HCPCS G0483: Drug Test(s), 22 or More Drug Classes, Per Day

Gain a list of the documentation requirements and billing guidelines needed to properly code and use HCPCS code G0483 from our short guide.

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Frequently asked questions

No. Definitive testing is only covered when it is medically necessary to guide patient treatment. Many payors, particularly for commercial and Medicaid plans, have policies that explicitly state that definitive testing for more than 14 drug classes (G0482, G0483) is rarely, if ever, medically necessary and may be non-covered. You must check the specific payor's policy.

Generally, Medicare and most payors allow only one definitive service and one presumptive service per patient per date of service. However, some policies may disallow billing both together on the same day for the same specimen. When allowed, it is typically only when the presumptive test is inconsistent with the clinical picture and the definitive test is necessary to resolve the inconsistency to guide treatment.

Frequency limits are common and vary. For Medicare, the frequency of definitive UDT for patients with 31 to 90 consecutive days of abstinence is often limited, and for G0483, limits may be as restrictive as one unit per 30 days or a low number of total units per year. You must adhere to the specific payor's coverage policy.