Lung Cancer Screening Counseling and Annual
Screening for Lung Cancer With Low Dose Computed Tomography (LDCT)
Refer to “Medicare Coverage of Screening for Lung Cancer with Low Dose Computed Tomography (LDCT)” for more information.
HCPCS/CPT Codes
G0296 – Counseling visit to discuss need for lung cancer screening (LDCT) using low dose CT scan (service is for eligibility determination and shared decision making)
G0297 – Low dose CT scan (LDCT) for lung cancer screening ICD-10 Codes Z87.891
Who Is Covered
Medicare beneficiaries who fall into all of the following categories:
* Age 55–77 years
* Asymptomatic
* Tobacco smoking history of at least 30 pack-years (one pack-year = smoking one pack per day for one year; 1 pack = 20 cigarettes)
* Current smoker or one who has quit smoking within the last 15 years
* Receive a written order for lung cancer screening with LDCT Frequency
Annually for covered Medicare beneficiaries
* First year: Before the first lung cancer LDCT screening, Medicare beneficiaries must receive a counseling and shared decision making visit
* Subsequent years: The Medicare beneficiary must receive a written order furnished during an appropriate visit with a physician or NPP Medicare Beneficiary Pays
* Copayment/coinsurance waived
* Deductible waived
Health Care Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Codes
Effective for claims with dates of service on and after February 5, 2015, the following HCPCS codes are used for lung cancer screening with LDCT:
** G0296 – Counseling visit to discuss need for lung cancer screening (LDCT) using low dose CT scan (service is for eligibility determination and shared decision making)
** G0297 – Low dose CT scan (LDCT) for lung cancer screening
In addition to the HCPCS code, these services must be billed with ICD-10 diagnosis code Z87.891 (personal history of tobacco use/personal history of nicotine dependence), ICD-9 diagnosis code V15.82.
NOTE: Contractors shall apply contractor-pricing to claims containing HCPCS G0296 and G0297 with dates of service February 5, 2015, through December 31, 2015.
CMS reviewed the evidence for lung cancer screening with low dose computed tomography (LDCT) and determined that the criteria listed above were met, enabling CMS to cover this “additional preventive service” under Medicare Part B.
CMS issued NCD 210.14 on August 21, 2105, that provides for Medicare coverage of screening for lung cancer with LDCT. Effective for claims with dates of service on and after February 5, 2015, Medicare beneficiaries must meet all of the following criteria:
** Be 55–77 years of age;
** Be asymptomatic (no signs or symptoms of lung cancer);
** Have a tobacco smoking history of at least 30 pack-years (one pack-year = smoking one pack per day for one year; 1 pack = 20 cigarettes);
** Be a current smoker or one who has quit smoking within the last 15 years; and,
** Receive a written order for lung cancer screening with LDCT that meets the requirements described in the NCD.
Written orders for lung cancer LDCT screenings must be appropriately documented in the beneficiary’s medical record, and must contain the following information:
** Date of birth;
** Actual pack–year smoking history (number);
** Current smoking status, and for former smokers, the number of years since quitting smoking;
** A statement that the beneficiary is asymptomatic (no signs or symptoms of lung cancer); and,
** The National Provider Identifier (NPI) of the ordering practitioner.
Counseling and Shared Decision-Making Visit
Before the first lung cancer LDCT screening occurs, the beneficiary must receive a written order for LDCT lung cancer screening during a lung cancer screening counseling and shared decision-making visit that includes the following elements and is appropriately documented in the beneficiary’s medical records:
** Must be furnished by a physician (as defined in section 1861(r)(1) of the Act) or qualified non-physician practitioner (meaning a Physician Assistant (PA), Nurse Practitioner (NP), or Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) as defined in section1861(aa)(5) of the Act); and
** Must include all of the following elements:
o Determination of beneficiary eligibility including age, absence of signs or symptoms of lung cancer, a specific calculation of cigarette smoking pack-years; and if a former smoker, the number of years since quitting;
o Shared decision-making, including the use of one or more decision aids, to include benefits and harms of screening, follow-up diagnostic testing, over-diagnosis, false positive rate, and total radiation exposure;
o Counseling on the importance of adherence to annual lung cancer LDCT screening, impact of co-morbidities, and ability or willingness to undergo diagnosis and treatment;
o Counseling on the importance of maintaining cigarette smoking abstinence if former smoker; or the importance of smoking cessation if current smoker and, if appropriate, furnishing of information about tobacco cessation interventions; and,
o If appropriate, the furnishing of a written order for lung cancer screening with LDCT. Written orders for subsequent annual LDCT screens may be furnished during any appropriate
visit with a physician or qualified non-physician practitioner (PA, NP, or CNS)