(2023) How To Code Definitive Drug Testing (G0480 – G0483)

CPT G0480, CPT G0481, CPT G0482 & CPT G0483 can be used to report definitive drug testing and the descriptions of the CPT codes can be found below.

CPT Codes For Definitive Drug Testing

Definitive Drug Testing (CPT G0480, CPT G0481, CPT G0482 & CPT G0483) is performed in a laboratory or by a provider with Certificate of Registration, Compliance of Accreditation or Medical Test Site Categorized License or Accredited License.  

The tests are able to quantify the amount of drug or metabolite present in the urine sample.

CPT G0483

Description of CPT G0483: Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing drug identification methods able to identify individual drugs and distinguish between structural isomers (but not necessarily stereoisomers), including, but not limited to GC/MS (any type, single or tandem) and LC/MS (any type, single or tandem and excluding immunoassays (e.g., IA, EIA, ELISA, EMIT, FPIA) and enzymatic methods (e.g., alcohol dehydrogenase)); qualitative or quantitative, all sources(s), includes specimen validity testing, per day, 22 or more drug class(es), including metabolite(s) if performed.

CPT G0482

Description of CPT G0480: Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing drug identification methods able to identify individual drugs and distinguish between structural isomers (but not necessarily stereoisomers), including, but not limited to GC/MS (any type, single or tandem) and LC/MS (any type, single or tandem and excluding immunoassays (e.g., IA, EIA, ELISA, EMIT, FPIA) and enzymatic methods (e.g., alcohol dehydrogenase)); qualitative or quantitative, all sources(s), includes specimen validity testing, per day, 15-21 drug class(es), including metabolite(s) if performed.

CPT G0481

Description of CPT G0481: Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing drug identification methods able to identify individual drugs and distinguish between structural isomers (but not necessarily stereoisomers), including, but not limited to GC/MS (any type, single or tandem) and LC/MS (any type, single or tandem and excluding immunoassays (e.g., IA, EIA, ELISA, EMIT, FPIA) and enzymatic methods (e.g., alcohol dehydrogenase)); qualitative or quantitative, all sources(s), includes specimen validity testing, per day, 8-14 drug class(es), including metabolite(s) if performed.

CPT G0480

Description of CPT G0480: Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing drug identification methods able to identify individual drugs and distinguish between structural isomers (but not necessarily stereoisomers), including, but not limited to GC/MS (any type, single or tandem) and LC/MS (any type, single or tandem and excluding immunoassays (e.g., IA, EIA, ELISA, EMIT, FPIA) and enzymatic methods (e.g., alcohol dehydrogenase)); qualitative or quantitative, all sources(s), includes specimen validity testing, per day, 1-7 drug class(es), including metabolite(s) if performed.

Reimbursement For Definitive Testing

The definitive tests must be both more sensitive and specific than the initial screen. Reimbursement for CPT G0480, CPT G0481, CPT G0482 & CPT G0483 is limited to one unit per day. 

The unit used to determine the appropriate code to bill is “drug class.”  The number of drug classes tested determines the appropriate CPT code to use.

Each drug class may only be used once per day. Only one of the four CPT codes may be billed per day.