G0444
Depression screen annual
Annual depression screening using a validated tool, 5 to 15 minutes. Once per 12 months per beneficiary; covered with no cost share when billed at an AWV or as a preventive service.
Published by RVUDoc. Numeric data: CMS RVU26C, effective 2026-07-01. Page updated 2026-09-23. Calculation limits and editorial policy.
Fee-schedule estimate before claim adjustments. Coverage, setting and payer rules still apply.
Billing guidance for G0444 is locked
- When to use it: the exact clinical situations that support billing G0444
- Documentation checklist: the 7 elements your note needs before submitting
- Common pitfalls: the 6 mistakes that get G0444 downcoded or denied
Payer notes
Medicare covers G0444 once per 12 months with no cost share when billed preventively (with an AWV or modifier 33). Medicare Advantage plans typically follow Medicare rules. Commercial payers vary: most accept G0444, but some use 96127 (brief emotional or behavioral assessment) for the same workflow. Check payer-specific preventive screen codes. A negative screen does not eliminate billable diagnostic codes if depression is suspected on clinical grounds; in that case use a problem-oriented E/M with the appropriate F-code rather than G0444.
Related codes
These include alternative services and possible add-ons. Listing codes together does not establish that they can be billed together; check the applicable edits and payer policy.
See what G0444 adds to your year
Add it to the wRVU calculator with your own volume, or paste a note and let the chart audit check your coding.