G8704 — 12-lead electrocardiogram (ecg) performed
G8704 is a HCPCS Level II code for 12-lead electrocardiogram (ecg) performed. It belongs to the Procedures and Professional Services (Temporary) section. It was terminated on December 31, 2014 and is not valid on new claims.
This code has been terminated
CMS terminated G8704 on December 31, 2014. 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 G8704
- Long descriptor
- 12-lead electrocardiogram (ecg) performed
- Short descriptor
- Ecg performed
- Added
- January 1, 2012
- Terminated
- December 31, 2014
- BETOS
- M5B
- Pricing indicator
- 00 — Not priced by Part B
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.
Service not separately priced by Part B — not covered, bundled into another service, or used by Part A only.
Codes adjacent to G8704
HCPCS has no hierarchy — related items simply sit next to each other in the numbering. If G8704 is not quite right, the correct code is very often within a few positions of it.
- G8696Antithrombotic therapy prescribed at dischargeterminated
- G8697Antithrombotic therapy not prescribed for documented reasons (e.g., patient had stroke during hospital stay, patient expired during inpatient stay, other medical reason(s)); (e.g., patient left against medical advice, other patient reason(s))terminated
- G8698Antithrombotic therapy was not prescribed at discharge, reason not giventerminated
- G8699Rehabilitation services (occupational, physical or speech) ordered at or prior to dischargeterminated
- G8700Rehabilitation services (occupational, physical or speech) not indicated at or prior to dischargeterminated
- G8701Rehabilitation services were not ordered, reason not otherwise specifiedterminated
- G8702Documentation that prophylactic antibiotics were given within 4 hours prior to surgical incision or intraoperativelyterminated
- G8703Documentation that prophylactic antibiotics were neither given within 4 hours prior to surgical incision nor intraoperativelyterminated
- G8705Documentation of medical reason(s) for not performing a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ecg)terminated
- G8706Documentation of patient reason(s) for not performing a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ecg)terminated
- G870712-lead electrocardiogram (ecg) not performed, reason not giventerminated
- G8708Patient not prescribed antibiotic
- G8709Uri episodes when the patient had competing diagnoses on or three days after the episode date (e.g., intestinal infection, pertussis, bacterial infection, lyme disease, otitis media, acute sinusitis, acute pharyngitis, acute tonsillitis, chronic sinusitis, infection of the pharynx/larynx/tonsils/adenoids, prostatitis, cellulitis, mastoiditis, or bone infections, acute lymphadenitis, impetigo, skin staph infections, pneumonia/gonococcal infections, venereal disease (syphilis, chlamydia, inflammatory diseases [female reproductive organs]), infections of the kidney, cystitis or uti, and acne)
- G8710Patient prescribed antibiotic
- G8711Prescribed antibiotic on or within 3 days after the episode date
- G8712Antibiotic not prescribed or dispensed
Questions about G8704
What is HCPCS code G8704?
G8704 is a HCPCS Level II code for 12-lead electrocardiogram (ecg) performed. It sits in the Procedures and Professional Services (Temporary) section.
Does Medicare cover G8704?
The CMS HCPCS file marks G8704 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 G8704 still valid?
No. G8704 was terminated on December 31, 2014 and should not be used on new claims.