G8996 — Swallowing functional limitation, current status at therapy episode outset and at reporting intervals
G8996 is a HCPCS Level II code for swallowing functional limitation, current status at therapy episode outset and at reporting intervals. It belongs to the Procedures and Professional Services (Temporary) section. It was terminated on December 31, 2019 and is not valid on new claims.
This code has been terminated
CMS terminated G8996 on December 31, 2019. 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 G8996
- Long descriptor
- Swallowing functional limitation, current status at therapy episode outset and at reporting intervals
- Short descriptor
- Swallow current status
- Added
- January 1, 2013
- Terminated
- December 31, 2019
- 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 G8996
HCPCS has no hierarchy — related items simply sit next to each other in the numbering. If G8996 is not quite right, the correct code is very often within a few positions of it.
- G8988Self care functional limitation, projected goal status, at therapy episode outset, at reporting intervals, and at discharge or to end reportingterminated
- G8989Self care functional limitation, discharge status, at discharge from therapy or to end reportingterminated
- G8990Other physical or occupational therapy primary functional limitation, current status, at therapy episode outset and at reporting intervalsterminated
- G8991Other physical or occupational therapy primary functional limitation, projected goal status, at therapy episode outset, at reporting intervals, and at discharge or to end reportingterminated
- G8992Other physical or occupational therapy primary functional limitation, discharge status, at discharge from therapy or to end reportingterminated
- G8993Other physical or occupational therapy subsequent functional limitation, current status, at therapy episode outset and at reporting intervalsterminated
- G8994Other physical or occupational therapy subsequent functional limitation, projected goal status, at therapy episode outset, at reporting intervals, and at discharge or to end reportingterminated
- G8995Other physical or occupational therapy subsequent functional limitation, discharge status, at discharge from therapy or to end reportingterminated
- G8997Swallowing functional limitation, projected goal status, at therapy episode outset, at reporting intervals, and at discharge or to end reportingterminated
- G8998Swallowing functional limitation, discharge status, at discharge from therapy or to end reportingterminated
- G8999Motor speech functional limitation, current status at therapy episode outset and at reporting intervalsterminated
- G9001Coordinated care fee, initial rate
- G9002Coordinated care fee, maintenance rate
- G9003Coordinated care fee, risk adjusted high, initial
- G9004Coordinated care fee, risk adjusted low, initial
- G9005Coordinated care fee, risk adjusted maintenance
Questions about G8996
What is HCPCS code G8996?
G8996 is a HCPCS Level II code for swallowing functional limitation, current status at therapy episode outset and at reporting intervals. It sits in the Procedures and Professional Services (Temporary) section.
Does Medicare cover G8996?
The CMS HCPCS file marks G8996 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 G8996 still valid?
No. G8996 was terminated on December 31, 2019 and should not be used on new claims.