Click here for more sample CPC practice exam questions with Full Rationale Answers

Practice Exam

Click here for more sample CPC practice exam questions and answers with full rationale

Practice Exam

CPC Practice Exam and Study Guide Package

Practice Exam

What makes a good CPC Practice Exam? Questions and Answers with Full Rationale

CPC Exam Review Video

Laureen shows you her proprietary “Bubbling and Highlighting Technique”

Download your Free copy of my "Medical Coding From Home Ebook" at the top right corner of this page

Practice Exam

2018 CPC Practice Exam Answer Key 150 Questions With Full Rationale (HCPCS, ICD-9-CM, ICD-10, CPT Codes) Click here for more sample CPC practice exam questions with Full Rationale Answers

Practice Exam

Click here for more sample CPC practice exam questions and answers with full rationale

Depression Screening Coding Guidelines – CPT G0444

 
Reimbursement Guidelines for Depression Screening – CPT G0444


Depression screening CPT G0444 can’t be coded with CPT G0402 & G0438 but you may report with CPT G0439. NCCI edits stated as “Code G0444 is a column 2 code for G0402. You may not override the edit”.


Nationally Covered Indications:


CMS will cover annual screening up to 15 minutes for Medicare beneficiaries when staff-assisted depression care supports are in place to assure accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and follow-up. 
 
At a minimum level, staff assisted supports consist of clinical staff (e.g., physician assistant, nurse) in the primary care setting who can advise the physician of screening results and who can facilitate and coordinate referrals to mental health treatment. Services covered under this NCD must be provided by a primary care provider.


Nationally Non-Covered Indications:


Screening for depression is non-covered when performed more than one time in a 12-month period. Also self-help materials, telephone calls, and web-based counseling are not separately reimbursable by Medicare and are not part of this NCD.


Medicare coinsurance and Part B deductible are waived for this preventive service.


Place Of Service:


Effective for claims with dates of service on and after April 2, 2012, contractors shall pay for annual depression screening claims, G0444, only when services are provided at the following Places of Service (POS) 
 

11 Physician’s office
19 Off Campus-Outpatient hospital
22 On Campus-Outpatient hospital
49 Independent clinic 
71 State or local public health clinic


Coding Ahead

Annual depression screening (G0444) when the depression diagnosis

Looking for a definitive reliable specific resource in relationship to Annual depression screening (G0444) when the depression diagnosis occurs on the same day as a result of the screening service.

I’m finding on forums and AAFP article that once the patient is diagnosed with depression (even at the screening appointment) you can no longer use the screening code. It would become part of the E/M service; however I cannot locate the specific source for this information. Can anyone help me locate the source to support this? We have varying opinions in our office so hoping to find something definitive from a reliable source to clear this up.

Any help is much appreciated.

Medical Billing and Coding Forum