Group psychotherapy in San Diego, CA costs $130 to $341. Here's every hospital's price.
4 hospitals in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area publish a cash price for group psychotherapy (CPT 90853). We read their files every month so you don't have to.
Across the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, 4 hospitals list a cash price for group psychotherapy (CPT 90853). The lowest is $130 at Paradise Valley Hospital, the median is $341 and the highest is $341 at Sharp Coronado Hospital and Hlthcr Ctr. The most expensive hospital lists 2.6 times the cheapest for the same code.
The San Diego, CA median of $341 is 170% above the national median of $126 across 335 US hospitals with a cash price for this code.
4 of these hospitals also publish the rates they negotiated with insurers, from $1 to $78,491. With insurance you pay a share of the negotiated rate, which is sometimes higher than the cash price; you may ask for the cash price instead.
The files behind these prices are dated between April 2026 and September 2026. 12 other hospitals in the metro area have no readable price for this code: some publish no file, some block automated reading, some leave the code out. They are listed below so you can call them.
Sorted by cash price
Hospital facility fee onlyNational City · 29 mi · File Sep 2026
La Mesa · 22 mi · File Apr 2026
Chula Vista · 31 mi · File Apr 2026
Coronado · 32 mi · File Apr 2026
What's in the price
The hospital facility fee for CPT 90853. The doctor, anesthesia and lab work usually bill separately.
Cash vs. insured
Cash is what you pay without insurance. With insurance you pay a share of the negotiated rate, which can be higher than cash. You may ask for the cash price.
What to say on the phone
"I'd like the self-pay price for CPT 90853, in writing, and whether it covers facility, physician and anesthesia."
About group psychotherapy
CPT 90853 is group psychotherapy: a therapist-led session with several patients, typically 60 to 90 minutes, used for substance use recovery, anxiety, grief, chronic illness and skills-based programs such as DBT. The price is per person per session.
What the price covers
One person's attendance at one session. Hospital-owned programs may add a facility fee. Intensive outpatient programs bundle many group sessions into a daily rate, which is billed with different codes.
Why prices vary
Group therapy is the least expensive form of therapy per session, but hospital-listed prices vary widely and can approach the cost of an individual session. Community mental health centers, nonprofit programs and peer-support organizations often offer groups at low or no cost.
Questions to ask
- What is the self-pay price per session for 90853, and is there a facility fee?
- How many sessions does the program expect, and is there a package rate?
- Are there nonprofit or community groups for the same need?
Hospitals in San Diego, CA without a price for this procedure
Listed so you know who to call. The reason is what we found on their website.
- Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San DiegoNo price file found
- Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San MarcosNo website on record
- Palomar Health Downtown CampusWebsite blocks automated reading
- Palomar Medical Center PowayWebsite blocks automated reading
- Rady Children's Hospital - San DiegoFile in an unsupported format
- Scripps Green HospitalFile found, not read yet
- Scripps Memorial Hospital - EncinitasFile found, not read yet
- Scripps Memorial Hospital La JollaFile found, not read yet
- Scripps Mercy HospitalFile found, not read yet
- Sharp Memorial HospitalFile found, not read yet
- Tri-City Medical Centercode not in file
- UC San Diego Health Hillcrest - Hillcrest Med CtrNo price file found