CPT 90853

CPT Code 90853: Group psychotherapy

Service
Group psychotherapy
Category
Group
Time component
None - reported per session
2026 Medicare (non-QP)
$30.39

90853 is group psychotherapy (not a multiple-family group). You bill it per participant, per session, and there's no time component baked into the code - though documenting the length is still smart. Each member's note has to be individualized to that person.

When to use 90853

  • Group psychotherapy sessions led by a qualified clinician
  • Reported per participant for each group session

What to document

  • The group's focus or topic for the session
  • The individual client's participation and response (an individualized note for each member)
  • How the work relates to that client's treatment goals
  • Provider and, where you track it, the session length

Common reasons 90853 gets denied

  • Notes are identical across members instead of individualized
  • Missing or unspecified diagnosis / medical necessity for a member
  • Group type does not match the code (for example a multiple-family group)

How much does 90853 pay in 2026?

The 2026 non-QP Medicare national non-facility rate for 90853 is about $30.39. Commercial payers usually land somewhere around $33 - $46 (roughly 110-150% of Medicare), though contracts run from below 80% to above 200%. A few things worth remembering: these figures use the non-QP conversion factor ($33.4009) - clinicians who are Qualifying APM Participants (QPs) are paid under a slightly higher factor - Medicare pays master's-level clinicians (LCSW, LMFT, LPC) about 75% of the listed amount, and your locality's geographic adjustment (GPCI) shifts the number a little.

Want the math for your own week of sessions and payer mix? Try the CPT reimbursement calculator - stack your codes, set your rates, and see weekly, monthly, and annual revenue.

Frequently asked questions

Is 90853 a timed code?

No. 90853 is reported per participant per group session and does not have a time range built into it, unlike the individual psychotherapy codes. Documenting the session length is still good practice.

This page is general reference for 2026 and is not billing, legal, or coding advice. Code rules, time ranges, and reimbursement depend on the current CPT and CMS guidelines, your payer contracts, state, locality, and credentials - always confirm against your payer's policy. See the full mental health CPT code list.