2025 HCPCS code G8510
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Screening - Preventive Medicine G-codes: Miscellaneous Feed
Screening for depression with negative findings and no follow-up plan needed.
Modifiers may be applicable depending on the specific circumstances of service and payer requirements.Always consult your payer's guidelines for modifier usage.
Medical necessity for this code is established when a patient presents for a visit where routine screening for depression is appropriate, based on clinical guidelines or patient factors, or as required by payers or regulatory bodies.The lack of any indication of depression based on the screening eliminates the need for further assessment or interventions.
The clinical responsibility lies with the physician or qualified healthcare professional who performs the depression screening using a standardized tool and documents the negative findings and the absence of the need for a follow-up plan. This includes selecting an appropriate tool for the patient's age and accurately documenting the results and clinical decision-making.
In simple words: This code is used when a doctor or other healthcare provider checks for depression using a special test, and the test shows no signs of depression.No further appointments are needed because the results were normal.
This HCPCS code (G8510) reports a negative screening for clinical depression using an age-appropriate standardized tool.The screening occurred on the date of the encounter, and no follow-up plan is necessary because the results were negative.Proper documentation of the screening and the negative results in the patient's medical record is required for accurate billing.
Example 1: A 25-year-old patient presents for an annual physical.The physician administers the PHQ-9, the results are negative, and no further assessment is needed. Code G8510 is reported., A 15-year-old patient is seen for a routine well-child visit.A brief depression screen (BDI-PC) is performed; the results are negative, and no follow-up is required. Code G8510 is reported., An elderly patient in a nursing home receives routine mental health assessment. The PHQ-9 is administered, and no depression is detected; therefore, code G8510 is reported.
Documentation should include: (1) The specific standardized depression screening tool used; (2) The date of the screening; (3) The patient's age; (4) The results of the screening (negative); (5) A statement indicating that no follow-up plan is required due to the negative screening results.This must be documented in the patient's medical record.
** The use of this code assumes a standardized, validated depression screening tool was used.The selection of the appropriate tool should be based on the patient's age and clinical context.Accurate documentation is essential to avoid claim denials.Remember that reimbursement for this code can vary widely depending on the payer.
- RVU: Refer to your specific payer's fee schedule for RVU values. Reimbursement varies by payer and location.
- Global Days : Not applicable; this is a screening code, not a surgical procedure.
- Payment Status: Active; reimbursement varies by payer.
- Modifier TC rule: Not applicable; this is not a procedure with a technical component.
- Fee Schedule : Reimbursement rates are variable and specific to individual payers.Check the most recent payer-specific fee schedule for accurate information.
- Specialties:Primary Care, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Psychiatry, Geriatrics, Pediatrics
- Place of Service:Office, Outpatient Hospital, Inpatient Hospital, Nursing Facility, Other Place of Service (depending on the setting where the screening occurs)