HCPCS Code G0444: Annual Depression Screening, 5–15 Minutes

HCPCS G0444 covers annual depression screening in a primary care setting for Medicare patients, ensuring accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

Use Code

## **What is HCPCS Code G0444?** HCPCS Code G0444 refers to "Annual depression screening, 5 to 15 minutes." It is a healthcare common procedure code maintained by CMS and used primarily for billing purposes related to depression screening for Medicare beneficiaries in the primary care setting. The screening is designed to be conducted annually and typically involves staff assisted depression care supports to assure accurate diagnosis effective treatment, and follow up. CMS covers this annual depression screening service to improve mental health care access for Medicare patients and other Medicare beneficiaries. The G0444 emphasizes that the service is a preventive service designed to detect risk factors early and coordinate appropriate mental health treatment. The screening may involve clinical staff, a physician assistant, or the patient's primary care physician, who can review screening results, provide patient education, support patient self management, and coordinate referrals with mental health professionals if needed. These screening services are part of CMS’s national coverage determination for preventive services. Documentation that the screening service was performed is required for billing, but CMS does not mandate documentation of the exact time spent (5 to 15 minutes) for the service. The code supports billing for screening for depression in settings using clinical staff who can communicate results and help facilitate referrals for assisted depression care supports and effective treatment. As of January 1, 2025, the code includes telehealth place of service codes, allowing screenings to be conducted via telehealth with appropriate billing adjustments. The process also aligns with Medicare Administrative Contractors and Medicaid services rules to ensure compliance with coding guidelines.

## **HCPCS Code G0444 documentation requirements** Documentation requirements for HCPCS Code G0444, which is used for annual screening for depression (5 to 15 minutes), specify that documentation must confirm that the screening service was performed. However, CMS does not require documentation of the exact amount of time spent on the depression screening, despite the code descriptor stating "5 to 15 minutes." The documentation should support that the screening was conducted according to Medicare rules, typically involving clinical staff who assist in administering the screening, advising the physician of results, and facilitating referral for mental health treatment if necessary. The documentation must also justify the service as a separately identifiable billing service when applicable, especially in relation to other services like evaluation and management or wellness visits. Additionally, Medicare covers only one screening per 12-month period, and the documentation should reflect this frequency limitation to assure accurate diagnosis effective treatment.

## **HCPCS Code G0444 billing requirements** HCPCS Code G0444 billing requirements are as follows: 5. **Frequency**: Medicare allows billing for G0444 only once every 12 months. At least 11 full months must elapse after the month of the previous screening before billing again. 7. **Place of service**: G0444 claims are payable only when services are provided at specific places of service including office (POS 11), outpatient hospital (POS 22), independent clinic (POS 49), state or local public health clinic (POS 71), and federally qualified health centers or rural health clinics with appropriate type of bills. 9. **Claim types**: The code is payable on institutional claims for outpatient hospital departments, critical access hospitals, rural health clinics (TOB 71X), and federally qualified health centers (TOB 77X) based on all-inclusive or prospective payment systems. 11. **Telehealth**: Starting January 1, 2025, telehealth place of service codes are included allowing billing for G0444 conducted via telehealth. 13. **Denials**: Claims with G0444 billed more than once within 12 months, or submitted on incorrect types of bills or places of service, will be denied with specific adjustment and remark codes. 15. **Modifiers**: When filing, appropriate modifiers such as GA (Advanced Beneficiary Notice on file) or GZ (no ABN) affect liability and claim adjudication.

## **Other relevant codes** Other relevant HCPCS and CPT code services related to G0444 for screening for depression and assessment include: - **G8431**: Screening for depression is documented as positive and a follow-up plan is documented. - **G8510**: Screening for clinical depression documented as negative. - **96127 (CPT)**: Brief emotional/behavioral assessment (e.g., depression inventory), with scoring and documentation per standardized instrument. - **96160 (CPT)**: Administration of patient-focused health risk assessment instrument with scoring and documentation. - **96161 (CPT)**: Administration of caregiver-focused health risk assessment instrument for the benefit of the patient, with scoring and documentation. These codes complement G0444, which is the Medicare-specific code for annual depression screening lasting 5 to 15 minutes, by addressing documentation of screening results and use of standardized instruments. Some Medicaid plans also use the G8431 and G8510 codes to differentiate positive vs. negative depression screens.