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CPT code 90834: Psychotherapy session, 45 minutes, without E/M2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in King County, WA

Report this individual psychotherapy service for 38 to 52 minutes with the patient when the clinician does not perform E/M with the psychotherapy.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality3.4M Medicare services in 2024

In King County, WA, Medicare pays $124.34 for 90834 in the office and $97.29 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$124.34Office (non-facility)
$97.29Hospital or facility
+9.2%vs the national office rate ($113.90)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 90834 nationwide

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

We’ll open 90834 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 12 sections
  1. Rate in King County, WA
  2. What 90834 covers
  3. Compared with other areas
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Rate history
  10. Where it applies
  11. Billing questions
  12. Sources

What 90834 covers

This service is an individual psychotherapy session in which a clinician uses techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy, supportive therapy, or insight-oriented work to treat a mental health or substance use condition. The patient participates for all or part of the session; a family member or caregiver may join. Clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, and Medicare-enrolled marriage and family therapists or mental health counselors provide it in offices, outpatient clinics, and eligible telehealth encounters.

Select 90834 using psychotherapy time: 38 through 52 minutes. Use 90832 for 16 through 37 minutes and 90837 for 53 minutes or more. Document total psychotherapy minutes or start and stop times, the therapeutic approach, clinical focus, patient response, and progress toward treatment goals. Exclude time spent on E/M activities or testing. If the same clinician performs a separately identifiable E/M service with psychotherapy, report the appropriate psychotherapy add-on instead; for 38 through 52 minutes, that is 90836. Interactive complexity add-on 90785 may accompany 90834 when its qualifying communication factors are documented.

This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.

Billing guides for 90834: 90834 vs 90837 · 90832 vs 90834 · Psychotherapy CPT codes · Mental health billing

How King County, WA compares for 90834

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 90834 runs from $109.66 in Arkansas to $158.15 in Alaska. King County, WA pays $124.34. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

90834 in King County, WA vs other payment areas
  1. King County, WA · this page$124.34
  2. Rest of Washington · Washington$116.32−$8.02
  3. Los Angeles, CA · California$122.25−$2.09
  4. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$123.52−$0.82
  5. Miami, FL · Florida$116.06−$8.28
  6. Chicago, IL · Illinois$115.50−$8.84
  7. Manhattan, NY · New York$124.25−$0.09

Other areas in Washington first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

90834 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlaskaAlaska$158.15$134.67
AlabamaAlabama$110.14$90.85
ArkansasArkansas$109.66$90.73
ArizonaArizona$112.94$91.58
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$117.92$93.76
Chico, CACalifornia$117.70$93.54
El Centro, CACalifornia$117.71$93.54
Fresno, CACalifornia$117.70$93.54

90834 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

Explore a state

Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

$109.66

$158.15

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
90834 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$158.151
AL$110.141
AR$109.661
AZ$112.941
CA$117.70–$135.2529
CO$116.551
CT$117.881
DC$123.521
DE$113.921
FL$113.01–$116.063
GA$111.03–$114.732
GU$117.411
HI$117.411
IA$111.141
ID$111.331
IL$111.86–$115.764
IN$111.531
KS$110.901
KY$110.761
LA$110.68–$112.352
MA$116.60–$122.712
MD$115.03–$123.523
ME$111.43–$113.402
MI$111.57–$113.392
MN$114.231
MO$110.05–$112.573
MS$109.871
MT$113.901
NC$111.801
ND$113.501
NE$111.351
NH$114.951
NJ$119.93–$123.772
NM$111.731
NV$113.811
NY$112.31–$125.185
OH$111.491
OK$110.781
OR$113.59–$118.172
PA$111.59–$116.702
PR$114.191
RI$116.361
SC$111.691
SD$113.451
TN$111.071
TX$111.35–$115.608
UT$112.171
VA$113.23–$123.522
VI$114.191
VT$113.291
WA$116.32–$124.342
WI$112.271
WV$110.551
WY$113.721

See 90834 in every payment locality

How the 90834 rate is calculated

Each of 90834’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.

How the rate is built · 90834

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work2.56

2.56 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense0.83

0.83 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.02

0.02 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

3.4100

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$113.90

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

The exact King County, WA inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

11,531

Code
90834
Physician work
2.56
Practice expense
0.83
Malpractice
0.02

GPCI2026.csv

108

Locality
King County, WA
Physician work
1.050
Practice expense
1.227
Malpractice
0.817
Office calculation for 90834 in King County, WA
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work2.56× 1.0502.6880
Practice expense0.83× 1.2271.0184
Malpractice0.02× 0.8170.0163
Total RVUs3.7228
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, King County, WA$124.34

Office: (2.56 × 1.05 + 0.83 × 1.227 + 0.02 × 0.817) × $33.4009 = $124.34

Facility: (2.56 × 1.05 + 0.17 × 1.227 + 0.02 × 0.817) × $33.4009 = $97.29

Open 90834 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 90834

90834 has no global surgery period, no multiple-procedure, bilateral or assistant-at-surgery adjustment, and no professional/technical split. What changes the payment is where the service happens: the place of service on the claim decides whether Medicare pays the office or the facility rate.

Place of service · 90834

Which rate does Medicare pay?

The POS code on the claim line (CMS-1500 box 24B).

POS 11 · non-facility rate · national

$113.90

Non-facility (office)
$113.90
Facility
$91.85

Higher because the practice carries its own overhead.

90834 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

90834 vs 90832 vs 90837: Medicare rates

Office or facility?

  • 90834

    Psychotherapy session, 45 minutes, without E/M2.56 wRVU

    $113.90

  • 90832

    Psychotherapy session, 30 minutes, without E/M1.94 wRVU

    $85.84−$28.06

  • 90837

    Psychotherapy, 60 minutes, no E/M3.78 wRVU

    $167.00+$53.10

Same family in King County, WA

Related code rates in King County, WA
CodeOfficeFacility
90832Psychotherapy session30 minutes, without E/M$93.72$73.64
90837Psychotherapy60 minutes, no E/M$182.29$143.36

How to choose

90837Psychotherapy60 minutes, no E/M
Both are individual psychotherapy codes without E/M performed with the therapy. Use 90834 for 38 to 52 minutes; use 90837 once psychotherapy time reaches 53 minutes.
90836PsychotherapyWith E/M, 38–52 minutes
90836 is a psychotherapy add-on for 38 to 52 minutes when the same clinician performs a separately identifiable E/M service with the therapy. Report 90834 when that clinician provides psychotherapy without E/M.
90832Psychotherapy session30 minutes, without E/M
90832 covers 16 to 37 minutes of psychotherapy. Use 90834 when documented psychotherapy time reaches 38 through 52 minutes.
90847Family therapyPatient present, 50 minutes
90847 is family psychotherapy focused on family interactions, with the patient present. Individual-focused therapy remains 90834 when a family member joins the patient's session.

Codes related to 90834

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Codes related to 90834
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, King County, WA
Same family
90832Psychotherapy session, 30 minutes, without E/MShorter psychotherapy session, 16 to 37 minutes, without E/M.$93.72
90837Psychotherapy, 60 minutes, no E/MLonger psychotherapy session, 53 minutes or more, without E/M.$182.29
Used instead
90836Psychotherapy, with E/M, 38–52 minutes45-minute psychotherapy add-on used when the same clinician performs a separate E/M with psychotherapy.$112.71
90847Family therapy, patient present, 50 minutesFamily psychotherapy with patient present, used when treatment focuses on family interactions.$117.24
90839Crisis psychotherapy, initial 60 minutesCrisis psychotherapy for an acute situation requiring immediate assessment and intervention.$175.14
90853Group psychotherapy, single-patient group sessionGroup psychotherapy reported when therapy is delivered to multiple patients together.$33.20
Add-on codes
90785Interactive complexity, communication factorsInteractive complexity add-on reportable with this code when qualifying communication factors complicate therapy.$16.08

How 90834 has changed in King County, WA

90834 · Office / nonfacility

$124.34

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $11.89 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $112.45 to $124.34 (10.6%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $112.45changed to$124.34

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 2.45 changed to 2.56
    • Practice expense RVU 0.72 changed to 0.83
    • Malpractice RVU 0.05 changed to 0.02
    • Work GPCI 1.043 changed to 1.050
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.220 changed to 1.227
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.853 changed to 0.817

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $111.31changed to$112.45

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Work RVU 2.35 changed to 2.45
    • Practice expense RVU 0.69 changed to 0.72
    • Malpractice RVU 0.06 changed to 0.05

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $109.50changed to$111.31

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $107.11changed to$109.50

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Work RVU 2.24 changed to 2.35
    • Practice expense RVU 0.65 changed to 0.69
    • Work GPCI 1.039 changed to 1.043
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.207 changed to 1.220
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.815 changed to 0.853

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $109.17changed to$107.11

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 0.64 changed to 0.65
    • Malpractice RVU 0.09 changed to 0.06
    • Work GPCI 1.036 changed to 1.039
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.194 changed to 1.207
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.776 changed to 0.815

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $109.66changed to$109.17

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 0.63 changed to 0.64

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $99.68changed to$109.66

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Work RVU 2.00 changed to 2.24
    • Practice expense RVU 0.54 changed to 0.63
    • Malpractice RVU 0.08 changed to 0.09
    • Work GPCI 1.031 changed to 1.036
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.170 changed to 1.194
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.854 changed to 0.776

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $95.37changed to$99.68

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 0.46 changed to 0.54
    • Malpractice RVU 0.07 changed to 0.08
    • Work GPCI 1.027 changed to 1.031
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.146 changed to 1.170
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.931 changed to 0.854

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $92.38changed to$95.37

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 0.39 changed to 0.46

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $88.24changed to$92.38

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 0.31 changed to 0.39
    • Work GPCI 1.026 changed to 1.027
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.151 changed to 1.146
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.713 changed to 0.931

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $87.46changed to$88.24

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Work GPCI 1.025 changed to 1.026
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.155 changed to 1.151
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.495 changed to 0.713

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $87.60changed to$87.46

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Malpractice RVU 0.06 changed to 0.07

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $87.16changed to$87.60

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $88.59changed to$87.16

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 0.32 changed to 0.31
    • Malpractice RVU 0.08 changed to 0.06
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.150 changed to 1.155
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.688 changed to 0.495

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $83.97changed to$88.59

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Work RVU 1.89 changed to 2.00
    • Practice expense RVU 0.41 changed to 0.32
    • Malpractice RVU 0.07 changed to 0.08
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.144 changed to 1.150
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.881 changed to 0.688

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $83.97

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$124.34$97.29RVU26D
2026-07-01$124.34$97.29RVU26C
2026-04-01$124.34$97.29RVU26B
2026-01-01$124.34$97.29RVU26A
2025-10-01$112.45$96.27RVU25D
2025-07-01$112.45$96.27RVU25C
2025-04-01$112.45$96.27RVU25B
2025-01-01$112.45$96.27RVU25A
2024-10-01$111.31$95.48RVU24D
2024-07-01$111.31$95.48RVU24C
2024-04-01$111.31$95.48RVU24B
2024-03-09$111.31$95.48RVU24AR
2024-01-01$109.50$93.92RVU24A
2023-10-01$107.11$92.80RVU23D
2023-07-01$107.11$92.80RVU23C
2023-04-01$107.11$92.80RVU23B
2023-01-01$107.11$92.80RVU23A
2022-10-01$109.17$94.71RVU22D
2022-07-01$109.17$94.71RVU22C
2022-04-01$109.17$94.71RVU22B
2022-01-01$109.17$94.71RVU22A
2021-10-01$109.66$95.08RVU21D
2021-07-01$109.66$95.08RVU21C
2021-04-01$109.66$95.08RVU21B
2021-01-01$109.66$95.08RVU21A
2020-10-01$99.68$88.71RVU20D
2020-07-01$99.68$88.71RVU20C
2020-04-01$99.68$88.71RVU20B
2020-01-01$99.68$88.71RVU20A
2019-10-01$95.37$87.94RVU19D
2019-07-01$95.37$87.94RVU19C
2019-04-01$95.37$87.94RVU19B
2019-01-01$95.37$87.94RVU19A
2018-10-01$92.38$88.25RVU18D
2018-07-01$92.38$88.25RVU18C
2018-04-01$92.38$88.25RVU18B
2018-01-01$92.38$88.25RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$88.24$87.41RVU17D
2017-07-01$88.24$87.41RVU17C
2017-04-01$88.24$87.41RVU17B
2017-01-01$88.24$87.41RVU17A
2016-10-01$87.46$87.05RVU16D
2016-07-01$87.46$87.05RVU16C
2016-04-01$87.46$87.05RVU16B
2016-01-01$87.46$87.05RVU16A
2015-10-01$87.60$86.77RVU15D
2015-07-01$87.60$86.77RVU15C
2015-04-01$87.16$86.34RVU15B
2015-01-01$87.16$86.34RVU15A
2014-10-01$88.59$88.18RVU14D
2014-07-01$88.59$88.18RVU14C
2014-04-01$88.59$88.18RVU14B
2014-01-01$88.59$88.18RVU14A
2013-10-01$83.97$75.79RVU13D
2013-07-01$83.97$75.79RVU13C
2013-04-01$83.97$75.79RVU13B
2013-01-01$83.97$75.79RVU13AR

Price 90834 for an earlier date of service

Where the King County, WA rate applies

King County, WA is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 63 cities and communities in Washington. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

Browse all communities in Washington

90834 billing questions

How many minutes are needed to report this code instead of the 30- or 60-minute code?

Psychotherapy time of 38 to 52 minutes supports 90834. Use 90832 for 16 to 37 minutes and 90837 for 53 minutes or more.

Can a psychiatrist bill this code along with an E/M visit on the same day?

When the same clinician performs a separately identifiable E/M service with 38 to 52 minutes of psychotherapy, report add-on code 90836 with the E/M code instead of 90834. An E/M service by another clinician does not, by itself, change the psychotherapy code.

Does the patient have to be in the room the entire session?

The patient must participate for all or part of the session, and family members or caregivers may join. If treatment focuses on family interactions rather than the patient's individual therapy, consider the applicable family psychotherapy code.

When can interactive complexity be added?

Add-on code 90785 may be reported when documented qualifying factors complicate communication, such as caregiver interference, mandated reporting to a third party, or specialized communication aids needed for a patient with limited expressive or receptive skills. Routine language translation alone does not qualify.

Can this code be reported on the same day as crisis psychotherapy?

Do not report 90834 with crisis psychotherapy codes 90839 or 90840 for the same clinician on the same date. Use the crisis codes when an acute crisis requires immediate assessment and intervention.

What documentation supports this code on audit?

Record total psychotherapy minutes or start and stop times, the modality used, the clinical focus, the patient's response, and how the session ties to the treatment plan. Do not count time spent on E/M activities or testing toward psychotherapy minutes.

90834 is in these specialty bundles: Behavioral health

Where these rates come from

FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.

CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027

Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
RVUs for 90834PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 11,531 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for King County, WAGPCI2026.csv, line 108 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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