G9944 — Back pain was measured by the visual analog scale (vas) within three months preoperatively and at one year (9 to 15 months) postoperatively
G9944 is a HCPCS Level II code for back pain was measured by the visual analog scale (vas) within three months preoperatively and at one year (9 to 15 months) postoperatively. It belongs to the Procedures and Professional Services (Temporary) section. It was terminated on December 31, 2019 and is not valid on new claims.
This code has been terminated
CMS terminated G9944 on December 31, 2019. 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 G9944
- Long descriptor
- Back pain was measured by the visual analog scale (vas) within three months preoperatively and at one year (9 to 15 months) postoperatively
- Short descriptor
- Vas 3 mon pre and 1 yr post
- Added
- January 1, 2018
- Terminated
- December 31, 2019
- 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.
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 G9944
HCPCS has no hierarchy — related items simply sit next to each other in the numbering. If G9944 is not quite right, the correct code is very often within a few positions of it.
- G9936Surveillance colonoscopy - personal history of colonic polyps, colon cancer, or other malignant neoplasm of rectum, rectosigmoid junction, and anusterminated
- G9937Diagnostic colonoscopyterminated
- G9938Patients aged 66 or older in institutional special needs plans (snp) or residing in long-term care with pos code 32, 33, 34, 54, or 56 for more than 90 consecutive days during the six months prior to the measurement period through december 31 of the measurement period
- G9939Pathologists/dermatopathologists is the same clinician who performed the biopsy
- G9940Documentation of medical reason(s) for not on a statin (e.g., pregnancy, in vitro fertilization, clomiphene rx, esrd, cirrhosis, muscular pain and disease during the measurement period or prior year)
- G9941Back pain was measured by the visual analog scale (vas) within three months preoperatively and at three months (6 - 20 weeks) postoperativelyterminated
- G9942Patient had any additional spine procedures performed on the same date as the lumbar discectomy/laminectomyterminated
- G9943Back pain was not measured by the visual analog scale (vas) or numeric pain scale at three months (6 - 20 weeks) postoperatively
- G9945Patient had cancer, acute fracture or infection related to the lumbar spine or patient had neuromuscular, idiopathic or congenital lumbar scoliosis
- G9946Back pain was not measured by the visual analog scale (vas) or numeric pain scale at one year (9 to 15 months) postoperatively
- G9947Leg pain was measured by the visual analog scale (vas) within three months preoperatively and at three months (6 to 20 weeks) postoperativelyterminated
- G9948Patient had any additional spine procedures performed on the same date as the lumbar discectomy/laminectomyterminated
- G9949Leg pain was not measured by the visual analog scale (vas) or numeric pain scale at three months (6 - 20 weeks) postoperatively
- G9954Patient exhibits 2 or more risk factors for post-operative vomiting
- G9955Cases in which an inhalational anesthetic is used only for induction
- G9956Patient received combination therapy consisting of at least two prophylactic pharmacologic anti-emetic agents of different classes preoperatively and/or intraoperatively
Questions about G9944
What is HCPCS code G9944?
G9944 is a HCPCS Level II code for back pain was measured by the visual analog scale (vas) within three months preoperatively and at one year (9 to 15 months) postoperatively. It sits in the Procedures and Professional Services (Temporary) section.
Does Medicare cover G9944?
The CMS HCPCS file marks G9944 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 G9944 still valid?
No. G9944 was terminated on December 31, 2019 and should not be used on new claims.