Annual Screening For Depression | HCPCS Code G0444 - CodingIntel

G0444 Annual depression screening , 5–15 minutes

According to Change Request 13710, beginning January 1, 2025, Medicare pays primary care practices to screen all Medicare patients annually for depression. The service must be provided in a primary care setting, using one of the following place of service codes:

• 02 Telehealth provided other than in patient’s home
• 10 Telehealth provided in patient’s home
• 11 Physician’s office
• 19 Off-campus outpatient hospital
• 22 On campus outpatient hospital
• 49 Independent clinic
• 71 State or local public health clinic

Additional updates were made in July 2025, and included the following:

• Added crisis support contact information
• Added information for safety planning for patients at risk for suicide
• Added information for follow-up contacts intervention

Who can perform the service?

This service could be done by a physician or non-physician practitioner (NPP).  However, Medicare allows it to be done by staff members. It must be done in a primary care setting with “staff-assisted depression care supports in place.”  What does that mean?

The original 2011 change request states

“At a minimum level, staff-assisted depression care supports consist of clinical staff (e.g., nurse, physician assistant) in the primary care office who can advise the physician of screening results and who can facilitate and coordinate referrals to mental health treatment. “

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Join Today Relevant Search Terms: G0444, depression screening, Medicare wellness visits and depression screening, billing for depression and wellness visits; HCPCS code G0444; screening patients for depression; PHQ-9

Last revised November 6, 2025 - CodingIntel Editor Tags: screening and counseling for behavioral conditions

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