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G9988

G9988Palliative care services provided to patient any time during the measurement period

HCPCSActiveBETOS Z2

G9988 is a HCPCS Level II code for palliative care services provided to patient any time during the measurement period. 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 G9988

Long descriptor
Palliative care services provided to patient any time during the measurement period

The official wording. This is what the code means.

Short descriptor
Pall serv during meas

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

Added
January 1, 2022

When CMS introduced the code.

BETOS
Z2

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 G9988

HCPCS has no hierarchy — related items simply sit next to each other in the numbering. If G9988 is not quite right, the correct code is very often within a few positions of it.

  • G9980Remote in-home visit for the evaluation and management of a new patient for use only in a medicare-approved bundled payments for care improvement advanced (bpci advanced) model episode of care, which requires these 3 key components: a detailed history; a detailed examination; medical decision making of low complexity, furnished in real time using interactive audio and video technology. counseling and coordination of care with other physicians, other qualified health care professionals or agencies are provided consistent with the nature of the problem(s) and the needs of the patient or the family or both. usually, the presenting problem(s) are of moderate severity. typically, 30 minutes are spent with the patient or family or both via real time, audio and video intercommunications technology
  • G9981Remote in-home visit for the evaluation and management of a new patient for use only in a medicare-approved bundled payments for care improvement advanced (bpci advanced) model episode of care, which requires these 3 key components: a comprehensive history; a comprehensive examination; medical decision making of moderate complexity, furnished in real time using interactive audio and video technology. counseling and coordination of care with other physicians, other qualified health care professionals or agencies are provided consistent with the nature of the problem(s) and the needs of the patient or the family or both. usually, the presenting problem(s) are of moderate to high severity. typically, 45 minutes are spent with the patient or family or both via real time, audio and video intercommunications technology
  • G9982Remote in-home visit for the evaluation and management of a new patient for use only in a medicare-approved bundled payments for care improvement advanced (bpci advanced) model episode of care, which requires these 3 key components: a comprehensive history; a comprehensive examination; medical decision making of high complexity, furnished in real time using interactive audio and video technology. counseling and coordination of care with other physicians, other qualified health care professionals or agencies are provided consistent with the nature of the problem(s) and the needs of the patient or the family or both. usually, the presenting problem(s) are of moderate to high severity. typically, 60 minutes are spent with the patient or family or both via real time, audio and video intercommunications technology
  • G9983Remote in-home visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient for use only in a medicare-approved bundled payments for care improvement advanced (bpci advanced) model episode of care, which requires at least 2 of the following 3 key components: a problem focused history; a problem focused examination; straightforward medical decision making, furnished in real time using interactive audio and video technology. counseling and coordination of care with other physicians, other qualified health care professionals or agencies are provided consistent with the nature of the problem(s) and the needs of the patient or the family or both. usually, the presenting problem(s) are self limited or minor. typically, 10 minutes are spent with the patient or family or both via real time, audio and video intercommunications technology
  • G9984Remote in-home visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient for use only in a medicare-approved bundled payments for care improvement advanced (bpci advanced) model episode of care, which requires at least 2 of the following 3 key components: an expanded problem focused history; an expanded problem focused examination; medical decision making of low complexity, furnished in real time using interactive audio and video technology. counseling and coordination of care with other physicians, other qualified health care professionals or agencies are provided consistent with the nature of the problem(s) and the needs of the patient or the family or both. usually, the presenting problem(s) are of low to moderate severity. typically, 15 minutes are spent with the patient or family or both via real time, audio and video intercommunications technology
  • G9985Remote in-home visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient for use only in a medicare-approved bundled payments for care improvement advanced (bpci advanced) model episode of care, which requires at least 2 of the following 3 key components: a detailed history; a detailed examination; medical decision making of moderate complexity, furnished in real time using interactive audio and video technology. counseling and coordination of care with other physicians, other qualified health care professionals or agencies are provided consistent with the nature of the problem(s) and the needs of the patient or the family or both. usually, the presenting problem(s) are of moderate to high severity. typically, 25 minutes are spent with the patient or family or both via real time, audio and video intercommunications technology
  • G9986Remote in-home visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient for use only in a medicare-approved bundled payments for care improvement advanced (bpci advanced) model episode of care, which requires at least 2 of the following 3 key components: a comprehensive history; a comprehensive examination; medical decision making of high complexity, furnished in real time using interactive audio and video technology. counseling and coordination of care with other physicians, other qualified health care professionals or agencies are provided consistent with the nature of the problem(s) and the needs of the patient or the family or both. usually, the presenting problem(s) are of moderate to high severity. typically, 40 minutes are spent with the patient or family or both via real time, audio and video intercommunications technology
  • G9987Bundled payments for care improvement advanced (bpci advanced) model home visit for patient assessment performed by clinical staff for an individual not considered homebound, including, but not necessarily limited to patient assessment of clinical status, safety/fall prevention, functional status/ambulation, medication reconciliation/management, compliance with orders/plan of care, performance of activities of daily living, and ensuring beneficiary connections to community and other services; for use only for a bpci advanced model episode of care; may not be billed for a 30-day period covered by a transitional care management code
  • G9989Documentation of medical reason(s) for not administering pneumococcal vaccine (e.g., adverse reaction to vaccine)terminated
  • G9990Patient did not receive any pneumococcal conjugate or polysaccharide vaccine on or after their 19th birthday and before the end of the measurement periodterminated
  • G9991Patient received any pneumococcal conjugate or polysaccharide vaccine on or after their 19th birthday and before the end of the measurement periodterminated
  • G9992Palliative care services used by patient any time during the measurement period
  • G9993Patient was provided palliative care services any time during the measurement period
  • G9994Patient is using palliative care services any time during the measurement period
  • G9995Patients who use palliative care services any time during the measurement periodterminated
  • G9996Documentation stating the patient has received or is currently receiving palliative or hospice care

Questions about G9988

What is HCPCS code G9988?

G9988 is a HCPCS Level II code for palliative care services provided to patient any time during the measurement period. It sits in the Procedures and Professional Services (Temporary) section.

Does Medicare cover G9988?

The CMS HCPCS file marks G9988 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 G9988 paid under the physician fee schedule?

G9988 carries PFS status code M. Measurement code. Used for reporting purposes only; never paid.

HCPCS Level II2026Q3-Jul· effective July 1, 2026