Summary & Overview
HCPCS G0444: Annual Depression Screening, 5–15 Minutes
HCPCS Level II code G0444 denotes an annual depression screening lasting 5 to 15 minutes. This brief behavioral health screening is used in primary care and outpatient settings to identify patients who may require additional assessment or treatment for depressive symptoms. Nationally, routine depression screening is a key preventive health measure with implications for population mental health, care coordination, and quality reporting.
Key payers commonly covering this service include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find benchmarks for utilization and coverage, an explanation of typical clinical contexts and sites of service, and relevant policy updates affecting screening reimbursement and quality incentives. The guide outlines common billing considerations, typical modifiers used in practice, and how G0444 fits into broader behavioral health screening workflows. Data not provided in the input are noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code G0444 represents annual depression screening when the screening takes 5 to 15 minutes. The service is a brief, standardized screening for depressive symptoms using an accepted screening tool and is intended to identify patients who may need further assessment or treatment.
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Service type: Behavioral health screening
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Typical site of service: Primary care or outpatient clinic visits where preventive or routine screening is provided
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 52-year-old female presents for her annual primary care visit at an outpatient clinic. As part of routine preventive care, the medical assistant hands the patient a standardized depression screening instrument (such as the PHQ-9) and documents the time spent scoring and reviewing results with the clinician. The clinician spends approximately 8 minutes administering and discussing the screening, assesses risk, documents the screening score and brief follow-up plan in the electronic health record, and provides patient education and resources. This screening is performed as a separate preventive service during a visit otherwise focused on wellness and does not include extended psychotherapy or a diagnostic psychiatric interview.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
25 | Significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service by the same physician on the same day of the procedure or other service | Use when the depression screening is performed on the same day as an E/M visit and the E/M is separately significant and documented. |
59 | Distinct procedural service | Use when the screening is a distinct service from another procedure on the same day to indicate separateness. |