G0436 — Smoking and tobacco cessation counseling visit for the asymptomatic patient; intermediate, greater than 3 minutes, up to 10 minutes
G0436 is a HCPCS Level II code for smoking and tobacco cessation counseling visit for the asymptomatic patient; intermediate, greater than 3 minutes, up to 10 minutes. It belongs to the Procedures and Professional Services (Temporary) section. It was terminated on September 30, 2016 and is not valid on new claims.
This code has been terminated
CMS terminated G0436 on September 30, 2016. It stays in the file as history — a claim you are auditing from before that date may legitimately carry it — but it must not appear on a new claim. The adjacent codes below are the usual place to look for its replacement.
Medicare coverage: Carrier judgment
Coverage is decided by your Medicare contractor, not by national policy. Whether this is paid depends on the LCD for your jurisdiction and on what the documentation supports.
From the coverage field of the CMS Alpha-Numeric HCPCS File, release 2026Q3-Jul. This states Medicare’s position on the code, not on your particular claim.
The CMS record for G0436
- Long descriptor
- Smoking and tobacco cessation counseling visit for the asymptomatic patient; intermediate, greater than 3 minutes, up to 10 minutes
- Short descriptor
- Tobacco-use counsel 3-10 min
- Added
- January 1, 2011
- Terminated
- September 30, 2016
- BETOS
- P5E
- Pricing indicator
- 13 — Physician fee schedule
The official wording. This is what the code means.
CMS's 28-character form, which is what shows up on a remittance advice.
When CMS introduced the code.
When CMS retired it.
Berenson-Eggers Type of Service — CMS's own analytic grouping.
Price established by carriers — not otherwise classified, individual determination, or carrier discretion.
Codes adjacent to G0436
HCPCS has no hierarchy — related items simply sit next to each other in the numbering. If G0436 is not quite right, the correct code is very often within a few positions of it.
- G0427Telehealth consultation, emergency department or initial inpatient, typically 70 minutes or more communicating with the patient via telehealth
- G0428Collagen meniscus implant procedure for filling meniscal defects (e.g., cmi, collagen scaffold, menaflex)
- G0429Dermal filler injection(s) for the treatment of facial lipodystrophy syndrome (lds) (e.g., as a result of highly active antiretroviral therapy)
- G0431Drug screen, qualitative; multiple drug classes by high complexity test method (e.g., immunoassay, enzyme assay), per patient encounterterminated
- G0432Infectious agent antibody detection by enzyme immunoassay (eia) technique, hiv-1 and/or hiv-2, screening
- G0433Infectious agent antibody detection by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa) technique, hiv-1 and/or hiv-2, screening
- G0434Drug screen, other than chromatographic; any number of drug classes, by clia waived test or moderate complexity test, per patient encounterterminated
- G0435Infectious agent antibody detection by rapid antibody test, hiv-1 and/or hiv-2, screening
- G0437Smoking and tobacco cessation counseling visit for the asymptomatic patient; intensive, greater than 10 minutesterminated
- G0438Annual wellness visit; includes a personalized prevention plan of service (pps), initial visit
- G0439Annual wellness visit, includes a personalized prevention plan of service (pps), subsequent visit
- G0442Annual alcohol misuse screening, 5 to 15 minutes
- G0443Brief face-to-face behavioral counseling for alcohol misuse, 15 minutes
- G0444Annual depression screening, 5 to 15 minutes
- G0445High intensity behavioral counseling to prevent sexually transmitted infection; face-to-face, individual, includes: education, skills training and guidance on how to change sexual behavior; performed semi-annually, 30 minutes
- G0446Annual, face-to-face intensive behavioral therapy for cardiovascular disease, individual, 15 minutes
Questions about G0436
What is HCPCS code G0436?
G0436 is a HCPCS Level II code for smoking and tobacco cessation counseling visit for the asymptomatic patient; intermediate, greater than 3 minutes, up to 10 minutes. It sits in the Procedures and Professional Services (Temporary) section.
Does Medicare cover G0436?
The CMS HCPCS file marks G0436 as "Carrier judgment". Coverage is decided by your Medicare contractor, not by national policy. Whether this is paid depends on the LCD for your jurisdiction and on what the documentation supports.
Is G0436 still valid?
No. G0436 was terminated on September 30, 2016 and should not be used on new claims.