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G8973

G8973Most recent hemoglobin (hgb) level < 10 g/dl

HCPCSTerminatedBETOS M5B

G8973 is a HCPCS Level II code for most recent hemoglobin (hgb) level < 10 g/dl. 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 G8973 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 G8973

Long descriptor
Most recent hemoglobin (hgb) level < 10 g/dl

The official wording. This is what the code means.

Short descriptor
Mst rcnt hbb < 10g/dl

CMS's 28-character form, which is what shows up on a remittance advice.

Added
January 1, 2013

When CMS introduced the code.

Terminated
December 31, 2020

When CMS retired it.

BETOS
M5B

Berenson-Eggers Type of Service — CMS's own analytic grouping.

Pricing indicator
00 — Not priced by Part B

Service not separately priced by Part B — not covered, bundled into another service, or used by Part A only.

Codes adjacent to G8973

HCPCS has no hierarchy — related items simply sit next to each other in the numbering. If G8973 is not quite right, the correct code is very often within a few positions of it.

  • G8965Cardiac stress imaging test primarily performed on low chd risk patient for initial detection and risk assessmentterminated
  • G8966Cardiac stress imaging test performed on symptomatic or higher than low chd risk patient or for any reason other than initial detection and risk assessmentterminated
  • G8967Fda approved oral anticoagulant is prescribed
  • G8968Documentation of medical reason(s) for not prescribing an fda-approved anticoagulant (e.g., present or planned atrial appendage occlusion or ligation or patient being currently enrolled in a clinical trial related to af/atrial flutter treatment)
  • G8969Documentation of patient reason(s) for not prescribing an oral anticoagulant that is fda approved for the prevention of thromboembolism (e.g., patient preference for not receiving anticoagulation)
  • G8970No risk factors or one moderate risk factor for thromboembolism
  • G8971Warfarin or another oral anticoagulant that is fda approved not prescribed, reason not giventerminated
  • G8972One or more high risk factors for thromboembolism or more than one moderate risk factor for thromboembolismterminated
  • G8974Hemoglobin level measurement not documented, reason not giventerminated
  • G8975Documentation of medical reason(s) for patient having a hemoglobin level < 10 g/dl (e.g., patients who have non-renal etiologies of anemia [e.g., sickle cell anemia or other hemoglobinopathies, hypersplenism, primary bone marrow disease, anemia related to chemotherapy for diagnosis of malignancy, postoperative bleeding, active bloodstream or peritoneal infection], other medical reasons)terminated
  • G8976Most recent hemoglobin (hgb) level >= 10 g/dlterminated
  • G8977I intend to report the oncology measures groupterminated
  • G8978Mobility: walking & moving around functional limitation, current status, at therapy episode outset and at reporting intervalsterminated
  • G8979Mobility: walking & moving around functional limitation, projected goal status, at therapy episode outset, at reporting intervals, and at discharge or to end reportingterminated
  • G8980Mobility: walking & moving around functional limitation, discharge status, at discharge from therapy or to end reportingterminated
  • G8981Changing & maintaining body position functional limitation, current status, at therapy episode outset and at reporting intervalsterminated

Questions about G8973

What is HCPCS code G8973?

G8973 is a HCPCS Level II code for most recent hemoglobin (hgb) level < 10 g/dl. It sits in the Procedures and Professional Services (Temporary) section.

Does Medicare cover G8973?

The CMS HCPCS file marks G8973 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 G8973 still valid?

No. G8973 was terminated on December 31, 2020 and should not be used on new claims.

HCPCS Level II2026Q3-Jul· effective July 1, 2026