Medicare Claims Processing Manual (Pub. 100-04), Ch. 13 § 60.3
PET Scan Qualifying Conditions and HCPCS Code Chart
60.3 - PET Scan Qualifying Conditions and HCPCS Code Chart
(Rev. 527, Issued: 04-15-05, Effective: 01-28-05, Implementation: 04-18-05)
Below is a summary of all covered PET scan conditions, with effective dates.
NOTE: The G codes below except those a # can be used to bill for PET Scan services through January
27, 2005. Effective for dates of service on or after January 28, 2005, providers must bill for PET Scan
services using the appropriate CPT codes. See section 60.3.1. The G codes with a # can continue to be
used for billing after January 28, 2005 and these remain non-covered by Medicare. (NOTE: PET
Scanners must be FDA-approved.)
Conditions
Coverage
Effective
Date
****HCPCS/CPT
*Myocardial perfusion imaging (following previous
PET G0030-G0047) single study, rest or stress
(exercise and/or pharmacologic)
3/14/95
G0030
*Myocardial perfusion imaging (following previous
PET G0030-G0047) multiple studies, rest or stress
(exercise and/or pharmacologic)
3/14/95
G0031
*Myocardial perfusion imaging (following rest
SPECT, 78464); single study, rest or stress (exercise
and/or pharmacologic)
3/14/95
G0032
*Myocardial perfusion imaging (following rest
SPECT 78464); multiple studies, rest or stress
(exercise and/or pharmacologic)
3/14/95
G0033
*Myocardial perfusion (following stress SPECT
78465); single study, rest or stress (exercise and/or
pharmacologic)
3/14/95
G0034
*Myocardial Perfusion Imaging (following stress
SPECT 78465); multiple studies, rest or stress
(exercise and/or pharmacologic)
3/14/95
G0035
*Myocardial Perfusion Imaging (following coronary
angiography 93510-93529); single study, rest or
stress (exercise and/or pharmacologic)
3/14/95
G0036
*Myocardial Perfusion Imaging, (following
coronary angiography), 93510-93529); multiple
studies, rest or stress (exercise and/or
pharmacologic)
3/14/95
G0037
*Myocardial Perfusion Imaging (following stress
planar myocardial perfusion, 78460); single study,
rest or stress (exercise and/or pharmacologic)
3/14/95
G0038
Conditions
Coverage
Effective
Date
****HCPCS/CPT
*Myocardial Perfusion Imaging (following stress
planar myocardial perfusion, 78460); multiple
studies, rest or stress (exercise and/or
pharmacologic)
3/14/95
G0039
*Myocardial Perfusion Imaging (following stress
echocardiogram 93350); single study, rest or stress
(exercise and/or pharmacologic)
3/14/95
G0040
*Myocardial Perfusion Imaging (following stress
echocardiogram, 93350); multiple studies, rest or
stress (exercise and/or pharmacologic)
3/14/95
G0041
*Myocardial Perfusion Imaging (following stress
nuclear ventriculogram 78481 or 78483); single
study, rest or stress (exercise and/or pharmacologic)
3/14/95
G0042
*Myocardial Perfusion Imaging (following stress
nuclear ventriculogram 78481 or 78483); multiple
studies, rest or stress (exercise and/or
pharmacologic)
3/14/95
G0043
*Myocardial Perfusion Imaging (following stress
ECG, 93000); single study, rest or stress (exercise
and/or pharmacologic)
3/14/95
G0044
*Myocardial perfusion (following stress ECG,
93000), multiple studies; rest or stress (exercise
and/or pharmacologic)
3/14/95
G0045
*Myocardial perfusion (following stress ECG,
93015), single study; rest or stress (exercise and/or
pharmacologic)
3/14/95
G0046
*Myocardial perfusion (following stress ECG,
93015); multiple studies, rest or stress (exercise
and/or pharmacologic)
3/14/95
G0047
PET imaging regional or whole body; single
pulmonary nodule
1/1/98
G0125
Conditions
Coverage
Effective
Date
****HCPCS/CPT
Lung cancer, non-small cell (PET imaging whole
body)
Diagnosis, Initial Staging, Restaging
7/1/01
G0210
G0211
G0212
Colorectal cancer (PET imaging whole body)
Diagnosis, Initial Staging, Restaging
7/1/01
G0213
G0214
G0215
Melanoma (PET imaging whole body)
Diagnosis, Initial Staging, Restaging
7/1/01
G0216
G0217
G0218
Melanoma for non-covered indications
7/1/01
#G0219
Lymphoma (PET imaging whole body)
Diagnosis, Initial Staging, Restaging
7/1/01
G0220
G0221
G0222
Head and neck cancer; excluding thyroid and CNS
cancers (PET imaging whole body or regional)
Diagnosis, Initial Staging, Restaging
7/1/01
G0223
G0224
G0225
Esophageal cancer (PET imaging whole body)
Diagnosis, Initial Staging, Restaging
7/1/01
G0226
G0227
G0228
Metabolic brain imaging for pre-surgical evaluation
of refractory seizures
7/1/01
G0229
Metabolic assessment for myocardial viability
following inconclusive SPECT study
7/1/01
G0230
Recurrence of colorectal or colorectal metastatic
cancer (PET whole body, gamma cameras only)
1/1/02
G0231
Staging and characterization of lymphoma (PET
whole body, gamma cameras only)
1/1/02
G0232
Conditions
Coverage
Effective
Date
****HCPCS/CPT
Recurrence of melanoma or melanoma metastatic
cancer (PET whole body, gamma cameras only)
1/1/02
G0233
Regional or whole body, for solitary pulmonary
nodule following CT, or for initial staging of non-
small cell lung cancer (gamma cameras only)
1/1/02
G0234
Non-Covered Service
PET imaging, any site not otherwise specified
1/28/05
#G0235
Non-Covered Service
Initial diagnosis of breast cancer and/or surgical
planning for breast cancer (e.g., initial staging of
axillary lymph nodes), not covered (full- and partial-
ring PET scanners only)
10/1/02
#G0252
Breast cancer, staging/restaging of local regional
recurrence or distant metastases, i.e.,
staging/restaging after or prior to course of treatment
(full- and partial-ring PET scanners only)
10/1/02
G0253
Breast cancer, evaluation of responses to treatment,
performed during course of treatment (full- and
partial-ring PET scanners only)
10/1/02
G0254
Myocardial imaging, positron emission tomography
(PET), metabolic evaluation)
10/1/02
78459
Restaging or previously treated thyroid cancer of
follicular cell origin following negative I-131 whole
body scan (full- and partial-ring PET scanner only)
10/1/03
G0296
Tracer Rubidium**82 (Supply of
Radiopharmaceutical Diagnostic Imaging Agent)
(This is only billed through Outpatient Perspective
Payment System, OPPS.) (A/B MACs (B) must use
HCPCS Code A4641).
10/1/03
Q3000
***Supply of Radiopharmaceutical Diagnostic
Imaging Agent, Ammonia N-13***
01/1/04
A9526
Conditions
Coverage
Effective
Date
****HCPCS/CPT
PET imaging, brain imaging for the differential
diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease with aberrant
features vs. fronto-temporal dementia
09/15/04
Appropriate CPT Code from
section 60.3.1
PET Cervical Cancer
Staging as adjunct to conventional imaging, other
staging, diagnosis, restaging, monitoring
1/28/05
Appropriate CPT Code from
section 60.3.1
*NOTE: A/B MACs (B) must report A4641 for the tracer Rubidium 82 when used with PET scan
codes G0030 through G0047 for services performed on or before January 27, 2005
**NOTE: Not FDG PET
***NOTE: For dates of service October 1, 2003, through December 31, 2003, use temporary code
Q4078 for billing this radiopharmaceutical.