗ Billed as couples therapy without linking to the identified patient diagnosis
• ✗ Missing treatment plan justification for family modality

Got one of these on a remittance? Decode the denial code.

Reimbursement Expectations

OON reimbursement typically 50-70% of UCR. Expect $60-$155 from commercial plans.