HCPCS G0396 is the Medicare SBIRT code for alcohol and/or substance misuse structured assessment and brief intervention lasting 15 to 30 minutes.
When to use G0396
Use G0396 for Medicare patients receiving a single structured screening plus brief intervention of 15–30 minutes, often with tools such as the AUDIT or DAST. Non-Medicare payers use the CPT code 99408.
How to bill it
Report once for the 15–30 minute encounter. For services over 30 minutes, use G0397 instead.
Common pitfalls
- Confusing the Medicare G-codes with the CPT SBIRT codes 99408/99409.
- Using G0396 for services under 15 or over 30 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
When should I use G0396 instead of 99408?
Use G0396 for Medicare beneficiaries; 99408 is the CPT equivalent used by most other payers.
What if the service ran over 30 minutes?
Report G0397 for Medicare SBIRT services that exceed 30 minutes.