CPT code 90853: Group psychotherapy, single-patient group session2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Connecticut

Report group psychotherapy when a clinician provides therapeutic treatment to a patient as part of a group, rather than in an individual or family session.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality398.5K Medicare services in 2024

In Connecticut, Medicare pays $31.50 for 90853 in the office and $25.03 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$31.50Office (non-facility)
$25.03Hospital or facility
+3.7%vs the national office rate ($30.39)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 90853 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 90853 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Connecticut
  2. What 90853 covers
  3. Compared with other areas
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Related codes
  8. Rate history
  9. Where it applies
  10. Billing questions
  11. Sources

What 90853 covers

A clinician leads a therapeutic session in which multiple patients work on behavioral health concerns through guided discussion, therapeutic exercises, and interaction with the group. Psychiatrists, psychologists, and other qualified mental health professionals may provide the service in settings such as an outpatient office or hospital outpatient department. The group session is distinct from a meeting limited to multiple families receiving treatment together.

Report 90853 for each patient receiving group treatment, supported by that patient’s record—not once for the group as a whole. Documentation should identify the group service, its therapeutic focus and interventions, and the patient’s attendance, participation, response, and connection to the treatment plan. Select this code for group psychotherapy, not for an individual psychotherapy session or family psychotherapy. CMS assigns work, practice-expense, and malpractice relative values; the practice-expense values differ between office and facility settings.

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 90853: Mental health billing

How Connecticut compares for 90853

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 90853 runs from $29.15 in Arkansas to $41.93 in Alaska. Connecticut pays $31.50. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

90853 in Connecticut vs other payment areas
  1. Connecticut · this page$31.50
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$32.61+$1.11
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$33.01+$1.51
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$31.22−$0.28
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$31.02−$0.48
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$33.27+$1.77
  7. Alaska · Alaska$41.93+$10.43

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

Every other payment area

90853 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$29.29$24.03
ArkansasArkansas$29.15$23.99
ArizonaArizona$30.11$24.28
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$31.43$24.84
Chico, CACalifornia$31.36$24.77
El Centro, CACalifornia$31.36$24.77
Fresno, CACalifornia$31.36$24.77
Hanford, CACalifornia$31.36$24.77

90853 rates by state

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

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.

$29.15

$41.93

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

View every state and territory as a table
90853 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$41.931
AL$29.291
AR$29.151
AZ$30.111
CA$31.36–$36.1029
CO$31.081
CT$31.501
DC$33.011
DE$30.381
FL$30.22–$31.223
GA$29.63–$30.652
GU$31.311
HI$31.311
IA$29.541
ID$29.601
IL$29.91–$31.024
IN$29.661
KS$29.491
KY$29.511
LA$29.50–$29.992
MA$31.09–$32.772
MD$30.68–$33.013
ME$29.65–$30.202
MI$29.77–$30.362
MN$30.381
MO$29.33–$30.033
MS$29.241
MT$30.391
NC$29.761
ND$30.201
NE$29.601
NH$30.671
NJ$32.03–$33.062
NM$29.821
NV$30.351
NY$29.91–$33.575
OH$29.731
OK$29.501
OR$30.26–$31.522
PA$29.75–$31.182
PR$30.471
RI$31.041
SC$29.761
SD$30.171
TN$29.541
TX$29.68–$30.858
UT$29.901
VA$30.17–$33.012
VI$30.471
VT$30.151
WA$31.01–$33.202
WI$29.841
WV$29.531
WY$30.311

See 90853 in every payment locality

How the 90853 rate is calculated

Each of 90853’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 · 90853

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.67

0.67 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense0.23

0.23 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.01

0.01 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

0.9100

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$30.39

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

The exact Connecticut inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

11,541

Code
90853
Physician work
0.67
Practice expense
0.23
Malpractice
0.01

GPCI2026.csv

38

Locality
Connecticut
Physician work
1.020
Practice expense
1.077
Malpractice
1.210
Office calculation for 90853 in Connecticut
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.67× 1.0200.6834
Practice expense0.23× 1.0770.2477
Malpractice0.01× 1.2100.0121
Total RVUs0.9432
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Connecticut$31.50

Office: (0.67 × 1.02 + 0.23 × 1.077 + 0.01 × 1.21) × $33.4009 = $31.50

Facility: (0.67 × 1.02 + 0.05 × 1.077 + 0.01 × 1.21) × $33.4009 = $25.03

Open 90853 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 90853

90853 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 · 90853

Which rate does Medicare pay?

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

POS 11 · non-facility rate · national

$30.39

Non-facility (office)
$30.39
Facility
$24.38

Higher because the practice carries its own overhead.

How 90853 has changed in Connecticut

90853 · Office / nonfacility

$31.50

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $2.17 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $29.33 to $31.50 (7.4%).

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

    $29.33changed to$31.50

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 0.65 changed to 0.67
    • Practice expense RVU 0.20 changed to 0.23
    • Malpractice RVU 0.02 changed to 0.01
    • Work GPCI 1.022 changed to 1.020
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.091 changed to 1.077
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.207 changed to 1.210

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $28.80changed to$29.33

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Work RVU 0.62 changed to 0.65
    • Practice expense RVU 0.19 changed to 0.20

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $28.33changed to$28.80

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $28.04changed to$28.33

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Work RVU 0.59 changed to 0.62
    • Practice expense RVU 0.18 changed to 0.19
    • Work GPCI 1.030 changed to 1.022
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.102 changed to 1.091
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.070 changed to 1.207
  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $28.76changed to$28.04

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Work GPCI 1.037 changed to 1.030
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.114 changed to 1.102
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.934 changed to 1.070

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $29.00changed to$28.76

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $29.53changed to$29.00

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 0.17 changed to 0.18
    • Work GPCI 1.029 changed to 1.037
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.113 changed to 1.114
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.094 changed to 0.934

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $28.63changed to$29.53

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 0.15 changed to 0.17
    • Work GPCI 1.021 changed to 1.029
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.112 changed to 1.113
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.255 changed to 1.094

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $27.79changed to$28.63

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 0.13 changed to 0.15

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $26.96changed to$27.79

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 0.11 changed to 0.13
    • Work GPCI 1.023 changed to 1.021
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.117 changed to 1.112
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.244 changed to 1.255

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $26.93changed to$26.96

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Work GPCI 1.024 changed to 1.023
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.121 changed to 1.117
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.232 changed to 1.244

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $27.03changed to$26.93

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $26.89changed to$27.03

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $27.77changed to$26.89

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 0.12 changed to 0.11
    • Malpractice RVU 0.03 changed to 0.02
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.116 changed to 1.121
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.234 changed to 1.232

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $25.59changed to$27.77

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 0.10 changed to 0.12
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.110 changed to 1.116
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.235 changed to 1.234

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $25.59

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$31.50$25.03RVU26D
2026-07-01$31.50$25.03RVU26C
2026-04-01$31.50$25.03RVU26B
2026-01-01$31.50$25.03RVU26A
2025-10-01$29.33$25.09RVU25D
2025-07-01$29.33$25.09RVU25C
2025-04-01$29.33$25.09RVU25B
2025-01-01$29.33$25.09RVU25A
2024-10-01$28.80$24.80RVU24D
2024-07-01$28.80$24.80RVU24C
2024-04-01$28.80$24.80RVU24B
2024-03-09$28.80$24.80RVU24AR
2024-01-01$28.33$24.40RVU24A
2023-10-01$28.04$24.31RVU23D
2023-07-01$28.04$24.31RVU23C
2023-04-01$28.04$24.31RVU23B
2023-01-01$28.04$24.31RVU23A
2022-10-01$28.76$24.90RVU22D
2022-07-01$28.76$24.90RVU22C
2022-04-01$28.76$24.90RVU22B
2022-01-01$28.76$24.90RVU22A
2021-10-01$29.00$25.11RVU21D
2021-07-01$29.00$25.11RVU21C
2021-04-01$29.00$25.11RVU21B
2021-01-01$29.00$25.11RVU21A
2020-10-01$29.53$26.32RVU20D
2020-07-01$29.53$26.32RVU20C
2020-04-01$29.53$26.32RVU20B
2020-01-01$29.53$26.32RVU20A
2019-10-01$28.63$26.22RVU19D
2019-07-01$28.63$26.22RVU19C
2019-04-01$28.63$26.22RVU19B
2019-01-01$28.63$26.22RVU19A
2018-10-01$27.79$26.19RVU18D
2018-07-01$27.79$26.19RVU18C
2018-04-01$27.79$26.19RVU18B
2018-01-01$27.79$26.19RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$26.96$26.56RVU17D
2017-07-01$26.96$26.56RVU17C
2017-04-01$26.96$26.56RVU17B
2017-01-01$26.96$26.56RVU17A
2016-10-01$26.93$26.53RVU16D
2016-07-01$26.93$26.53RVU16C
2016-04-01$26.93$26.53RVU16B
2016-01-01$26.93$26.53RVU16A
2015-10-01$27.03$26.62RVU15D
2015-07-01$27.03$26.62RVU15C
2015-04-01$26.89$26.49RVU15B
2015-01-01$26.89$26.49RVU15A
2014-10-01$27.77$26.97RVU14D
2014-07-01$27.77$26.97RVU14C
2014-04-01$27.77$26.97RVU14B
2014-01-01$27.77$26.97RVU14A
2013-10-01$25.59$25.59RVU13D
2013-07-01$25.59$25.59RVU13C
2013-04-01$25.59$25.59RVU13B
2013-01-01$25.59$25.59RVU13AR

Price 90853 for an earlier date of service

Where the Connecticut rate applies

Connecticut is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 215 cities and communities in Connecticut. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Ansonia
  • Ball Pond
  • Baltic
  • Bantam
  • Bethel
  • Bethlehem Village
  • Bigelow Corners
  • Blue Hills

Browse all communities in Connecticut

90853 billing questions

How is 90853 different from individual psychotherapy?

90853 describes treatment delivered in a group setting. Use an individual psychotherapy code when the clinician treats the patient individually rather than as part of a group.

Is 90853 billed once for the group or for each patient?

Report the service for each patient who receives group treatment. Each patient’s own record must support attendance, participation, and medical necessity.

Does 90853 cover multiple-family group therapy?

No. Multiple-family group psychotherapy is represented by 90849; 90853 is for group psychotherapy that is not a multiple-family group.

What should the record include for 90853?

Document the group’s therapeutic focus and interventions, the patient’s attendance and participation, the patient’s response, and how the service relates to the treatment plan.

Does group size require a modifier?

Group size is not specified by 90853. Record the patient’s attendance and participation in the clinical note.

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 90853PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 11,541 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for ConnecticutGPCI2026.csv, line 38 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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