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HCPCS G0018 · Level II · G code

G0018: Crisis psychotherapy add 30m, HCPCS Level II G code

Compiled from CMS files by the QuickIntell RCM Editorial Team · Data effective · Method: reference methodology · Report a data correction

Data currency: HCPCS Level II file: October 2026 (effective October 1, 2026); PFS relative value file: RVU26D, released August 26, 2026 (effective October 1, 2026); NCCI MUE tables: 2026 Q4 (effective October 1, 2026); NCCI PTP edits: v323r0 (2026 Q4) (effective October 1, 2026); OPPS Addendum B: October 2026 (effective October 1, 2026); Medicare Coverage Database LCD export: MCD release October 8, 2026 (effective October 4, 2026). Next CMS release: January 1, 2027 (quarterly update) for the HCPCS Level II file and NCCI MUE tables and NCCI PTP edits and OPPS Addendum B; RVU27A with the CY2027 PFS final rule, effective January 1, 2027 for the PFS relative value file; weekly, every Thursday for the Medicare Coverage Database LCD export.

Key facts for G0018

Medicare payment
$105.21
PFS non-facility, national; facility $83.17
Coverage code
C
carrier judgment, so the Medicare contractor decides coverage
Practitioner MUE
3
MAI 3
OPPS status
SI M
Service not billable to the FI/MAC
NCCI PTP pairs
0
practitioner file
LCDs and articles
6 / 4
add-on code

TL;DR

G0018 is a Level II code from the G section (procedures and professional services, temporary), in use since 2024: "Psychotherapy for crisis furnished in an applicable site of service (any place of service at which the non-facility rate for psychotherapy for crisis services applies, other than the office setting); each additional 30 minutes (list separately in addition to code for primary service)". National PFS payment for G0018 is $105.21 in an office and $83.17 in a facility (October 2026), built from 2.25 work, 0.87 practice-expense and 0.03 malpractice RVUs at $33.4009 per RVU. Qualifying APM participants get $105.74 at $33.5675. Global period ZZZ (add-on service inside the primary service's global period). CMS caps G0018 at practitioner 3 (MAI 3, Nature of Service/Procedure); hospital outpatient 4 (MAI 3, Nature of Service/Procedure) units per day in the 2026 Q4 MUE tables. G0018 is an add-on code (NCCI edit type 1): Medicare pays it only on a claim that also carries one of 1 primary code such as G0017. 6 active LCDs and 4 billing and coding articles list G0018 across 13 states plus DC and 2 territories: L33252 (Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluation and Psychotherapy Services), L35022 (Bariatric Surgical Management of Morbid Obesity), A57130, A57480. OPPS status indicator M: Service not billable to the FI/MAC. HCPCS record: BETOS M5D (specialist - other); pricing indicator 13; type of service 1 (medical care). 1 other active code opens with "Psychotherapy for crisis furnished in an applicable site of service"; related codes: G0017, G0019, G0013, G0023.

G0018 descriptor and code status

The October 2026 HCPCS Level II file describes G0018 as “Psychotherapy for crisis furnished in an applicable site of service (any place of service at which the non-facility rate for psychotherapy for crisis services applies, other than the office setting); each additional 30 minutes (list separately in addition to code for primary service)”. It sits in the G section (procedures and professional services, temporary), listed with the other G codes. Although searches often call it the "G0018 CPT code", G0018 is a HCPCS Level II code maintained by CMS, not an AMA CPT code; both go in the same procedure-code field on the claim.

HCPCS file attributes of G0018
FieldValue
Short descriptorCrisis psychotherapy add 30m
Added to HCPCS2024-01-01
Last actionN (no maintenance), effective 2024-01-01
Coverage codeC: carrier judgment, so the Medicare contractor decides coverage
Pricing indicator13: physician fee schedule, priced by the contractor
BETOS categoryM5D: specialist - other
Type of service1: medical care

Medicare payment for G0018

National PFS payment for G0018 is $105.21 in an office and $83.17 in a facility (October 2026), built from 2.25 work, 0.87 practice-expense and 0.03 malpractice RVUs at $33.4009 per RVU. Qualifying APM participants get $105.74 at $33.5675. Global period ZZZ (add-on service inside the primary service's global period). The amounts below are national figures from the October 2026 CMS files; the contractor applies the locality, rural or state adjustment and the beneficiary's cost sharing.

Physician fee schedule (RVU26D)

Status A: active: paid separately under the physician fee schedule when covered. Global period ZZZ (add-on service inside the primary service's global period); PC/TC indicator 0 (physician service; the professional/technical split does not apply).

PFS relative values and national payment for G0018
ComponentNon-facilityFacility
Work RVU2.252.25
Practice expense RVU0.870.21
Malpractice RVU0.030.03
Total RVUs3.152.49
National payment (CF $33.4009)$105.21$83.17
Qualifying APM participant (CF $33.5675)$105.74$83.58
  • Multiple procedures (modifier 51): no multiple-procedure reduction
  • Bilateral (modifier 50): 150% bilateral adjustment does not apply
  • Assistant at surgery: assistant at surgery paid only with documentation; co-surgeons: co-surgeons not permitted; team surgery: team surgeons not permitted
  • Physician supervision of diagnostic procedures: supervision concept does not apply

Hospital outpatient (OPPS Addendum B)

Status indicator M (Service not billable to the FI/MAC), with no separate OPPS payment rate.

Medically Unlikely Edits for G0018

CMS caps G0018 at practitioner 3 (MAI 3, Nature of Service/Procedure); hospital outpatient 4 (MAI 3, Nature of Service/Procedure) units per day in the 2026 Q4 MUE tables. The practitioner MUE is a date-of-service clinical edit: units above the limit deny but can be paid on appeal with documentation.

MUE values for G0018 by setting
SettingMUE (units/DOS)MAICMS rationale
Practitioner services33 Date of Service Edit: ClinicalNature of Service/Procedure
Facility outpatient hospital43 Date of Service Edit: ClinicalNature of Service/Procedure

The MUE lookup for G0018 shows every setting next to any other code on the same claim.

NCCI edits and add-on rules

No active practitioner PTP pair lists G0018 in v323r0.

G0018 is an add-on code: it is payable only with a primary service on the same claim (G0017). CPT primary codes are shown as numbers only.

Pair counts show exposure, not the answer for one claim. Check G0018 against a second code to see whether the pair bundles and whether a modifier can separate the services.

Medicare coverage policies for G0018

6 active Local Coverage Determinations and 4 billing and coding articles list G0018. Each applies only in its contractor's jurisdiction, and the article carries the diagnosis codes that support the item or service.

Billing and Coding Articles listing G0018
ArticleTitleContractor(s)Related LCD
A57130Billing and Coding: Psychiatric CodesNovitas Solutions, Inc.L35022, L35070, L35101
A57480Billing and Coding: Psychiatry and Psychology ServicesWisconsin Physicians Service Insurance CorporationL34616
A57520Billing and Coding: Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluation and Psychotherapy ServicesFirst Coast Service Options, Inc.L33252
A59723Billing and Coding: Outpatient PsychotherapyPalmetto GBAL39853

Denials to expect on G0018

CARC 50 · N115

the diagnosis or documentation does not meet the LCD or billing article that lists G0018

CARC 151 · N362

units of G0018 exceed the practitioner MUE of 3 per date of service

CARC 4

the modifier reported is inconsistent with the code

CARC 16

the claim lacks the description, invoice or pricing detail a contractor-priced code needs

Where QuickIntell fits for G0018 claims

QuickCode supports qualified coder review of units, modifiers and NCCI pairs for G0018 before the claim leaves, and QuickRCM carries claim readiness and the denial follow-up when an edit or coverage policy is missed.

See QuickCode for coder reviewSee QuickRCM for denial follow-upBook a meeting

Frequently asked questions: HCPCS G0018

What does HCPCS code G0018 describe?

"Psychotherapy for crisis furnished in an applicable site of service (any place of service at which the non-facility rate for psychotherapy for crisis services applies, other than the office setting); each additional 30 minutes (list separately in addition to code for primary service)" (short descriptor "Crisis psychotherapy add 30m"), in the G section (procedures and professional services, temporary). Added 2024-01-01.

Is G0018 a CPT code?

It is not. G0018 belongs to the G section (procedures and professional services, temporary) of HCPCS Level II, the CMS code set, not to AMA CPT. "G0018 CPT code" searches refer to it.

What does Medicare pay for G0018?

National PFS payment for G0018 is $105.21 in an office and $83.17 in a facility (October 2026), built from 2.25 work, 0.87 practice-expense and 0.03 malpractice RVUs at $33.4009 per RVU. Qualifying APM participants get $105.74 at $33.5675. Global period ZZZ (add-on service inside the primary service's global period).

Is G0018 an add-on code?

G0018 is an add-on code (NCCI edit type 1): Medicare pays it only on a claim that also carries one of 1 primary code such as G0017.

How many units of G0018 can be billed per day?

CMS caps G0018 at practitioner 3 (MAI 3, Nature of Service/Procedure); hospital outpatient 4 (MAI 3, Nature of Service/Procedure) units per day in the 2026 Q4 MUE tables. For the practitioner MUE (MAI 3), units above 3 deny for the day but can be paid on appeal with documentation; denials arrive as CARC 151.

Does Medicare cover G0018?

Coverage code C (carrier judgment, so the Medicare contractor decides coverage). 6 active LCDs and 4 billing and coding articles list G0018 across 13 states plus DC and 2 territories: L33252 (Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluation and Psychotherapy Services), L35022 (Bariatric Surgical Management of Morbid Obesity), A57130, A57480.

Sources

Every figure on this page is taken from the CMS publications below, as released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Projection built 2026-10-10. Verify against the primary file before billing or contracting decisions. The reference methodology explains how each figure is computed from these files.

Disclaimer

This page is an operational reference compiled from CMS publications: the HCPCS Level II file, the physician, DMEPOS and clinical laboratory fee schedules, OPPS and ASC addenda, NCCI MUE, PTP and add-on edit tables and the Medicare Coverage Database. Amounts are Medicare national figures before locality and state adjustment; Medicaid and commercial payers set their own. CPT codes are shown as numbers only; CPT descriptors are copyright AMA. Nothing here is legal, clinical or billing advice.

Found a figure that does not match the CMS file? Report a data correction with the CMS file and the value you expected; the request reaches the editorial team through the contact form.