New York Medicaid (fee-for-service) psychotherapy coverage: codes and who can bill
The short answerIn New York fee-for-service Medicaid, LCSWs, LMHCs and LMFTs in private or group practice bill directly with their own NPI. All three bill 90832, 90834, 90837, 90846, 90847, 90849, 90853, 90785, 90839 and 90840; 90791 is on the LCSW list only.
By Javier Alvarez · Updated · 1 min read
1 row: Medicaid (by state) · New York. Public policy, not the member's benefits.
New York Medicaid (fee-for-service)
NYS Medicaid FFS LCSW, LMHC and LMFT Policy Guidelines (July 2025) · New York
| 90785 | Listed [1] |
|---|---|
| 90791 | Limited (billable by LCSWs; not in the LMHC and LMFT code table in this manual) [1] |
| 90832 | Listed [1] |
| 90834 | Listed [1] |
| 90837 | Listed [1] |
| 90846 | Listed [1] |
| 90847 | Listed [1] |
| 90853 | Listed [1] |
| Where it applies | Session length guides: 90832 typically 16 to 37 minutes, 90834 38 to 52 minutes, 90837 a minimum of 53 minutes. The LCSW table says not to report 90846 or 90847 for family sessions under 26 minutes; the LMHC/LMFT table says this for 90847. 90839 typically lasts 30 to 74 minutes (LCSW table). [1] |
| Other codes | For LMHCs and LMFTs, use 90785 with psychotherapy 90832, 90833, 90834, 90837 and group 90853, and not with 90839 or 90840; for LCSWs, 90785 is listed with 90791 and group 90853. 90840 is not reported with 90832 to 90837 (both tables), and the LMHC/LMFT table also bars 90839 with 90832 to 90837. [1] |
| Who can bill | LCSWs, LMHCs and LMFTs in a private or group practice enrolled in NYS Medicaid FFS can bill directly for their services and for services of supervised limited permit holders. Use your own NPI as attending provider. A LCSW may supervise up to six LMSWs. [1] |
| Also | Services in Article 28 clinics are paid to the clinic, and a professional claim cannot be billed. Fees are in the separate eMedNY procedure code and fee schedule documents. [1] |
- NY Medicaid FFS: LCSW, LMHC and LMFT Policy Guidelines (July 2025), checked October 30, 2026
What New York Medicaid (fee-for-service)'s documents say
The table above has every field we found for New York Medicaid (fee-for-service), with numbered sources. In short:
- Who can bill. LCSWs, LMHCs and LMFTs in a private or group practice enrolled in NYS Medicaid FFS can bill directly for their services and for services of supervised limited permit holders. Use your own NPI as attending provider. A LCSW may supervise up to six LMSWs.
- Where it applies. Session length guides: 90832 typically 16 to 37 minutes, 90834 38 to 52 minutes, 90837 a minimum of 53 minutes. The LCSW table says not to report 90846 or 90847 for family sessions under 26 minutes; the LMHC/LMFT table says this for 90847. 90839 typically lasts 30 to 74 minutes (LCSW table).
- Codes. 90785, 90832, 90834, 90837, 90846, 90847 and 90853 are listed. 90791 is limited.
Codes we checked at New York Medicaid (fee-for-service)
What Medicaid's own text says about one code: 90837.
Check New York Medicaid (fee-for-service)'s claim against the row
Before the claim goes out, compare it with the row above: the code matches the session length you documented, the place of service and modifier fit a video or audio-only visit, and the rendering clinician's license is one the payer enrolls. The psychotherapy table compares Medicaid with every other payer we checked.