Reader Question: Outpatient Mental Health Group Therapy

Question: The CPT book does not breakdown outpatient mental health group therapy into timed units. How do we bill for it?

Michigan Subscriber

Answer: Group therapy is now an untimed service (but traditionally 90 minutes) and you should bill for it using 90853 (group psychotherapy [other than of a multiple-family group]). The number of attendees you give for the quantity can vary by carrier. For example, in Michigan it has traditionally been the number of attendees in the session. Prepare one claim for each attendee and one claim line for each date of service.

- Published on 2001-02-01