G8749 — Absence of signs of melanoma (tenderness, jaundice, localized neurologic signs such as weakness, or any other sign suggesting systemic spread) or absence of symptoms of melanoma (cough, dyspnea, pain, paresthesia, or any other symptom suggesting the possibility of systemic spread of melanoma)
G8749 is a HCPCS Level II code for absence of signs of melanoma (tenderness, jaundice, localized neurologic signs such as weakness, or any other sign suggesting systemic spread) or absence of symptoms of melanoma (cough, dyspnea, pain, paresthesia, or any other symptom suggesting the possibility of systemic spread of melanoma). 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
Want the dollar amount for your locality? The fee calculator applies your GPCI and the current conversion factor.
The CMS record for G8749
- Long descriptor
- Absence of signs of melanoma (tenderness, jaundice, localized neurologic signs such as weakness, or any other sign suggesting systemic spread) or absence of symptoms of melanoma (cough, dyspnea, pain, paresthesia, or any other symptom suggesting the possibility of systemic spread of melanoma)
- Short descriptor
- No signs melanoma
- Added
- January 1, 2012
- BETOS
- M5B
- 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 G8749
HCPCS has no hierarchy — related items simply sit next to each other in the numbering. If G8749 is not quite right, the correct code is very often within a few positions of it.
- G8733Elder maltreatment screen documented as positive and a follow-up plan is documented
- G8734Elder maltreatment screen documented as negative, follow-up is not required
- G8735Elder maltreatment screen documented as positive, follow-up plan not documented, reason not given
- G8736Most current ldl-c <100mg/dlterminated
- G8737Most current ldl-c >=100mg/dlterminated
- G8738Left ventricular ejection fraction (lvef) < 40% or documentation of severely or moderately depressed left ventricular systolic functionterminated
- G8739Left ventricular ejection fraction (lvef) >= 40% or documentation as normal or mildly depressed left ventricular systolic functionterminated
- G8740Left ventricular ejection fraction (lvef) not performed or assessed, reason not giventerminated
- G8751Smoking status and exposure to second hand smoke in the home not assessed, reason not giventerminated
- G8752Most recent systolic blood pressure < 140 mmhg
- G8753Most recent systolic blood pressure >= 140 mmhg
- G8754Most recent diastolic blood pressure < 90 mmhg
- G8755Most recent diastolic blood pressure >= 90 mmhg
- G8756No documentation of blood pressure measurement, reason not given
- G8757All quality actions for the applicable measures in the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd) measures group have been performed for this patientterminated
- G8758All quality actions for the applicable measures in the inflammatory bowel disease (ibd) measures group have been performed for this patientterminated
Questions about G8749
What is HCPCS code G8749?
G8749 is a HCPCS Level II code for absence of signs of melanoma (tenderness, jaundice, localized neurologic signs such as weakness, or any other sign suggesting systemic spread) or absence of symptoms of melanoma (cough, dyspnea, pain, paresthesia, or any other symptom suggesting the possibility of systemic spread of melanoma). It sits in the Procedures and Professional Services (Temporary) section.
Does Medicare cover G8749?
The CMS HCPCS file marks G8749 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 G8749 paid under the physician fee schedule?
G8749 carries PFS status code M. Measurement code. Used for reporting purposes only; never paid.