Key facts for G0278
- Medicare payment
- $11.69
- PFS facility, national
- Coverage code
- C
- carrier judgment, so the Medicare contractor decides coverage
- Practitioner MUE
- 1
- MAI 2
- NCCI PTP pairs
- 64
- 55 hospital outpatient
- LCDs and articles
- 4 / 4
- add-on code
TL;DR
G0278 is a Level II code from the G section (procedures and professional services, temporary), in use since 2003: "Iliac and/or femoral artery angiography, non-selective, bilateral or ipsilateral to catheter insertion, performed at the same time as cardiac catheterization and/or coronary angiography, includes positioning or placement of the catheter in the distal aorta or ipsilateral femoral or iliac artery, injection of dye, production of permanent images, and radiologic supervision and interpretation (list separately in addition to primary procedure)". Under the 2026 physician fee schedule (October release) G0278 carries 0.24 work, 0.05 practice-expense and 0.06 malpractice RVUs, which at $33.4009 per RVU pays no non-facility amount non-facility and $11.69 facility before the locality adjustment. Qualifying APM participants get $11.75 at $33.5675. Global period ZZZ (add-on service inside the primary service's global period). Its 2026 Q4 MUEs per date of service: practitioner 1 (MAI 2, Code Descriptor / CPT Instruction); hospital outpatient 1 (MAI 2, Code Descriptor / CPT Instruction). G0278 is an add-on code (NCCI edit type 1): Medicare pays it only on a claim that also carries one of 10 primary codes such as 93452, 93453, 93454, 93455. In the NCCI PTP files v323r0 G0278 appears in 27 practitioner pairs as column 2 and 37 as column 1 (most often with 34701, 34702, 34703), and in 27 hospital outpatient pairs as column 2 and 28 as column 1. 4 active LCDs and 4 billing and coding articles list G0278 across 12 states plus DC and 2 territories: L33557 (Cardiac Catheterization and Coronary Angiography), L35092 (Diagnostic Abdominal Aortography and Renal Angiography), A52850, A56500. OPPS status indicator N: Items and Services packaged into APC rates. HCPCS record: BETOS I4A (imaging/procedure - heart including cardiac catheterization); pricing indicator 11; type of service 2 (surgery). Nearby codes: G0277, G0279, G0281, G0282.
G0278 descriptor and code status
The October 2026 HCPCS Level II file describes G0278 as “Iliac and/or femoral artery angiography, non-selective, bilateral or ipsilateral to catheter insertion, performed at the same time as cardiac catheterization and/or coronary angiography, includes positioning or placement of the catheter in the distal aorta or ipsilateral femoral or iliac artery, injection of dye, production of permanent images, and radiologic supervision and interpretation (list separately in addition to primary procedure)”. It sits in the G section (procedures and professional services, temporary), listed with the other G codes. Although searches often call it the "G0278 CPT code", G0278 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.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Short descriptor | Iliac art angio,cardiac cath |
| Added to HCPCS | 2003-01-01 |
| Last action | N (no maintenance), effective 2008-01-01 |
| Coverage code | C: carrier judgment, so the Medicare contractor decides coverage |
| Pricing indicator | 11: physician fee schedule, priced with national RVUs |
| BETOS category | I4A: imaging/procedure - heart including cardiac catheterization |
| Type of service | 2: surgery |
Medicare payment for G0278
Under the 2026 physician fee schedule (October release) G0278 carries 0.24 work, 0.05 practice-expense and 0.06 malpractice RVUs, which at $33.4009 per RVU pays no non-facility amount non-facility and $11.69 facility before the locality adjustment. Qualifying APM participants get $11.75 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).
| Component | Non-facility | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Work RVU | 0.24 | 0.24 |
| Practice expense RVU | NA | 0.05 |
| Malpractice RVU | 0.06 | 0.06 |
| Total RVUs | NA | 0.35 |
| National payment (CF $33.4009) | n/a | $11.69 |
| Qualifying APM participant (CF $33.5675) | n/a | $11.75 |
- 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 N (Items and Services packaged into APC rates), with no separate OPPS payment rate.
Medically Unlikely Edits for G0278
Its 2026 Q4 MUEs per date of service: practitioner 1 (MAI 2, Code Descriptor / CPT Instruction); hospital outpatient 1 (MAI 2, Code Descriptor / CPT Instruction). The practitioner MUE is a date-of-service policy edit: units above the limit deny even when split across lines, and appeals rarely succeed.
| Setting | MUE (units/DOS) | MAI | CMS rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Practitioner services | 1 | 2 Date of Service Edit: Policy | Code Descriptor / CPT Instruction |
| Facility outpatient hospital | 1 | 2 Date of Service Edit: Policy | Code Descriptor / CPT Instruction |
The MUE lookup for G0278 shows every setting next to any other code on the same claim.
NCCI edits and add-on rules
In the practitioner PTP file v323r0, G0278 is the column-2 (bundled) code in 27 active pairs, 0% of which allow a modifier and the column-1 code in 37 (81% modifier-allowed); 13 earlier pairs have been deleted. CMS's most frequent rationale for the bundled pairs: Misuse of Column Two code with Column One code.
| Column-1 code | Pairs |
|---|---|
| 34701 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA) | 1 |
| 34702 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA) | 1 |
| 34703 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA) | 1 |
| 34704 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA) | 1 |
| 34705 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA) | 1 |
| 34706 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA) | 1 |
| 34709 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA) | 1 |
| 34712 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA) | 1 |
| Column-2 code | Pairs |
|---|---|
| 11000 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA) | 1 |
| 11001 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA) | 1 |
| 11004 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA) | 1 |
| 11005 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA) | 1 |
| 11006 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA) | 1 |
| 11042 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA) | 1 |
| 11043 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA) | 1 |
| 11044 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA) | 1 |
In the hospital outpatient PTP file v323r0, G0278 is the column-2 (bundled) code in 27 active pairs, 0% of which allow a modifier and the column-1 code in 28 (86% modifier-allowed); 12 earlier pairs have been deleted. CMS's most frequent rationale for the bundled pairs: Misuse of Column Two code with Column One code.
| Column-1 code | Pairs |
|---|---|
| 34701 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA) | 1 |
| 34702 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA) | 1 |
| 34703 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA) | 1 |
| 34704 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA) | 1 |
| 34705 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA) | 1 |
| 34706 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA) | 1 |
| 34709 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA) | 1 |
| 34712 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA) | 1 |
| Column-2 code | Pairs |
|---|---|
| 11000 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA) | 1 |
| 11001 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA) | 1 |
| 11004 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA) | 1 |
| 11005 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA) | 1 |
| 11006 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA) | 1 |
| 11042 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA) | 1 |
| 11043 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA) | 1 |
| 11044 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA) | 1 |
G0278 is an add-on code: it is payable only with a primary service on the same claim (93452, 93453, 93454, 93455, 93456, 93457, 93458, 93459, 93460, 93461). CPT primary codes are shown as numbers only.
Pair counts show exposure, not the answer for one claim. Check G0278 against a second code to see whether the pair bundles and whether a modifier can separate the services.
Medicare coverage policies for G0278
4 active Local Coverage Determinations and 4 billing and coding articles list G0278. Each applies only in its contractor's jurisdiction, and the article carries the diagnosis codes that support the item or service.
- LCD L33557: Cardiac Catheterization and Coronary Angiography · Wellpoint Federal
- Diagnostic Abdominal Aortography and Renal Angiography, LCD L35092 · Novitas Solutions, Inc.
- Aortography and peripheral angiography (L36767) · First Coast Service Options, Inc.
- L33959 Cardiac Catheterization and Coronary Angiography · CGS Administrators, LLC
| Article | Title | Contractor(s) | Related LCD |
|---|---|---|---|
| A52850 | Billing and Coding: Cardiac Catheterization and Coronary Angiography | Wellpoint Federal | L33557 |
| A56500 | Billing and Coding: Cardiac Catheterization and Coronary Angiography | CGS Administrators, LLC | L33959 |
| A56682 | Billing and Coding: Diagnostic Abdominal Aortography and Renal Angiography | Novitas Solutions, Inc. | L35092 |
| A57056 | Billing and Coding: Aortography and Peripheral Angiography | First Coast Service Options, Inc. | L36767 |
Denials to expect on G0278
the diagnosis or documentation does not meet the LCD or billing article that lists G0278
the modifier reported is inconsistent with the code
the claim lacks information needed to adjudicate the line, such as an order, NPI or required modifier
Where QuickIntell fits for G0278 claims
QuickCode supports qualified coder review of units, modifiers and NCCI pairs for G0278 before the claim leaves, and QuickRCM carries claim readiness and the denial follow-up when an edit or coverage policy is missed.
Frequently asked questions: HCPCS G0278
What does HCPCS code G0278 describe?
"Iliac and/or femoral artery angiography, non-selective, bilateral or ipsilateral to catheter insertion, performed at the same time as cardiac catheterization and/or coronary angiography, includes positioning or placement of the catheter in the distal aorta or ipsilateral femoral or iliac artery, injection of dye, production of permanent images, and radiologic supervision and interpretation (list separately in addition to primary procedure)" (short descriptor "Iliac art angio,cardiac cath"), in the G section (procedures and professional services, temporary). Added 2003-01-01; last action N (no maintenance) effective 2008-01-01.
Is G0278 a CPT code?
No. G0278 is a CMS HCPCS Level II code; CPT codes are the AMA's five-character set. Searches for "G0278 CPT code" mean this Level II code.
What does Medicare pay for G0278?
Under the 2026 physician fee schedule (October release) G0278 carries 0.24 work, 0.05 practice-expense and 0.06 malpractice RVUs, which at $33.4009 per RVU pays no non-facility amount non-facility and $11.69 facility before the locality adjustment. Qualifying APM participants get $11.75 at $33.5675. Global period ZZZ (add-on service inside the primary service's global period).
Is G0278 an add-on code?
G0278 is an add-on code (NCCI edit type 1): Medicare pays it only on a claim that also carries one of 10 primary codes such as 93452, 93453, 93454, 93455.
How many units of G0278 can be billed per day?
Its 2026 Q4 MUEs per date of service: practitioner 1 (MAI 2, Code Descriptor / CPT Instruction); hospital outpatient 1 (MAI 2, Code Descriptor / CPT Instruction). For the practitioner MUE (MAI 2), units above 1 deny for the whole day as a policy limit; denials arrive as CARC 151.
Does Medicare cover G0278?
Coverage code C (carrier judgment, so the Medicare contractor decides coverage). 4 active LCDs and 4 billing and coding articles list G0278 across 12 states plus DC and 2 territories: L33557 (Cardiac Catheterization and Coronary Angiography), L35092 (Diagnostic Abdominal Aortography and Renal Angiography), A52850, A56500.
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.
- HCPCS Level II alpha-numeric file, October 2026Version October 2026 · effective 2026-10-01 · file HCPC2026_OCT_ANWEB_09232026.txtSHA-256 c25240c63108756d…
- Medicare PFS national relative value file RVU26D (non-QPP), October 2026Version RVU26D, released 2026-08-26 · effective 2026-10-01 · file PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csvSHA-256 4d0d3f19bd954ffc…
- Medicare PFS national relative value file RVU26D (qualifying APM participants), October 2026Version RVU26D, released 2026-08-26 · effective 2026-10-01 · file PPRRVU2026_Oct_QPP.csvSHA-256 59d3734704853936…
- OPPS Addendum B, October 2026Version October 2026 · effective 2026-10-01 · file 508-compliant-version-2026_October_Web_Addendum_B.09.28.26.csvSHA-256 6ad7393a318bf1b9…
- Integrated Outpatient Code Editor v27.3 data tables: status and payment indicatorsVersion I/OCE v27.3 (October 2026) · effective 2026-10-01 · file Data_Status_Indicator.txtSHA-256 78f119ef0a435351…
- NCCI MUE table, practitioner services, effective 2026-10-01Version 2026 Q4 · effective 2026-10-01 · file MCR_MUE_PractitionerServices_Eff_10-01-2026.csvSHA-256 ef038efaf902b7bd…
- NCCI MUE table, facility services, effective 2026-10-01Version 2026 Q4 · effective 2026-10-01 · file MCR_MUE_OutpatientHospitalServices_Eff_10-01-2026.csvSHA-256 3af9f4e99cc587e2…
- NCCI MUE table, dme services, effective 2026-10-01Version 2026 Q4 · effective 2026-10-01 · file MCR_MUE_DMESupplierServices_Eff_10-01-2026.csvSHA-256 6fa4fbba852f7b74…
- NCCI PTP edits, practitioner, v323r0 (four files)Version v323r0 (2026 Q4) · effective 2026-10-01 · file ccipra-v323r0-f1.TXTSHA-256 7793c0b6686c1e22…
- NCCI PTP edits, hospital outpatient, v323r0 (four files)Version v323r0 (2026 Q4) · effective 2026-10-01 · file ccioph-v323r0-f1.txtSHA-256 063f41b91ef9faa2…
- NCCI Add-On Code edits, effective 2026-10-01Version 2026 Q4 · effective 2026-10-01 · file AOC_V2026Q4-F-MCR.xlsxSHA-256 eabb519623134549…
- Medicare Coverage Database, current Billing and Coding Articles exportVersion MCD release 2026-10-08 · effective 2026-10-04 · file article.csvSHA-256 5e95c4a8ac3664be…
- Medicare Coverage Database, current LCD exportVersion MCD release 2026-10-08 · effective 2026-10-04 · file lcd.csvSHA-256 9aee1bd7f14056b0…
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.