CPT Code 96153: Health behavior intervention, group, first 30 min

When to Use CPT 96153

Use CPT code 96153 when billing for health behavior intervention, group, first 30 min. This code is used by licensed therapists (LCSW, LPC, MFT, Psychologist) for outpatient sessions.

Adding CPT 96153 to a Superbill

When generating a superbill with CPT 96153, include the ICD-10 diagnosis code, date of service, fee charged, amount paid, and your NPI number. Superbilled pre-fills common therapy CPT codes automatically.

Common ICD-10 Pairings

These diagnosis codes are frequently used alongside CPT 96153:

Documentation Requirements

Document group size, behavioral focus related to a medical condition, and individual patient participation. Must be linked to each patient physical health diagnosis.

Common Denial Reasons

• ✗ Not linked to a medical condition for each patient
• ✗ Group format not documented with participant count
• ✗ Individual patient notes missing from the group record

Got one of these on a remittance? Decode the denial code.

Reimbursement Expectations

OON reimbursement typically 35-55% of UCR. Expect $11-$33 per patient per session.