Need help choosing the right code?
Ask CasePilot about procedures, modifiers, bundling, and coding guidance.
Try CasePilot© Copyright 2026 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) is a vital component of healthcare that focuses on the use of nutrition to manage health conditions and improve overall well-being. CPT® Code 97804 specifically refers to MNT provided in a group setting, where two or more individuals participate in the therapy sessions. This approach is particularly beneficial for patients who share similar health issues, such as diabetes or renal disease, allowing them to learn from each other’s experiences while receiving professional guidance. During these sessions, a registered dietitian (RD) evaluates the nutrition and lifestyle of each participant, providing tailored counseling that addresses individual dietary needs and lifestyle factors that may impact their health. The therapy includes ongoing support and monitoring of each patient's progress in managing their specific dietary requirements. The service is billed in 30-minute intervals for each patient, ensuring that adequate time is allocated for comprehensive evaluation and counseling in a collaborative environment.
© Copyright 2026 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.
Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) provided under CPT® Code 97804 is indicated for patients who require nutritional support and guidance due to specific health conditions. The following are the explicitly provided indications for this procedure:
The procedure for providing medical nutrition therapy in a group setting involves several key steps, each designed to ensure that participants receive comprehensive and effective nutritional counseling. The following outlines the procedural steps:
After the group medical nutrition therapy sessions, participants are encouraged to continue applying the knowledge and strategies learned during the sessions. Follow-up appointments may be scheduled to reassess individual progress and make further dietary recommendations as needed. Participants are advised to maintain a food diary to track their eating habits and any changes in their health status. The RD may also provide additional resources, such as meal planning tools and recipes, to support ongoing dietary management. It is essential for participants to remain engaged in their nutrition journey, utilizing the support of the group and the RD to achieve their health goals.
| Short Descr | MEDICAL NUTRITION GROUP | Medium Descr | MEDICAL NUTRITION THERAPY GRP2/ INDIV EA 30 MI | Long Descr | Medical nutrition therapy; group (2 or more individual(s)), each 30 minutes | Status Code | Active Code | Global Days | XXX - Global Concept Does Not Apply | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 0 - Physician Service Code | Multiple Procedures (51) | 0 - No payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply. | Bilateral Surgery (50) | 0 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures does NOT apply. | Physician Supervisions | 09 - Concept does not apply. | Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) | 0 - Payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure... | Co-Surgeons (62) | 0 - Co-surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Team Surgery (66) | 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Diagnostic Imaging Family | 99 - Concept Does Not Apply | APC Status Indicator | Service Paid under Fee Schedule or Payment System other than OPPS | Type of Service (TOS) | 1 - Medical Care | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | P6C - Minor procedures - other (Medicare fee schedule) | MUE | 6 | CCS Clinical Classification | 237 - Ancillary Services |
| 95 | Synchronous telemedicine service rendered via a real-time interactive audio and video telecommunications system: synchronous telemedicine service is defined as a real-time interaction between a physician or other qualified health care professional and a patient who is located at a distant site from the physician or other qualified health care professional. the totality of the communication of information exchanged between the physician or other qualified health care professional and the patient during the course of the synchronous telemedicine service must be of an amount and nature that would be sufficient to meet the key components and/or requirements of the same service when rendered via a face-to-face interaction. modifier 95 may only be appended to the services listed in appendix p. appendix p is the list of cpt codes for services that are typically performed face-to-face, but may be rendered via a real-time (synchronous) interactive audio and video telecommunications system. | GZ | Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary | GA | Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, individual case | GT | Via interactive audio and video telecommunication systems | GY | Item or service statutorily excluded, does not meet the definition of any medicare benefit or, for non-medicare insurers, is not a contract benefit | 59 | Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25. | AE | Registered dietician | SW | Services provided by a certified diabetic educator | 93 | Synchronous telemedicine service rendered via telephone or other real-time interactive audio-only telecommunications system : synchronous telemedicine service is defined as a real-time interaction between a physician or other qualified health care professional and a patient who is located away at a distant site from the physician or other qualified health care professional. the totality of the communication of information exchanged between the physician or other qualified health care professional and the patient during the course of the synchronous telemedicine service must be of an amount and nature that is sufficient to meet the key components and/or requirements of the same service when rendered via a face-to-face interaction. | CC | Procedure code change (use 'cc' when the procedure code submitted was changed either for administrative reasons or because an incorrect code was filed) | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | GQ | Via asynchronous telecommunications system | GV | Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider | GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition | KX | Requirements specified in the medical policy have been met | PO | Excepted service provided at an off-campus, outpatient, provider-based department of a hospital | QW | Clia waived test | U7 | Medicaid level of care 7, as defined by each state |
|
Date
|
Action
|
Notes
|
|---|---|---|
| 2013-01-01 | Changed | Medium Descriptor changed. Guideline information changed. |
| 2011-01-01 | Changed | Short description changed. |
| 2001-01-01 | Added | First appearance in code book in 2001. |
Get instant expert-level medical coding assistance.