In simple words: This code indicates that a patient received care focused on relieving symptoms of a serious illness during a specific time period.

This code is used to document that a patient received palliative care services at any point during the specified measurement period for a performance measure. Palliative care focuses on relieving symptoms and improving quality of life for patients with serious illnesses, rather than curing the underlying condition.

Example 1: A patient with advanced cancer receives pain management and emotional support throughout the measurement period. G9988 is reported to track the provision of these palliative care services., A patient with heart failure experiences worsening symptoms and receives palliative care consultations to address their discomfort and improve their quality of life. G9988 is used to document these services., A patient with end-stage renal disease receives palliative care to manage their symptoms and make them more comfortable. G9988 is reported to reflect the delivery of these services during the measurement period.

Documentation should clearly indicate the palliative care services provided, the date(s) of service, and the patient's condition necessitating palliative care.