Coverage of Drug Testing Codes

Effective for dates of service beginning Jan. 1, 2016, the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) will cover the following presumptive and definitive drug testing codes at the reimbursement rates as stated in the attached table. SCDHHS will reimburse for a maximum of one screening per procedure code per date of service, not to exceed 18 screenings per 12-month period. Providers should bill the most appropriate Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code for the service rendered.

G0477 - Drug test(s), presumptive, any number of drug classes; any number of devices or procedures, (e.g., immunoassay) capable of being read by direct optical observation only (e.g., dipsticks, cups, cards, cartridges), includes sample validation when performed, per date of service.

G0479 - Drug test(s), presumptive, any number of drug classes; any number of devices or procedures by instrumented chemistry analyzers utilizing immunoassay, enzyme assay, TOF, MALDI, LDTD, DESI, DART, GHPC, GC mass spectrometry), includes sample validation when performed, per date of service.

G0480 - Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing drug identification methods able to identify individual drugs and distinguish between structural isomers (but not necessarily stereoisomers), including, but not limited to GC/MS (any type, single or tandem) and LC/MS (any type, single or tandem and excluding immunoassays (e.g., IA, EIA, ELISA, EMIT, FPIA) and enzymatic methods (e.g., alcohol dehydrogenase)); qualitative or quantitative, all sources(s), includes specimen validity testing, per day, 1-7 drug class(es), including metabolite(s) if performed.

Thank you for your continued support of the South Carolina Healthy Connections Medicaid program.