Tricia's post is from 2014 and there have been changes yearly since then for Drug screen codes.
Beginning January 1, 2016, CMS deleted all 2015 drug testing
G codes and will continue to not recognize the AMA CPT codes
for drug testing. CMS created three G codes for presumptive
testing and four G codes for definitive testing.
1. Delete the following G-codes:
a. G0431, G0434
b. HCPCS codes G6030 through G6058
2. Continue to not recognize the AMA CPT codes 80300 – 80377
3. For presumptive testing, create three G codes. Only one of
the three presumptive G codes may be billed per day.
4. For definitive testing, create four G codes. Only one of the
four definitive G codes may be billed per day.
Presumptive Drug Testing
Code: G0477 Drug tests(s), presumptive, any number of
drug classes; any number of devices or procedures, (eg,
immunoassay) capable of being read by direct optical
observation only (eg, dipsticks, cups, cards, cartridges), includes
sample validation when performed, per date of service.
Code: G0478 Drug tests(s), presumptive, any number of
drug classes; any number of devices or procedures, (eg,
immunoassay) read by instrument-assisted direct optical
observation (eg, dipsticks, cups, cards, cartridges), includes
sample validation when performed, per date of service.
Code: G0479 Drug tests(s), presumptive, any number of drug
classes; any number of devices or procedures by instrumented
chemistry analyzers (eg, immunoassay, enzyme assay, TOF,
MALDI, LDTD, DESI, DART, GHPC, GC mass spectrometry),
includes sample validation when performed, per date of service.
Definitive Drug Testing
Code: G0480 Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing drug
identification methods able to identify individual drugs and
distinguish between structural isomers (but not necessarily
stereoisomers), including, but not limited to GC/MS (any type,
single or tandem) and LC/MS (any type, single or tandem and
excluding immunoassays (eg, IA, EIA, ELISA, EMIT, FPIA) and
enzymatic methods (eg, alcohol dehydrogenase)); qualitative or
quantitative, all sources, includes specimen validity testing, per
day, 1-7 drug class(es), including metabolite(s) if performed.
Code: G0481 Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing drug
identification methods able to identify individual drugs and
distinguish between structural isomers (but not necessarily
stereoisomers), including, but not limited to GC/MS (any type,
single or tandem) and LC/MS (any type, single or tandem and
excluding immunoassays (eg, IA, EIA, ELISA, EMIT, FPIA) and
enzymatic methods (eg, alcohol dehydrogenase)); qualitative or
quantitative, all sources, includes specimen validity testing, per
day, 8-14 drug class(es), including metabolite(s) if performed.
Code: G0482 Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing drug
identification methods able to identify individual drugs and
distinguish between structural isomers (but not necessarily
stereoisomers), including, but not limited to GC/MS (any type,
single or tandem) and LC/MS (any type, single or tandem and
excluding immunoassays (eg, IA, EIA, ELISA, EMIT, FPIA) and
enzymatic methods (eg, alcohol dehydrogenase)); qualitative or
quantitative, all sources, includes specimen validity testing, per
day, 15-21 drug class(es), including metabolite(s) if performed.)
Code: G0483 Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing drug
identification methods able to identify individual drugs and
distinguish between structural isomers (but not necessarily
stereoisomers), including, but not limited to GC/MS (any type,
single or tandem) and LC/MS (any type, single or tandem and
excluding immunoassays (eg, IA, EIA, ELISA, EMIT, FPIA) and
enzymatic methods (eg, alcohol dehydrogenase)); qualitative
or quantitative, all sources, includes specimen validity testing,
per day, 22 or more drug class(es), including metabolite(s) if
performed