G8853 — Positive airway pressure therapy not prescribed
G8853 is a HCPCS Level II code for positive airway pressure therapy not prescribed. It belongs to the Procedures and Professional Services (Temporary) section. It was terminated on December 31, 2016 and is not valid on new claims.
This code has been terminated
CMS terminated G8853 on December 31, 2016. 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 G8853
- Long descriptor
- Positive airway pressure therapy not prescribed
- Short descriptor
- Pos air press not prescribe
- Added
- January 1, 2012
- Terminated
- December 31, 2016
- 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.
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 G8853
HCPCS has no hierarchy — related items simply sit next to each other in the numbering. If G8853 is not quite right, the correct code is very often within a few positions of it.
- G8844Apnea hypopnea index (ahi), respiratory disturbance index (rdi), or respiratory event index (rei) not documented or measured within 2 months after initial evaluation for suspected obstructive sleep apnea, reason not given
- G8845Positive airway pressure therapy prescribed
- G8846Moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnea (apnea hypopnea index (ahi) or respiratory disturbance index (rdi) of 15 or greater)
- G8848Mild obstructive sleep apnea (apnea hypopnea index (ahi) or respiratory disturbance index (rdi) of less than 15)terminated
- G8849Documentation of reason(s) for not prescribing positive airway pressure therapy (e.g., patient unable to tolerate, alternative therapies use, patient declined, financial, insurance coverage)
- G8850Positive airway pressure therapy not prescribed, reason not given
- G8851Adherence to therapy was assessed at least annually through an objective informatics system or through self-reporting (if objective reporting is not available, documented)
- G8852Positive airway pressure therapy was prescribedterminated
- G8854Documentation of reason(s) for not objectively reporting adherence to evidence-based therapy (e.g., patients who have been diagnosed with a terminal or advanced disease with an expected life span of less than 6 months, patients who decline therapy, patients who do not return for follow-up at least annually, patients unable to access/afford therapy, patient's insurance will not cover therapy)
- G8855Adherence to therapy was not assessed at least annually through an objective informatics system or through self-reporting (if objective reporting is not available), reason not given
- G8856Referral to a physician for an otologic evaluation performed
- G8857Patient is not eligible for the referral for otologic evaluation measure (e.g., patients who are already under the care of a physician for acute or chronic dizziness)
- G8858Referral to a physician for an otologic evaluation not performed, reason not given
- G8859Patient receiving corticosteroids greater than or equal to 10mg/day for 60 or greater consecutive daysterminated
- G8860Patients who have received dose of corticosteroids greater than or equal to 10mg/day for 60 or greater consecutive daysterminated
- G8861Within the past 2 years, central dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (dxa) ordered and documented, review of systems and medication history or pharmacologic therapy (other than minerals/vitamins) for osteoporosis prescribedterminated
Questions about G8853
What is HCPCS code G8853?
G8853 is a HCPCS Level II code for positive airway pressure therapy not prescribed. It sits in the Procedures and Professional Services (Temporary) section.
Does Medicare cover G8853?
The CMS HCPCS file marks G8853 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 G8853 still valid?
No. G8853 was terminated on December 31, 2016 and should not be used on new claims.