G8442 — Pain assessment not documented as being performed, documentation the patient is not eligible for a pain assessment using a standardized tool at the time of the encounter
G8442 is a HCPCS Level II code for pain assessment not documented as being performed, documentation the patient is not eligible for a pain assessment using a standardized tool at the time of the encounter. It belongs to the Procedures and Professional Services (Temporary) section. It was terminated on December 31, 2020 and is not valid on new claims.
This code has been terminated
CMS terminated G8442 on December 31, 2020. 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 G8442
- Long descriptor
- Pain assessment not documented as being performed, documentation the patient is not eligible for a pain assessment using a standardized tool at the time of the encounter
- Short descriptor
- Doc pain as nt perf, not elg
- Added
- January 1, 2008
- Terminated
- December 31, 2020
- BETOS
- M5D
- 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 G8442
HCPCS has no hierarchy — related items simply sit next to each other in the numbering. If G8442 is not quite right, the correct code is very often within a few positions of it.
- G8421Bmi not documented and no reason is given
- G8422Bmi not documented, documentation the patient is not eligible for bmi calculationterminated
- G8427Eligible clinician attests to documenting in the medical record they obtained, updated, or reviewed the patient's current medications
- G8428Current list of medications not documented as obtained, updated, or reviewed by the eligible clinician, reason not given
- G8430Documentation of a medical reason(s) for not documenting, updating, or reviewing the patient's current medications list (e.g., patient is in an acute health crisis where time is of the essence and delay of treatment would jeopardize the patient's health status)
- G8431Screening for depression is documented as being positive and a follow-up plan is documented
- G8432Depression screening not documented, reason not given
- G8433Screening for depression not completed, documented patient or medical reason
- G8450Beta-blocker therapy prescribed
- G8451Beta-blocker therapy for lvef <=40% not prescribed for reasons documented by the clinician (e.g., low blood pressure, fluid overload, asthma, patients recently treated with an intravenous positive inotropic agent, allergy, intolerance, other medical reasons, patient declined, other patient reasons)
- G8452Beta-blocker therapy not prescribed
- G8458Clinician documented that patient is not an eligible candidate for genotype testing; patient not receiving antiviral treatment for hepatitis c during the measurement period (e.g. genotype test done prior to the reporting period, patient declines, patient not a candidate for antiviral treatment)terminated
- G8460Clinician documented that patient is not an eligible candidate for quantitative rna testing at week 12; patient not receiving antiviral treatment for hepatitis cterminated
- G8461Patient receiving antiviral treatment for hepatitis c during the measurement periodterminated
- G8464Clinician documented that prostate cancer patient is not an eligible candidate for adjuvant hormonal therapy; low or intermediate risk of recurrence or risk of recurrence not determinedterminated
- G8465High or very high risk of recurrence of prostate cancer
Questions about G8442
What is HCPCS code G8442?
G8442 is a HCPCS Level II code for pain assessment not documented as being performed, documentation the patient is not eligible for a pain assessment using a standardized tool at the time of the encounter. It sits in the Procedures and Professional Services (Temporary) section.
Does Medicare cover G8442?
The CMS HCPCS file marks G8442 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 G8442 still valid?
No. G8442 was terminated on December 31, 2020 and should not be used on new claims.