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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesTemporary National Codes (Non-Medicare)HCPCS hcpcs-level-ii-s9446-group-patient-education-non-physician
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    HCPCS S9446: Patient Education, Non-Physician Provider, Group, Per Session

    HCPCS Level II code S9446 describes patient education, not otherwise classified, delivered by a non-physician provider in a group setting, billed per session; typical service type is group patient education and the usual site of service is an outpatient clinic or community/education setting where non-physician clinicians provide structured instruction to patients.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Ambulance and Medical Transport Services (Ground, Air and Water) Corporate Medical Policy, Emergency Air/Water Ambulance Services Medical Guideline, Non-Emergent Ambulance Services.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical scenario involves a primary care clinic or community health center offering a scheduled group education session led by a non-physician provider (for example, a certified diabetes educator, registered nurse, dietitian, or behavioral health counselor). A patient with a chronic condition such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or obesity is referred to a group education class to learn self-management skills, lifestyle modifications, medication adherence, and monitoring techniques. The session is structured (usually 30–90 minutes), includes multiple patients with similar diagnoses, and focuses on standardized curriculum materials, group discussion, demonstration of skills (for example, glucose monitoring or inhaler technique), and distribution of educational handouts.

    Workflow: A clinician or care coordinator refers eligible patients and schedules the group session. The non-physician provider registers attendees, documents attendance and educational content in the medical record, captures vital signs or brief assessments as indicated, and provides individualized attention within the group setting. Billing staff append the appropriate HCPCS Level II code S9446 for the group education session, add relevant modifiers when necessary (for example, to indicate telehealth, diminished services, or provider attributes), and link the service to the appropriate ICD-10 diagnosis codes in the claim. The session may occur in an outpatient clinic, community center, or other ambulatory setting organized by the health system or a contracted provider.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    98960Education and training for patient self-management for a chronic condition; initial 30 minutes, individual, face-to-faceOften used for individual patient self-management education delivered by a qualified non-physician provider; may be billed when individualized education is provided instead of group education.
    98961Education and training for patient self-management for a chronic condition; two to four patients, 30 minutesDirectly related as an alternative group education CPT code for small-group sessions provided by non-physician clinicians; may be used instead of S9446 depending on payer policy.
    98962Education and training for patient self-management for a chronic condition; five to eight patients, 30 minutesRelated as the CPT equivalent for larger group education sessions; selection depends on group size and payer rules.
    99406Smoking and tobacco use cessation counseling visit, intermediate, greater than 3 minutes up to 10 minutesMay be provided before or after a group education session when tobacco cessation counseling is part of the educational program.
    G0108Diabetes outpatient self-management training, individual, per 30 minutesUsed when diabetes education is provided individually rather than in a group; alternative to S9446 for payer-specific billing.
    G0109Diabetes outpatient self-management training, group, per 30 minutesClosely related as a Medicare-specific group diabetes education code; may be billed in lieu of S9446 for diabetes-focused group sessions billed to Medicare.

    Related Modifiers

    6 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    95Modifier 95 indicates that a service was provided via synchronous, real‑time audio‑video telehealth rather than in‑person. Per CMS, AAPC and professional associations, append modifier 95 to claim…- Use modifier 95 to indicate a service was furnished via synchronous, real‑time audiovisual telehealth (a live audio‑video conference between patient and provider) rather than in‑person. - Pair…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    23Modifier -23 (Unusual Anesthesia) is used on anesthesia service CPT codes when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia…- Use modifier -23 only on anesthesia CPT codes (00100–01999) when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia because of…
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    56Modifier ‑56 indicates the reporting provider furnished only the preoperative management for a surgical procedure and did not perform the intraoperative or postoperative care. It is used in…- Use Modifier -56 when a provider performs only the preoperative management in a split‑care situation (one physician manages preop care while a different physician performs the intraoperative…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    173000000X
    164X00000X
    2278P3800X
    246ZN0300X
    202K00000X
    261QA1903X
    3418M1120X
    1744R1103X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Emergency & Medical Transportation1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Ambulance and Medical Transport Services (Ground, Air and Water) Corporate Medical Policybcbsvermont2026-10-01
    Emergency Air/Water Ambulance Services Medical GuidelineWPS Health Insurance2026-10-01
    Non-Emergent Ambulance ServicesConnectiCare2026-09-11
    Fixed Wing Air Ambulance TransportCigna2026-08-15
    Air AmbulanceAmbetter Georgia2026-08-01
    Ambulance Services (for New Mexico Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-08-01
    Ambulance Services (for Tennessee Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-08-01
    Clinical Policy: Air AmbulanceAmbetter Nevada2026-08-01
    Air AmbulanceCentene2026-08-01
    Clinical Policy: Air AmbulanceArizona Complete Health2026-08-01

    Related Codes

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-S2152-SOLID-ORGAN-TRANSPLANTATION-GLOBAL-CARE

    HCPCS Level II S2152: Solid Organ Procurement and Transplantation

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-S2266-INDUCED-ABORTION-29-TO-31-WEEKS

    HCPCS Level II S2266: Induced Abortion, 29 to 31 Weeks

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-S3630-EOSINOPHIL-COUNT-BLOOD-DIRECT

    HCPCS Level II S3630: Eosinophil Count, Blood, Direct

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-S4017-INCOMPLETE-ART-CYCLE-CANCELLED-PRIOR-TO-STIMULATION

    HCPCS Level II S4017: Incomplete Cycle — Cancelled Prior to Stimulation

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-S8055-ULTRASOUND-GUIDANCE-MULTIFETAL-REDUCTION-TC

    HCPCS Level II S8055: Ultrasound Guidance for Multifetal Pregnancy Reduction

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-S8940-EQUESTRIAN-HIPPOTHERAPY-PER-SESSION

    HCPCS Level II S8940: Equestrian/Hippotherapy, Per Session

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-S9024-PARANASAL-SINUS-ULTRASOUND

    HCPCS Level II S9024: Paranasal Sinus Ultrasound

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-S9366-HOME-TPN-1-2L-PER-DAY-HOME-INFUSION

    HCPCS Level II S9366: Home Infusion TPN, 1–2 L/day

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-S9451-EXERCISE-CLASS-NON-PHYSICIAN-SESSION

    HCPCS S9451: Exercise Classes, Non-Physician Provider, Per Session

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-S9476-VESTIBULAR-REHABILITATION-PROGRAM-NON-PHYSICIAN-PER-DIEM

    HCPCS Level II S9476: Vestibular Rehabilitation Program, Per Diem

    Showing 1–10 of 532

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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