S3850 — Genetic testing for sickle cell anemia
S3850 is a HCPCS Level II code for genetic testing for sickle cell anemia. 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
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The CMS record for S3850
- Long descriptor
- Genetic testing for sickle cell anemia
- Short descriptor
- Gene test sickle cell
- Added
- July 1, 2003
- 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 S3850
HCPCS has no hierarchy — related items simply sit next to each other in the numbering. If S3850 is not quite right, the correct code is very often within a few positions of it.
- S3800Genetic testing for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (als)
- S3840Dna analysis for germline mutations of the ret proto-oncogene for susceptibility to multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2
- S3841Genetic testing for retinoblastoma
- S3842Genetic testing for von hippel-lindau disease
- S3844Dna analysis of the connexin 26 gene (gjb2) for susceptibility to congenital, profound deafness
- S3845Genetic testing for alpha-thalassemia
- S3846Genetic testing for hemoglobin e beta-thalassemia
- S3849Genetic testing for niemann-pick disease
- S3852Dna analysis for apoe epsilon 4 allele for susceptibility to alzheimer's disease
- S3853Genetic testing for myotonic muscular dystrophy
- S3854Gene expression profiling panel for use in the management of breast cancer treatment
- S3855Genetic testing for detection of mutations in the presenilin - 1 geneterminated
- S3861Genetic testing, sodium channel, voltage-gated, type v, alpha subunit (scn5a) and variants for suspected brugada syndrome
- S3865Comprehensive gene sequence analysis for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- S3866Genetic analysis for a specific gene mutation for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (hcm) in an individual with a known hcm mutation in the family
- S3870Comparative genomic hybridization (cgh) microarray testing for developmental delay, autism spectrum disorder and/or intellectual disability
Questions about S3850
What is HCPCS code S3850?
S3850 is a HCPCS Level II code for genetic testing for sickle cell anemia. It sits in the Temporary National Codes (Non-Medicare) section.
Does Medicare cover S3850?
The CMS HCPCS file marks S3850 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 S3850 paid under the physician fee schedule?
S3850 carries PFS status code I. Not valid for Medicare purposes. Medicare uses another code.