CPT code and Description

G0446 – annual, face-to-face intensive behavioral counseling (IBT) for cardio-vascular disease (CVD), individual, 15 minutes

G0447 – face-to-face behavioral counseling for obesity, 15 minutes

G0473 – face-to-face behavioral counseling for obesity, group (2–10), 30 minutes.

Reimbursement Guidelines

For eligible adult health plan members with obesity, defined as Body Mass Index (BMI) equal toor greater than 30 kg/m2, Optum will align reimbursement with Medicare including:

One face-to-face visit every week for the first month;
One face-to-face visit every other week for months 2-6; and
One face-to-face visit every month for months 7-12 [if the member meets the 3kg (6.6 lbs.) weight loss requirement during the first 6 months.

  For adult members who do not achieve a weight loss of at least 3 kg (6.6 pounds) during the first 6 months of intensive therapy, a reassessment of their readiness to change and BMI is appropriate after an additional 6-month period.

These visits must be provided by a qualified health care provider.For eligible children and adolescent (6-18 years) health plan members with overweight, defined as having an age/gender-specific BMI at or above the 85th percentile, Optum will align reimbursement with the recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

CPT codes for obesity screening and counseling are: 

• 99401 – preventive medicine counseling and/or risk factor intervention/s provided to an individual (separate procedure); approximately 15 minutes

99402 – preventive medicine counseling and/or risk factor intervention/s provided to an individual (separate procedure); approximately 30 minutes

HCPCS codes related to obesity screening and counseling are:

G0446 – annual, face-to-face intensive behavioral counseling (IBT) for cardio-vascular disease (CVD), individual, 15 minutes•

G0447 – face-to-face behavioral counseling for obesity, 15 minutes

G0473 – face-to-face behavioral counseling for obesity, group (2–10), 30 minutes.

Modifier Description
GQ Via asynchronous telecommunications system

GT Via interactive audio and video telecommunication systems

Place of Service Code Description

02   Telehealth11Physician’s office

19   Off Campus-Outpatient Hospital

22   On Campus-Outpatient hospital

Billing Requirements – Medicare Guidelines

Diagnostic Codes

Effective for claims with dates of service on or after November 29, 2011, Medicare will recognize HCPCS code G0447, Face-to-Face Behavioral Counseling for Obesity, 15 minutes. G0447 must be billed along with 1 of the ICD-9 codes for BMI 30.0 and over (V85.30-V85.39, V85.41-V85.45). The type of service (TOS) for G0447  is 1.  (ICD-10 codes will be Z68.30-Z68.39, Z68.41- Z68.45)

Effective for claims with dates of service on or after November 29, 2011, Medicare contractors will deny claims for HCPCS G0447 that are not submitted with the appropriate diagnostic code (V85.30-V85.39, V85.41-V85.45).

Claims submitted with HCPCS G0447 that are not submitted with these diagnosis codes will be denied with the following messages:

•Claim Adjustment Reason Code (CARC) 167 – “This (these) diagnosis(es) is (are) not covered. Note: Refer to the 835 Healthcare Policy Identification Segment (loop 2110 Service Payment Information REF), if present.”

•Remittance Advice Remark Code (RARC) N386 – “This decision was based on a National Coverage Determination (NCD). An NCD provides a coverage determination as to whether a particular item or service is covered. A copy of this policy is available at www.cms.gov/mcd/search.asp

•Group Code PR (Patient Responsibility), assigning financial responsibility to the beneficiary (if a claim is received with a GA modifier indicating a signed ABN is on file). . If you do not have web access, you may contact the contractor to request a copy of the NCD.”

•Group Code CO (Contractual Obligation) assigning financial liability to the provider (if a claim is received with a GZ modifier indicating no signed ABN is on file)

Insurance Coverage

For Medicare beneficiaries with obesity, who are competent and alert at the time that counseling is provided and whose counseling is furnished by a qualified primary care physician or other primary care practitioner and in a primary care setting, CMS covers

• One face-to-face visit every week for the first month;
• One face-to-face visit every other week for months 2-6;
• One face-to-face visit every month for months 7-12, if the beneficiary meets the 3kg (6.6 lbs) weight loss requirement as discussed below

At the six-month visit, a reassessment of obesity and a determination of the amount of weight loss must be performed. To be eligible for additional  face-to-face visits occurring once a month for an additional six months, beneficiaries must have achieved a reduction in weight of at least 3kg (6.6 lbs)  over the course of the first six months of intensive therapy. This determination must be documented in the physician office records for applicable beneficiaries consistent with usual practice. For beneficiaries who do not achieve a weight loss of at least 3kg (6.6 lbs) during the first six months of intensive therapy, a reassessment of their readiness to change and BMI is appropriate after an additional six month period.

Intensive behavioral intervention should be consistent with the 5-A framework:

1. Assess: Ask about/assess behavioral health risk(s) and factors affecting choice of behavior change goals/methods.

2. Advise: Give clear, specific, and personalized behavior change advice, including information about personal health harms and benefits.

3. Agree: Collaboratively select appropriate treatment goals and methods based on the patient’s interest in and willingness to change the behavior.

4. Assist: Using behavior change techniques (self-help and/or counseling), aid the patient in achieving agreed-upon goals by acquiring the skills, confidence and social/environmental supports for behavior change, supplemented with adjunctive medical treatments when appropriate.

5. Arrange: Schedule follow-up contacts (in person or by telephone) to provide ongoing assistance/support and to adjust the treatment plan as needed, including referral to more intensive or specialized treatment.Effective July 2, 2012, for claims processed with dates of service on or after November 29, 2011, Medicare will pay for G0447 with appropriate ICD-9  code no more than 22 times in a 12-month period. 

Effective January 1, 2015, for claims processed with dates of service on or after January 1, 2015, Medicare  will pay for G0447 and G0473 with appropriate ICD-9 code (ICD-10-CM code beginning October 1, 2015) no more than 22 times in a 12-month period