G9956 — Patient received combination therapy consisting of at least two prophylactic pharmacologic anti-emetic agents of different classes preoperatively and/or intraoperatively
G9956 is a HCPCS Level II code for patient received combination therapy consisting of at least two prophylactic pharmacologic anti-emetic agents of different classes preoperatively and/or intraoperatively. 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 G9956
- Long descriptor
- Patient received combination therapy consisting of at least two prophylactic pharmacologic anti-emetic agents of different classes preoperatively and/or intraoperatively
- Short descriptor
- Combo thrpy of >= 2 prophly
- Added
- January 1, 2018
- 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 G9956
HCPCS has no hierarchy — related items simply sit next to each other in the numbering. If G9956 is not quite right, the correct code is very often within a few positions of it.
- G9944Back pain was measured by the visual analog scale (vas) within three months preoperatively and at one year (9 to 15 months) postoperativelyterminated
- 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
- G9957Documentation of medical reason for not receiving combination therapy consisting of at least two prophylactic pharmacologic anti-emetic agents of different classes preoperatively and/or intraoperatively (e.g., intolerance or other medical reason)
- G9958Patient did not receive combination therapy consisting of at least two prophylactic pharmacologic anti-emetic agents of different classes preoperatively and/or intraoperatively
- G9959Systemic antimicrobials not prescribed
- G9960Documentation of medical reason(s) for prescribing systemic antimicrobials
- G9961Systemic antimicrobials prescribed
- G9962Embolization endpoints are documented separately for each embolized vessel and ovarian artery angiography or embolization performed in the presence of variant uterine artery anatomy
- G9963Embolization endpoints are not documented separately for each embolized vessel or ovarian artery angiography or embolization not performed in the presence of variant uterine artery anatomy
- G9964Patient received at least one well-child visit with a pcp during the performance period
Questions about G9956
What is HCPCS code G9956?
G9956 is a HCPCS Level II code for patient received combination therapy consisting of at least two prophylactic pharmacologic anti-emetic agents of different classes preoperatively and/or intraoperatively. It sits in the Procedures and Professional Services (Temporary) section.
Does Medicare cover G9956?
The CMS HCPCS file marks G9956 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 G9956 paid under the physician fee schedule?
G9956 carries PFS status code M. Measurement code. Used for reporting purposes only; never paid.