Is 90853 billed per person?

Yes. Each client who attended gets one unit of 90853 on their own claim, with their own documentation.

How long does a 90853 group have to be?

CPT doesn’t set a time. Groups typically run 60 to 90 minutes; some payers set their own minimums.

Can group therapy be billed for telehealth?

Many payers cover telehealth group psychotherapy. Use modifier 95 (or GT where required) and the payer’s telehealth place of service.

CPT code reference for therapists

CPT 90853: Group psychotherapy

90853 is group psychotherapy: one clinician treating several clients together, using the group process. You bill one 90853 for each client who attended, on that client’s own claim.

Groups made up of several clients’ families use 90849 (multifamily group psychotherapy) instead.

Updated October 5, 2026

What it is: Group psychotherapy, billed per client
Time: Not time-based
Multifamily group: 90849
Add-on: 90785 per client, when it applies

When to use 90853

Therapy groups such as DBT skills, trauma, grief, substance use or anxiety groups led by a licensed clinician.
Not for purely educational classes or support groups without psychotherapy; payers usually don’t cover those as 90853.

Time rules

90853 has no time requirement in CPT, so a 60-minute and a 90-minute group are both one unit per client.
Some payers set their own minimum length or pay by the session length; check the payer’s policy.

What to document

A note for each client, not only one group note: their participation, symptoms and progress toward their own goals.
The group’s topic and the interventions used.
Session date, length and the number of clients in the group.
How the group fits each client’s treatment plan.

Billing rules and common denials

Bill each client separately; one unit of 90853 per client per session.
Some payers cap how many clients a billable group can have. Check before running a large group.
Add-on 90785 can be billed for a client whose participation involved interactive complexity.
For telehealth, payers differ: Medicare uses place of service 10 or 02, while many commercial plans want the in-person place of service (usually 11) with modifier 95. Check each payer’s telehealth policy.

Telehealth modifiers

95: Live (synchronous) video visit. The modifier most commercial plans and Medicaid programs ask for.
GT: Older “via interactive audio and video” modifier. A few payers and some institutional claims still want it instead of 95.
93: Audio-only (phone) visit, where the payer covers it. Some payers ask for FQ instead.

Add-on 90785 (interactive complexity) can be billed with this code when communication was made harder by something like an interpreter, a third party or caregivers in conflict.

Typical place of service codes

11: Office. The usual in-person place of service for private practice.
10: Telehealth with the client in their home.
02: Telehealth with the client somewhere other than home (work, car, a clinic).
12: In person at the client’s home.
03: School.
53: Community mental health center.

Common questions

Is 90853 billed per person?: Yes. Each client who attended gets one unit of 90853 on their own claim, with their own documentation.
How long does a 90853 group have to be?: CPT doesn’t set a time. Groups typically run 60 to 90 minutes; some payers set their own minimums.
Can group therapy be billed for telehealth?: Many payers cover telehealth group psychotherapy. Use modifier 95 (or GT where required) and the payer’s telehealth place of service.

CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association. This page summarizes common billing practice in plain language and isn’t billing or legal advice; payer policies vary, so check each payer’s current rules.