G2198 — Documentation of medical reason(s) for not screening for unhealthy alcohol use using a systematic screening method (e.g., limited life expectancy, other medical reasons)
G2198 is a HCPCS Level II code for documentation of medical reason(s) for not screening for unhealthy alcohol use using a systematic screening method (e.g., limited life expectancy, other medical reasons). It belongs to the Procedures and Professional Services (Temporary) section. It was terminated on December 31, 2022 and is not valid on new claims.
This code has been terminated
CMS terminated G2198 on December 31, 2022. It stays in the file as history — a claim you are auditing from before that date may legitimately carry it — but it must not appear on a new claim. The adjacent codes below are the usual place to look for its replacement.
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.
The CMS record for G2198
- Long descriptor
- Documentation of medical reason(s) for not screening for unhealthy alcohol use using a systematic screening method (e.g., limited life expectancy, other medical reasons)
- Short descriptor
- Med rsn no unhlthy etoh
- Added
- January 1, 2021
- Terminated
- December 31, 2022
- 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.
When CMS retired it.
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 G2198
HCPCS has no hierarchy — related items simply sit next to each other in the numbering. If G2198 is not quite right, the correct code is very often within a few positions of it.
- G2190Patients with clinical indications for imaging of the head: headache radiating to the neck
- G2191Patients with clinical indications for imaging of the head: positional headaches
- G2192Patients with clinical indications for imaging of the head: temporal headaches in patients over 55 years of age
- G2193Patients with clinical indications for imaging of the head: new onset headache in pre-school children or younger (<6 years of age)
- G2194Patients with clinical indications for imaging of the head: new onset headache in pediatric patients with disabilities for which headache is a concern as inferred from behavior
- G2195Patients with clinical indications for imaging of the head: occipital headache in children
- G2196Patient identified as an unhealthy alcohol user when screened for unhealthy alcohol use using a systematic screening method
- G2197Patient screened for unhealthy alcohol use using a systematic screening method and not identified as an unhealthy alcohol user
- G2199Patient not screened for unhealthy alcohol use using a systematic screening method
- G2200Patient identified as an unhealthy alcohol user received brief counseling
- G2201Documentation of medical reason(s) for not providing brief counseling (e.g., limited life expectancy, other medical reasons)terminated
- G2202Patient did not receive brief counseling if identified as an unhealthy alcohol user
- G2203Documentation of medical reason(s) for not providing brief counseling if identified as an unhealthy alcohol user (e.g., limited life expectancy, other medical reasons)terminated
- G2204Patients between 45 and 85 years of age who received a screening colonoscopy during the performance period
- G2205Patients with pregnancy during adjuvant treatment course
- G2206Patient received adjuvant treatment course including both chemotherapy and her2-targeted therapy
Questions about G2198
What is HCPCS code G2198?
G2198 is a HCPCS Level II code for documentation of medical reason(s) for not screening for unhealthy alcohol use using a systematic screening method (e.g., limited life expectancy, other medical reasons). It sits in the Procedures and Professional Services (Temporary) section.
Does Medicare cover G2198?
The CMS HCPCS file marks G2198 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.
Is G2198 still valid?
No. G2198 was terminated on December 31, 2022 and should not be used on new claims.