HCPCS Level II · Procedures and professional services (temporary)
G0481Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) 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 (e.g., ia, eia, elisa, emit, fpia) and enzymatic methods (e.g., alcohol dehydrogenase)), (2) stable isotope or other universally recognized internal standards in all samples (e.g., to control for matrix effects, interferences and variations in signal strength), and (3) method or drug-specific calibration and matrix-matched quality control material (e.g., to control for instrument variations and mass spectral drift); qualitative or quantitative, all sources, includes specimen validity testing, per day; 8-14 drug class(es), including metabolite(s) if performed
Source: CMS HCPCS quarterly update, October 2026. Page updated September 29, 2026.
About G0481
G0481 is an HCPCS Level II code in the G series (procedures and professional services (temporary)), describing drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) 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 (e.g., ia, eia, elisa, emit, fpia) and enzymatic methods (e.g., alcohol dehydrogenase)), (2) stable isotope or other universally recognized internal standards in all samples (e.g., to control for matrix effects, interferences and variations in signal strength), and (3) method or drug-specific calibration and matrix-matched quality control material (e.g., to control for instrument variations and mass spectral drift); qualitative or quantitative, all sources, includes specimen validity testing, per day; 8-14 drug class(es), including metabolite(s) if performed.
It was added to HCPCS effective 01/01/2016, and its current record took effect 01/01/2017.
Its Medicare coverage code is "C", meaning coverage is left to the Medicare contractor's judgment.
Details
- Short description
- Drug test def 8-14 classes
- Date added
- 01/01/2016
- Action effective
- 01/01/2017
- BETOS
- T1H
Related G04xx codes
- G0400Home sleep test (hst) with type iv portable monitor, unattended; minimum of 3 channels
- G0402Initial preventive physical examination; face-to-face visit, services limited to new beneficiary during the first 12 months of medicare enrollment
- G0403Electrocardiogram, routine ecg with 12 leads; performed as a screening for the initial preventive physical examination with interpretation and report
- G0404Electrocardiogram, routine ecg with 12 leads; tracing only, without interpretation and report, performed as a screening for the initial preventive physical examination
- G0405Electrocardiogram, routine ecg with 12 leads; interpretation and report only, performed as a screening for the initial preventive physical examination
- G0406Follow-up inpatient consultation, limited, physicians typically spend 15 minutes communicating with the patient via telehealth
- G0407Follow-up inpatient consultation, intermediate, physicians typically spend 25 minutes communicating with the patient via telehealth
- G0408Follow-up inpatient consultation, complex, physicians typically spend 35 minutes communicating with the patient via telehealth
- G0409Social work and psychological services, directly relating to and/or furthering the patient's rehabilitation goals, each 15 minutes, face-to-face; individual (services provided by a corf-qualified social worker or psychologist in a corf)
- G0410Group psychotherapy other than of a multiple-family group, in a partial hospitalization or intensive outpatient setting, approximately 45 to 50 minutes
- G0411Interactive group psychotherapy, in a partial hospitalization or intensive outpatient setting, approximately 45 to 50 minutes
- G0412Open treatment of iliac spine(s), tuberosity avulsion, or iliac wing fracture(s), unilateral or bilateral for pelvic bone fracture patterns which do not disrupt the pelvic ring includes internal fixation, when performed
Common questions about G0481
Is HCPCS G0481 still valid?
- Yes. G0481 is active in the CMS October 2026 HCPCS file.
Does Medicare cover G0481?
- Its coverage code is "C": coverage is left to the Medicare contractor's judgment. Check the local coverage determination for your region.