Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert

Question: Are there any recent updates for reporting counseling services for cessation of smoking? Are the codes G0436 and G0437 no longer valid? How can we report these services?

Answer: According to CMS, effective September 30, 2016, the following HCPCS codes no longer apply:

• G0436 (Smoking and tobacco cessation counseling visit for the asymptomatic patient; intermediate, greater than 3 minutes, up to 10 minutes), and
• G0437 (Smoking and tobacco cessation counseling visit for the asymptomatic patient; intensive, greater than 10 minutes)

For services of counselling for smoking cessation which were previously represented by HCPCS codes G0436 and G0437, you should now look at the following CPT^® codes:

• 99406 (Smoking and tobacco use cessation counseling visit; intermediate, greater than 3 minutes up to 10 minutes), and 
• 99407 (Smoking and tobacco use cessation counseling visit; intensive, greater than 10 minutes).