G6038 — Salicylate
G6038 is a HCPCS Level II code for salicylate. It belongs to the Procedures and Professional Services (Temporary) section. It was terminated on December 31, 2015 and is not valid on new claims.
This code has been terminated
CMS terminated G6038 on December 31, 2015. 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 G6038
- Long descriptor
- Salicylate
- Short descriptor
- Assay of salicylate
- Added
- January 1, 2015
- Terminated
- December 31, 2015
- BETOS
- T1H
- Pricing indicator
- 21 — Clinical lab fee schedule
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.
Price subject to the national limitation amount.
Codes adjacent to G6038
HCPCS has no hierarchy — related items simply sit next to each other in the numbering. If G6038 is not quite right, the correct code is very often within a few positions of it.
- G6028Anoscopy, high resolution (hra) (with magnification and chemical agent enhancement); with biopsy(ies)terminated
- G6030Amitriptylineterminated
- G6031Benzodiazepinesterminated
- G6032Desipramineterminated
- G6034Doxepinterminated
- G6035Goldterminated
- G6036Assay of imipramineterminated
- G6037Nortriptylineterminated
- G6039Acetaminophenterminated
- G6040Alcohol (ethanol); any specimen except breathterminated
- G6041Alkaloids, urine, quantitativeterminated
- G6042Amphetamine or methamphetamineterminated
- G6043Barbiturates, not elsewhere specifiedterminated
- G6044Cocaine or metaboliteterminated
- G6045Dihydrocodeinoneterminated
- G6046Dihydromorphinoneterminated
Questions about G6038
What is HCPCS code G6038?
G6038 is a HCPCS Level II code for salicylate. It sits in the Procedures and Professional Services (Temporary) section.
Does Medicare cover G6038?
The CMS HCPCS file marks G6038 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 G6038 still valid?
No. G6038 was terminated on December 31, 2015 and should not be used on new claims.