Direct treatment
CPT 97154 — Group adaptive behavior treatment by protocol
Group adaptive behavior treatment by protocol, administered by a technician under the direction of a physician or other qualified health care professional, billed in 15-minute units, for two or more patients.
- Billed by
- A technician (typically an RBT) delivering group treatment by protocol under a BCBA's direction.
- Unit structure
- Time-based, billed in 15-minute units, for a group of two or more clients.
- Patient present
- Face-to-face, in a group setting with two or more patients.
What it covers
The service behind the code.
- Implementation of treatment protocols in a group format
- Targeting social, group-readiness, and peer-interaction goals
- Data collection for each client in the group
Documentation requirements
What the note has to show.
- A separate note in each client's record — group billing does not mean a shared note
- The group composition and the goals addressed for that specific client
- The procedures implemented and that client's objective response
- Start and end times supporting the units billed
Denials & downcoding
Why 97154 claims get rejected.
- One shared note instead of an individual note per client
- Notes that describe the group but not the individual client's targets and response
- Group treatment billed where individual 97153 was actually delivered
Clinically reviewed by BxScribe Clinical Team
BxScribe's clinical content is reviewed against current BACB ethics and documentation standards, CPT code descriptors, and common commercial and Medicaid payer requirements before publication. Last reviewed May 1, 2026. This page is educational and does not replace your payer contract or clinical judgment.
Documentation help
Draft 97154 notes faster.
Related codes
Codes often billed alongside 97154.
Glossary
Terms behind this code.
Related guides
Go deeper.
FAQ
CPT 97154 questions.
Draft a 97154 note that holds up.
BxScribe structures notes around what each code's documentation has to show. Free tier includes 10 notes per month.