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HCPCS G0542 · Level II · G code

G0542: No pt prsnt train add 15, 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). 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.

Key facts for G0542

Medicare payment
$26.05
PFS non-facility, national; facility $21.04
Coverage code
C
carrier judgment, so the Medicare contractor decides coverage
Practitioner MUE
2
MAI 3
OPPS status
SI N
Items and Services packaged into APC rates
NCCI PTP pairs
0
practitioner file
LCDs and articles
0 / 0
on the Medicare telehealth list

TL;DR

CMS describes HCPCS G0542, added in 2025, as "Caregiver training in direct care strategies and techniques to support care for patients with an ongoing condition or illness and to reduce complications (including, but not limited to, techniques to prevent decubitus ulcer formation, wound care, and infection control) (without the patient present), face-to-face; each additional 15 minutes (list separately in addition to code for primary service) (use g0542 in conjunction with g0541)". Under the 2026 physician fee schedule (October release) G0542 carries 0.54 work, 0.24 practice-expense and 0.00 malpractice RVUs, which at $33.4009 per RVU pays $26.05 non-facility and $21.04 facility before the locality adjustment. Qualifying APM participants get $26.18 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 2 (MAI 3, Code Descriptor / CPT Instruction); hospital outpatient 2 (MAI 3, Code Descriptor / CPT Instruction). G0542 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 G0541. No current LCD or billing article lists G0542; its HCPCS coverage code is C (carrier judgment, so the Medicare contractor decides coverage). It is on the CY2026 Medicare telehealth list (CMS action: Maintain). OPPS status indicator N: Items and Services packaged into APC rates. HCPCS record: BETOS M5D (specialist - other); pricing indicator 13; type of service 1 (medical care). 1 other active code opens with "Caregiver training in direct care strategies and techniques to support care for patients with an ongoing condition or illness and to reduce complications"; related codes: G0541, G0544, G0539, G0545.

G0542 descriptor and code status

The October 2026 HCPCS Level II file describes G0542 as “Caregiver training in direct care strategies and techniques to support care for patients with an ongoing condition or illness and to reduce complications (including, but not limited to, techniques to prevent decubitus ulcer formation, wound care, and infection control) (without the patient present), face-to-face; each additional 15 minutes (list separately in addition to code for primary service) (use g0542 in conjunction with g0541)”. It sits in the G section (procedures and professional services, temporary), listed with the other G codes.

HCPCS file attributes of G0542
FieldValue
Short descriptorNo pt prsnt train add 15
Added to HCPCS2025-01-01
Last actionN (no maintenance), effective 2025-01-01
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 G0542

Under the 2026 physician fee schedule (October release) G0542 carries 0.54 work, 0.24 practice-expense and 0.00 malpractice RVUs, which at $33.4009 per RVU pays $26.05 non-facility and $21.04 facility before the locality adjustment. Qualifying APM participants get $26.18 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 G0542
ComponentNon-facilityFacility
Work RVU0.540.54
Practice expense RVU0.240.09
Malpractice RVU0.000.00
Total RVUs0.780.63
National payment (CF $33.4009)$26.05$21.04
Qualifying APM participant (CF $33.5675)$26.18$21.15
  • 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 G0542

Its 2026 Q4 MUEs per date of service: practitioner 2 (MAI 3, Code Descriptor / CPT Instruction); hospital outpatient 2 (MAI 3, Code Descriptor / CPT Instruction). 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 G0542 by setting
SettingMUE (units/DOS)MAICMS rationale
Practitioner services23 Date of Service Edit: ClinicalCode Descriptor / CPT Instruction
Facility outpatient hospital23 Date of Service Edit: ClinicalCode Descriptor / CPT Instruction

The MUE lookup for G0542 shows every setting next to any other code on the same claim.

NCCI edits and add-on rules

No active practitioner PTP pair lists G0542 in v323r0.

G0542 is an add-on code: it is payable only with a primary service on the same claim (G0541). CPT primary codes are shown as numbers only.

Pair counts show exposure, not the answer for one claim. Check G0542 against a second code to see whether the pair bundles and whether a modifier can separate the services.

Medicare coverage policies for G0542

No current LCD or billing and coding article lists G0542. The HCPCS coverage code C means carrier judgment, so the Medicare contractor decides coverage, and any National Coverage Determination for the service still applies.

Telehealth status

G0542 is on the CY2026 Medicare telehealth services list (CMS action: Maintain). Bill it with the place-of-service code and modifiers that match where the patient and the practitioner are on the date of service.

Denials to expect on G0542

CARC 50 · N115

the service is not reasonable and necessary for the diagnosis on the claim

CARC 151 · N362

units of G0542 exceed the practitioner MUE of 2 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 G0542 claims

QuickCode supports qualified coder review of units, modifiers and NCCI pairs for G0542 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 G0542

What does HCPCS code G0542 describe?

"Caregiver training in direct care strategies and techniques to support care for patients with an ongoing condition or illness and to reduce complications (including, but not limited to, techniques to prevent decubitus ulcer formation, wound care, and infection control) (without the patient present), face-to-face; each additional 15 minutes (list separately in addition to code for primary service) (use g0542 in conjunction with g0541)" (short descriptor "No pt prsnt train add 15"), in the G section (procedures and professional services, temporary). Added 2025-01-01.

Is G0542 a CPT code?

No. G0542 is a CMS HCPCS Level II code; CPT codes are the AMA's five-character set.

What does Medicare pay for G0542?

Under the 2026 physician fee schedule (October release) G0542 carries 0.54 work, 0.24 practice-expense and 0.00 malpractice RVUs, which at $33.4009 per RVU pays $26.05 non-facility and $21.04 facility before the locality adjustment. Qualifying APM participants get $26.18 at $33.5675. Global period ZZZ (add-on service inside the primary service's global period).

Is G0542 an add-on code?

G0542 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 G0541.

How many units of G0542 can be billed per day?

Its 2026 Q4 MUEs per date of service: practitioner 2 (MAI 3, Code Descriptor / CPT Instruction); hospital outpatient 2 (MAI 3, Code Descriptor / CPT Instruction). For the practitioner MUE (MAI 3), units above 2 deny for the day but can be paid on appeal with documentation; denials arrive as CARC 151.

Does Medicare cover G0542?

No current LCD or billing article lists G0542; its HCPCS coverage code is C (carrier judgment, so the Medicare contractor decides coverage).

Can G0542 be billed as telehealth?

Yes. G0542 is on the CY2026 Medicare telehealth list (Maintain); the place-of-service and modifier rules on the date of service still apply.

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.