G9549 — Documentation of medical reason(s) that follow-up imaging is indicated (e.g., patient has lymphadenopathy, signs of metastasis or an active diagnosis or history of cancer, and other medical reason(s))
G9549 is a HCPCS Level II code for documentation of medical reason(s) that follow-up imaging is indicated (e.g., patient has lymphadenopathy, signs of metastasis or an active diagnosis or history of cancer, and other medical reason(s)). 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
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The CMS record for G9549
- Long descriptor
- Documentation of medical reason(s) that follow-up imaging is indicated (e.g., patient has lymphadenopathy, signs of metastasis or an active diagnosis or history of cancer, and other medical reason(s))
- Short descriptor
- Doc med rsn for f/u imag
- Added
- January 1, 2016
- BETOS
- Z2
- 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 G9549
HCPCS has no hierarchy — related items simply sit next to each other in the numbering. If G9549 is not quite right, the correct code is very often within a few positions of it.
- G9539Intent for potential removal at time of placement
- G9540Patient alive 3 months post procedure
- G9541Filter removed within 3 months of placement
- G9542Documented re-assessment for the appropriateness of filter removal within 3 months of placement
- G9543Documentation of at least two attempts to reach the patient to arrange a clinical re-assessment for the appropriateness of filter removal within 3 months of placement
- G9544Patients that do not have the filter removed, documented re-assessment for the appropriateness of filter removal, or documentation of at least two attempts to reach the patient to arrange a clinical re-assessment for the appropriateness of filter removal within 3 months of placement
- G9547Cystic renal lesion that is simple appearing (bosniak i or ii) , or adrenal lesion less than or equal to 1.0 cm or adrenal lesion greater than 1.0 cm but less than or equal to 4.0 cm classified as likely benign by unenhanced ct or washout protocol ct, or mri with in- and opposed-phase sequences or other equivalent institutional imaging protocols
- G9548Final reports for imaging studies stating no follow-up imaging is recommended
- G9550Final reports for imaging studies with follow-up imaging recommended, or final reports that do not include a specific recommendation of no follow-up
- G9551Final reports for imaging studies without an incidentally found lesion noted
- G9552Incidental thyroid nodule < 1.0 cm noted in report
- G9553Prior thyroid disease diagnosis
- G9554Final reports for ct, cta, mri or mra of the chest or neck with follow-up imaging recommended
- G9555Documentation of medical reason(s) for recommending follow up imaging (e.g., patient has multiple endocrine neoplasia, patient has cervical lymphadenopathy, other medical reason(s))
- G9556Final reports for ct, cta, mri or mra of the chest or neck with follow-up imaging not recommended
- G9557Final reports for ct, cta, mri or mra studies of the chest or neck without an incidentally found thyroid nodule < 1.0 cm noted or no nodule found
Questions about G9549
What is HCPCS code G9549?
G9549 is a HCPCS Level II code for documentation of medical reason(s) that follow-up imaging is indicated (e.g., patient has lymphadenopathy, signs of metastasis or an active diagnosis or history of cancer, and other medical reason(s)). It sits in the Procedures and Professional Services (Temporary) section.
Does Medicare cover G9549?
The CMS HCPCS file marks G9549 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 G9549 paid under the physician fee schedule?
G9549 carries PFS status code M. Measurement code. Used for reporting purposes only; never paid.