G2139 — Back pain measured by the visual analog scale (vas) or numeric pain scale at one year (9 to 15 months) postoperatively was greater than 3.0 and back pain measured by the visual analog scale (vas) or numeric pain scale within three months preoperatively and at one year (9 to 15 months) postoperatively demonstrated improvement of less than 5.0 points
G2139 is a HCPCS Level II code for back pain measured by the visual analog scale (vas) or numeric pain scale at one year (9 to 15 months) postoperatively was greater than 3.0 and back pain measured by the visual analog scale (vas) or numeric pain scale within three months preoperatively and at one year (9 to 15 months) postoperatively demonstrated improvement of less than 5.0 points. It belongs to the Procedures and Professional Services (Temporary) section. Whether Medicare pays it depends on the coverage rule below.
Medicare coverage: Carrier judgment
Coverage is decided by your Medicare contractor, not by national policy. Whether this is paid depends on the LCD for your jurisdiction and on what the documentation supports.
From the coverage field of the CMS Alpha-Numeric HCPCS File, release 2026Q3-Jul. This states Medicare’s position on the code, not on your particular claim.
Physician fee schedule statusM
Measurement code. Used for reporting purposes only; never paid.
Global period: XXX
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The CMS record for G2139
- Long descriptor
- Back pain measured by the visual analog scale (vas) or numeric pain scale at one year (9 to 15 months) postoperatively was greater than 3.0 and back pain measured by the visual analog scale (vas) or numeric pain scale within three months preoperatively and at one year (9 to 15 months) postoperatively demonstrated improvement of less than 5.0 points
- Short descriptor
- Bk pain vas 9-15mo > 3
- Added
- January 1, 2020
- BETOS
- Z2
- Pricing indicator
- 00 — Not priced by Part B
The official wording. This is what the code means.
CMS's 28-character form, which is what shows up on a remittance advice.
When CMS introduced the code.
Berenson-Eggers Type of Service — CMS's own analytic grouping.
Service not separately priced by Part B — not covered, bundled into another service, or used by Part A only.
Codes adjacent to G2139
HCPCS has no hierarchy — related items simply sit next to each other in the numbering. If G2139 is not quite right, the correct code is very often within a few positions of it.
- G2131Patients 81 years and older with a diagnosis of frailtyterminated
- G2132Patients 66-80 years of age with at least one claim/encounter for frailty during the measurement period and a dispensed medication for dementia during the measurement period or the year prior to the measurement periodterminated
- G2133Patients 66-80 years of age with at least one claim/encounter for frailty during the measurement period and either one acute inpatient encounter with a diagnosis of advanced illness or two outpatient, observation, ed or nonacute inpatient encounters on different dates of service with an advanced illness diagnosis during the measurement period or the year prior to the measurement periodterminated
- G2134Patients 66 years of age or older with at least one claim/encounter for frailty during the measurement period and a dispensed medication for dementia during the measurement period or the year prior to the measurement periodterminated
- G2135Patients 66 years of age or older with at least one claim/encounter for frailty during the measurement period and either one acute inpatient encounter with a diagnosis of advanced illness or two outpatient, observation, ed or nonacute inpatient encounters on different dates of service with an advanced illness diagnosis during the measurement period or the year prior to the measurement periodterminated
- G2136Back pain measured by the visual analog scale (vas) or numeric pain scale at three months (6 - 20 weeks) postoperatively was less than or equal to 3.0 or back pain measured by the visual analog scale (vas) or numeric pain scale within three months preoperatively and at three months (6 - 20 weeks) postoperatively demonstrated an improvement of 5.0 points or greater
- G2137Back pain measured by the visual analog scale (vas) or numeric pain scale at three months (6 - 20 weeks) postoperatively was greater than 3.0 and back pain measured by the visual analog scale (vas) or numeric pain scale within three months preoperatively and at three months (6 - 20 weeks) postoperatively demonstrated improvement of less than 5.0 points
- G2138Back pain as measured by the visual analog scale (vas) or numeric pain scale at one year (9 to 15 months) postoperatively was less than or equal to 3.0 or back pain measured by the visual analog scale (vas) or numeric pain scale within three months preoperatively and at one year (9 to 15 months) postoperatively demonstrated an improvement of 5.0 points or greater
- G2140Leg pain measured by the visual analog scale (vas) or numeric pain scale at three months (6 - 20 weeks) postoperatively was less than or equal to 3.0 or leg pain measured by the visual analog scale (vas) or numeric pain scale within three months preoperatively and at three months (6 - 20 weeks) postoperatively demonstrated an improvement of 5.0 points or greater
- G2141Leg pain measured by the visual analog scale (vas) or numeric pain scale at three months (6 - 20 weeks) postoperatively was greater than 3.0 and leg pain measured by the visual analog scale (vas) or numeric pain scale within three months preoperatively and at three months (6 - 20 weeks) postoperatively demonstrated improvement of less than 5.0 points
- G2142Functional status measured by the oswestry disability index (odi version 2.1a) at one year (9 to 15 months) postoperatively was less than or equal to 22 or functional status measured by the odi version 2.1a within three months preoperatively and at one year (9 to 15 months) postoperatively demonstrated an improvement of 30 points or greater
- G2143Functional status measured by the oswestry disability index (odi version 2.1a) at one year (9 to 15 months) postoperatively was greater than 22 and functional status measured by the odi version 2.1a within three months preoperatively and at one year (9 to 15 months) postoperatively demonstrated an improvement of less than 30 points
- G2144Functional status measured by the oswestry disability index (odi version 2.1a) at three months (6-20 weeks) postoperatively was less than or equal to 22 or functional status measured by the odi version 2.1a within three months preoperatively and at three months (6-20 weeks) postoperatively demonstrated an improvement of 30 points or greater
- G2145Functional status measured by the oswestry disability index (odi version 2.1a) at three months (6 - 20 weeks) postoperatively was greater than 22 and functional status measured by the odi version 2.1a within three months preoperatively and at three months (6 - 20 weeks) postoperatively demonstrated an improvement of less than 30 points
- G2146Leg pain as measured by the visual analog scale (vas) or numeric pain scale at one year (9 to 15 months) postoperatively was less than or equal to 3.0 or leg pain measured by the visual analog scale (vas) or numeric pain scale within three months preoperatively and at one year (9 to 15 months) postoperatively demonstrated an improvement of 5.0 points or greater
- G2147Leg pain measured by the visual analog scale (vas) or numeric pain scale at one year (9 to 15 months) postoperatively was greater than 3.0 and leg pain measured by the visual analog scale (vas) or numeric pain scale within three months preoperatively and at one year (9 to 15 months) postoperatively demonstrated improvement of less than 5.0 points
Questions about G2139
What is HCPCS code G2139?
G2139 is a HCPCS Level II code for back pain measured by the visual analog scale (vas) or numeric pain scale at one year (9 to 15 months) postoperatively was greater than 3.0 and back pain measured by the visual analog scale (vas) or numeric pain scale within three months preoperatively and at one year (9 to 15 months) postoperatively demonstrated improvement of less than 5.0 points. It sits in the Procedures and Professional Services (Temporary) section.
Does Medicare cover G2139?
The CMS HCPCS file marks G2139 as "Carrier judgment". Coverage is decided by your Medicare contractor, not by national policy. Whether this is paid depends on the LCD for your jurisdiction and on what the documentation supports.
How is G2139 paid under the physician fee schedule?
G2139 carries PFS status code M. Measurement code. Used for reporting purposes only; never paid.