G9421 — Primary non-small cell lung cancer lung biopsy and cytology specimen report does not document classification into specific histologic type or histologic type does not follow iaslc guidance or is classified as nsclc-nos but without an explanation
G9421 is a HCPCS Level II code for primary non-small cell lung cancer lung biopsy and cytology specimen report does not document classification into specific histologic type or histologic type does not follow iaslc guidance or is classified as nsclc-nos but without an explanation. It belongs to the Procedures and Professional Services (Temporary) section. Whether Medicare pays it depends on the coverage rule below.
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.
Physician fee schedule statusM
Measurement code. Used for reporting purposes only; never paid.
Global period: XXX
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The CMS record for G9421
- Long descriptor
- Primary non-small cell lung cancer lung biopsy and cytology specimen report does not document classification into specific histologic type or histologic type does not follow iaslc guidance or is classified as nsclc-nos but without an explanation
- Short descriptor
- Lung cx bx rpt no doc class
- Added
- January 1, 2015
- BETOS
- Z2
- 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.
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 G9421
HCPCS has no hierarchy — related items simply sit next to each other in the numbering. If G9421 is not quite right, the correct code is very often within a few positions of it.
- G9413Patient not admitted within 180 days, status post cied implantation, replacement, or revision with an infection requiring device removal or surgical revision
- G9414Patient had one dose of meningococcal vaccine (serogroups a, c, w, y or a, c, w, y, b) on or between the patient's 10th and 13th birthdays
- G9415Patient did not have one dose of meningococcal vaccine (serogroups a, c, w, y or a, c, w, y, b), on or between the patient's 10th and 13th birthdays
- G9416Patient had one tetanus, diphtheria toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine (tdap) on or between the patient's 10th and 13th birthdays
- G9417Patient did not have one tetanus, diphtheria toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine (tdap) on or between the patient's 10th and 13th birthdays
- G9418Primary non-small cell lung cancer lung biopsy and cytology specimen report documents classification into specific histologic type following iaslc guidance or classified as nsclc-nos with an explanation
- G9419Documentation of medical reason(s) for not including the histological type or nsclc-nos classification with an explanation (e.g. specimen insufficient or non-diagnostic, specimen does not contain cancer, or other documented medical reasons)
- G9420Specimen site other than anatomic location of lung or is not classified as primary non-small cell lung cancer
- G9422Primary lung carcinoma resection report documents pt category, pn category and for non-small cell lung cancer, histologic type (e.g., squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and not nsclc-nos)
- G9423Documentation of medical reason for not including pt category, pn category and histologic type [for patient with appropriate exclusion criteria (e.g., metastatic disease, benign tumors, malignant tumors other than carcinomas, inadequate surgical specimens)]
- G9424Specimen site other than anatomic location of lung, or classified as nsclc-nos
- G9425Primary lung carcinoma resection report does not document pt category, pn category and for non-small cell lung cancer, histologic type (e.g., squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma)
- G9426Improvement in median time from ed arrival to initial ed oral or parenteral pain medication administration performed for ed admitted patients
- G9427Improvement in median time from ed arrival to initial ed oral or parenteral pain medication administration not performed for ed admitted patients
- G9428Pathology report includes the pt category, thickness, ulceration and mitotic rate, peripheral and deep margin status and presence or absence of microsatellitosis for invasive tumors
- G9429Documentation of medical reason(s) for not including pt category, thickness, ulceration and mitotic rate, peripheral and deep margin status and presence or absence of microsatellitosis for invasive tumors (e.g., negative skin biopsies, insufficient tissue, or other documented medical reasons)
Questions about G9421
What is HCPCS code G9421?
G9421 is a HCPCS Level II code for primary non-small cell lung cancer lung biopsy and cytology specimen report does not document classification into specific histologic type or histologic type does not follow iaslc guidance or is classified as nsclc-nos but without an explanation. It sits in the Procedures and Professional Services (Temporary) section.
Does Medicare cover G9421?
The CMS HCPCS file marks G9421 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.
How is G9421 paid under the physician fee schedule?
G9421 carries PFS status code M. Measurement code. Used for reporting purposes only; never paid.