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    OpenPayerBilling CodesProcedures / Professional ServicesHCPCS hcpcs-g9160-spoken-language-comprehension-functional-status
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    HCPCS G9160: Spoken Language Comprehension Functional Goal Status

    HCPCS Level II code G9160 documents spoken language comprehension functional limitation and its projected goal status at the start of a therapy episode, at specified reporting intervals, and at discharge or end of reporting; this measure is used for speech-language pathology outcome reporting and represents a functional outcome assessment typically captured during speech therapy sessions in outpatient therapy clinics, inpatient rehabilitation settings, or skilled nursing facilities where progress toward comprehension goals is tracked over the course of care.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is a 68-year-old individual with a left hemispheric ischemic stroke who presents to an inpatient rehabilitation unit with persistent aphasia affecting spoken language comprehension. At the start of the therapy episode the speech-language pathologist performs standardized and criterion-referenced assessments (for example: Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination subtests, Token Test items, and functional communication measures) to document baseline spoken language comprehension functional limitation. Progress is tracked at planned reporting intervals (such as every 10 therapy days or at defined plan-of-care reviews) and again at discharge from inpatient rehab or at the end of the outpatient episode. Documentation includes the projected goal status established at the episode outset, objective test scores and functional task performance at each reporting interval, and a discharge status that compares actual attainment to the projected goal. Typical workflow steps: initial evaluation and goal setting, periodic reassessments with score updates and narrative functional examples, interdisciplinary team care conferences referencing comprehension status, and final discharge summary with status versus projected goals. Typical payors involved include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, BUCA, and Medicare.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    92521Evaluation of speech fluency and receptive language (comprehension); single evaluationCommonly performed alongside G9160 as the clinical speech-language evaluation that produces baseline receptive language scores used to establish projected goal status.
    92522Evaluation of speech fluency and receptive language; comprehensive evaluationUsed when a more extensive receptive language evaluation is performed and documented as part of initial assessment and reporting intervals.
    92610Evaluation of oral and pharyngeal swallowing function; with interpretation and reportPerformed when comprehension deficits coexist with swallowing assessment needs; often part of comprehensive SLP care though distinct from comprehension-specific reporting.
    92626Treatment of swallowing dysfunction and/or oral function for feeding; with individual, 15 minutesMay be provided in the same episode when therapy addresses functional communication and related oral-motor tasks, sequenced with comprehension therapy.
    97110Therapeutic exercises, each 15 minutesUsed when functional communication tasks requiring cognitive-linguistic exercises are billed in parallel with comprehension assessments during therapy episodes.

    Related Modifiers

    5 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    77Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…
    91Modifier 91 — “Repeat Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Test” — is appended when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once for the same patient on the same day because serial,…- Use modifier 91 when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once on the same patient on the same date because serial or repeated testing is medically necessary to monitor…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy CodeSpecialtyNotes
    2084P0800XPsychiatry PhysicianA Psychiatrist specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders, emotional disorders, psychotic disorders, mood disorders, …
    364S00000XClinical Nurse SpecialistA registered nurse who, through a graduate degree program in nursing, or through a formal post-basic education program or continuing education courses…
    204R00000XElectrodiagnostic Medicine PhysicianElectrodiagnostic medicine is the medical subspecialty that applies neurophysiologic techniques to diagnose, evaluate, and treat patients with impairm…
    224ZE0001XEnvironmental Modification Occupational Therapy AssistantOccupational therapy assistants provide environmental modifications under the supervision of an occupational therapist. OTAs develop and implement an…
    207UN0901XNuclear Cardiology PhysicianA nuclear medicine physician who specializes in nuclear cardiology.
    3336L0003XLong Term Care PharmacyA pharmacy that dispenses medicinal preparations delivered to patients residing within an intermediate or skilled nursing facility, including intermed…
    1710I1003XIndependent Duty Medical TechniciansAn Independent Duty Medical Technician (IDMT) is specially trained and educated to perform primary medical care, minor surgical services, and treatmen…
    133VN1005XRenal Nutrition Registered DietitianAn individual who is a Board Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition and works directly with adult and/or pediatric patients with acute kidney injury,…

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    26 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    F80.0Phonological disorder
    F80.1Expressive language disorder
    F80.2Mixed receptive-expressive language disorder
    F80.81Childhood onset fluency disorder
    F80.89Other developmental disorders of speech and language
    F80.9Developmental disorder of speech and language, unspecified
    G10Huntington's disease
    G12.21Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
    G12.22Progressive bulbar palsy
    G31.2Degeneration of nervous system due to alcohol

    Showing 1–10 of 26

    Related Codes

    HCPCS-G9490-HOME-ASSESSMENT-NON-HOMEBOUND

    HCPCS G9490: Home Visit Patient Assessment for Non-Homebound Beneficiary

    HCPCS-G0008-INFLUENZA-VACCINE-ADMINISTRATION

    HCPCS G0008: Administration of Influenza Virus Vaccine

    HCPCS-G0009-PNEUMOCOCCAL-VACCINE-ADMINISTRATION

    HCPCS G0009: Administration of Pneumococcal Vaccine

    HCPCS-G0010-HEPATITIS-B-VACCINE-ADMINISTRATION

    HCPCS G0010: Administration of Hepatitis B Vaccine

    HCPCS-G0011-PREP-COUNSELING-HIV-RISK-REDUCTION-ADHERENCE

    HCPCS G0011: Individual PrEP Counseling, HIV Risk Assessment

    HCPCS-G0012-PRE-EXPOSURE-PROPHYLAXIS-INJECTION-HIV-PREVENTION

    HCPCS G0012: Injection of PrEP Drug for HIV Prevention

    HCPCS-G0013-PREP-INDIVIDUAL-COUNSELING-HIV-RISK-REDUCTION

    HCPCS G0013: Individual PrEP Counseling by Clinical Staff

    HCPCS-G0017-PSYCHOTHERAPY-CRISIS-FIRST-60-MINUTES-NON-OFFICE

    HCPCS G0017: Psychotherapy for Crisis, First 60 Minutes

    HCPCS-G0018-PSYCHOTHERAPY-CRISIS-ADDITIONAL-30-MINUTES-NON-OFFICE

    HCPCS G0018: Psychotherapy for Crisis, Additional 30 Minutes

    HCPCS-G0019-COMMUNITY-HEALTH-INTEGRATION-SDOH-CARE-COORDINATION

    HCPCS G0019: Community Health Integration, Person-Centered Assessment

    Showing 1–10 of 1996

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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