S0257 — Counseling and discussion regarding advance directives or end of life care planning and decisions, with patient and/or surrogate (list separately in addition to code for appropriate evaluation and management service)
S0257 is a HCPCS Level II code for counseling and discussion regarding advance directives or end of life care planning and decisions, with patient and/or surrogate (list separately in addition to code for appropriate evaluation and management service). It belongs to the Temporary National Codes (Non-Medicare) section. Medicare does not pay it — see the coverage note below before you bill it.
Medicare coverage: Not payable by Medicare
Medicare does not pay this code. It may still be valid for another payer, but a Medicare claim carrying it will not be reimbursed.
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 statusI
Not valid for Medicare purposes. Medicare uses another code.
Global period: XXX
Want the dollar amount for your locality? The fee calculator applies your GPCI and the current conversion factor.
The CMS record for S0257
- Long descriptor
- Counseling and discussion regarding advance directives or end of life care planning and decisions, with patient and/or surrogate (list separately in addition to code for appropriate evaluation and management service)
- Short descriptor
- End of life counseling
- Added
- January 1, 2005
- 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 S0257
HCPCS has no hierarchy — related items simply sit next to each other in the numbering. If S0257 is not quite right, the correct code is very often within a few positions of it.
- S0207Paramedic intercept, non-hospital-based als service (non-voluntary), non-transport
- S0208Paramedic intercept, hospital-based als service (non-voluntary), non-transport
- S0209Wheelchair van, mileage, per mile
- S0215Non-emergency transportation; mileage, per mile
- S0220Medical conference by a physician with interdisciplinary team of health professionals or representatives of community agencies to coordinate activities of patient care (patient is present); approximately 30 minutes
- S0221Medical conference by a physician with interdisciplinary team of health professionals or representatives of community agencies to coordinate activities of patient care (patient is present); approximately 60 minutes
- S0250Comprehensive geriatric assessment and treatment planning performed by assessment team
- S0255Hospice referral visit (advising patient and family of care options) performed by nurse, social worker, or other designated staff
- S0260History and physical (outpatient or office) related to surgical procedure (list separately in addition to code for appropriate evaluation and management service)
- S0265Genetic counseling, under physician supervision, each 15 minutes
- S0270Physician management of patient home care, standard monthly case rate (per 30 days)
- S0271Physician management of patient home care, hospice monthly case rate (per 30 days)
- S0272Physician management of patient home care, episodic care monthly case rate (per 30 days)
- S0273Physician visit at member's home, outside of a capitation arrangement
- S0274Nurse practitioner visit at member's home, outside of a capitation arrangement
- S0280Medical home program, comprehensive care coordination and planning, initial plan
Questions about S0257
What is HCPCS code S0257?
S0257 is a HCPCS Level II code for counseling and discussion regarding advance directives or end of life care planning and decisions, with patient and/or surrogate (list separately in addition to code for appropriate evaluation and management service). It sits in the Temporary National Codes (Non-Medicare) section.
Does Medicare cover S0257?
The CMS HCPCS file marks S0257 as "Not payable by Medicare". Medicare does not pay this code. It may still be valid for another payer, but a Medicare claim carrying it will not be reimbursed.
How is S0257 paid under the physician fee schedule?
S0257 carries PFS status code I. Not valid for Medicare purposes. Medicare uses another code.