HCPCS code G0443: Alcohol counseling, brief behavioral service2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Tennessee

G0443 reports a brief, face-to-face counseling service for a patient identified through alcohol misuse screening as needing behavioral guidance.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality3K Medicare services in 2024

In Tennessee, Medicare pays $32.60 for G0443 in the office and $25.31 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$32.60Office (non-facility)
$25.31Hospital or facility
−5.2%vs the national office rate ($34.40)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · G0443 nationwide

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

We’ll open G0443 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Tennessee
  2. What G0443 covers
  3. Compared with other areas
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Related codes
  8. Rate history
  9. Where it applies
  10. Billing questions
  11. Sources

What G0443 covers

G0443 captures a brief, face-to-face counseling encounter focused on alcohol misuse, generally provided in primary care after a patient screens positive. The clinician discusses the patient’s alcohol use and offers behavioral guidance aimed at reducing risky consumption. This is counseling, not the screening questionnaire or screening conversation alone, and the service is timed for 15 minutes.

Choose G0443 when the documented service is the counseling intervention; use G0442 for the annual alcohol misuse screen itself. Record the screening result, counseling topics and recommendations, and the time spent in the face-to-face service. CMS assigns physician-work, practice-expense, and malpractice relative values, with separate office and facility practice-expense inputs. The claim should reflect counseling actually furnished rather than screening alone.

This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.

How Tennessee compares for G0443

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for G0443 runs from $31.92 in Arkansas to $44.67 in Alaska. Tennessee pays $32.60. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

G0443 in Tennessee vs other payment areas
  1. Tennessee · this page$32.60
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$37.16+$4.56
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$37.95+$5.35
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$36.98+$4.38
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$36.34+$3.74
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$38.58+$5.98
  7. Alaska · Alaska$44.67+$12.07

Other areas in Tennessee first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

G0443 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$32.19$25.18
ArkansasArkansas$31.92$25.03
ArizonaArizona$33.81$26.04
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$35.51$26.73
Chico, CACalifornia$35.37$26.59
El Centro, CACalifornia$35.38$26.60
Fresno, CACalifornia$35.37$26.59
Hanford, CACalifornia$35.37$26.59

G0443 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

Explore a state

Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

$31.92

$44.67

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
G0443 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$44.671
AL$32.191
AR$31.921
AZ$33.811
CA$35.37–$41.7529
CO$35.181
CT$36.091
DC$37.951
DE$34.211
FL$34.50–$36.983
GA$33.25–$34.942
GU$35.631
HI$35.631
IA$32.491
ID$32.661
IL$34.02–$36.344
IN$32.771
KS$32.491
KY$32.841
LA$32.85–$33.822
MA$35.14–$37.602
MD$34.65–$37.953
ME$32.86–$33.792
MI$33.44–$34.862
MN$33.841
MO$32.57–$33.783
MS$32.241
MT$34.401
NC$33.051
ND$33.611
NE$32.571
NH$34.771
NJ$36.53–$37.842
NM$33.591
NV$34.191
NY$33.35–$39.295
OH$33.281
OK$32.711
OR$33.95–$35.832
PA$33.26–$35.562
PR$34.531
RI$35.071
SC$33.211
SD$33.521
TN$32.601
TX$33.14–$35.058
UT$33.491
VA$33.79–$37.952
VI$34.531
VT$33.611
WA$35.03–$38.122
WI$32.931
WV$33.271
WY$34.061

See G0443 in every payment locality

How the G0443 rate is calculated

Each of G0443’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.

How the rate is built · G0443

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.60

0.60 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense0.39

0.39 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.04

0.04 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

1.0300

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$34.40

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

The exact Tennessee inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

15,263

Code
G0443
Physician work
0.60
Practice expense
0.39
Malpractice
0.04

GPCI2026.csv

95

Locality
Tennessee
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.909
Malpractice
0.537
Office calculation for G0443 in Tennessee
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.60× 1.0000.6000
Practice expense0.39× 0.9090.3545
Malpractice0.04× 0.5370.0215
Total RVUs0.9760
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Tennessee$32.60

Office: (0.6 × 1 + 0.39 × 0.909 + 0.04 × 0.537) × $33.4009 = $32.60

Facility: (0.6 × 1 + 0.15 × 0.909 + 0.04 × 0.537) × $33.4009 = $25.31

Open G0443 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for G0443

G0443 has no global surgery period, no multiple-procedure, bilateral or assistant-at-surgery adjustment, and no professional/technical split. What changes the payment is where the service happens: the place of service on the claim decides whether Medicare pays the office or the facility rate.

Place of service · G0443

Which rate does Medicare pay?

The POS code on the claim line (CMS-1500 box 24B).

POS 11 · non-facility rate · national

$34.40

Non-facility (office)
$34.40
Facility
$26.39

Higher because the practice carries its own overhead.

How G0443 has changed in Tennessee

G0443 · Office / nonfacility

$32.60

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $2.63 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $29.97 to $32.60 (8.8%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release
  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $29.97changed to$32.60

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Practice expense RVU 0.34 changed to 0.39
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.896 changed to 0.909
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.544 changed to 0.537

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $23.58changed to$29.97

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Work RVU 0.45 changed to 0.60
    • Practice expense RVU 0.27 changed to 0.34
    • Malpractice RVU 0.03 changed to 0.04

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $23.19changed to$23.58

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $24.13changed to$23.19

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Malpractice RVU 0.04 changed to 0.03
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.894 changed to 0.896
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.518 changed to 0.544
  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $24.90changed to$24.13

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 0.28 changed to 0.27
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.892 changed to 0.894
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.492 changed to 0.518

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $25.10changed to$24.90

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $25.21changed to$25.10

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 0.26 changed to 0.28
    • Malpractice RVU 0.03 changed to 0.04
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.897 changed to 0.892
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.509 changed to 0.492

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $25.23changed to$25.21

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.901 changed to 0.897
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.526 changed to 0.509

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $24.88changed to$25.23

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 0.25 changed to 0.26

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. April 1, 2018

    RVU18B

    No ratechanged to$24.88

    Held through RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: No rate

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D, RVU14A, RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D, RVU15A, RVU15B, RVU15C, RVU15D, RVU16A, RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D, RVU17A, RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D, RVU18AR1.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$32.60$25.31RVU26D
2026-07-01$32.60$25.31RVU26C
2026-04-01$32.60$25.31RVU26B
2026-01-01$32.60$25.31RVU26A
2025-10-01$29.97$27.65RVU25D
2025-07-01$29.97$27.65RVU25C
2025-04-01$29.97$27.65RVU25B
2025-01-01$29.97$27.65RVU25A
2024-10-01$23.58$21.19RVU24D
2024-07-01$23.58$21.19RVU24C
2024-04-01$23.58$21.19RVU24B
2024-03-09$23.58$21.19RVU24AR
2024-01-01$23.19$20.84RVU24A
2023-10-01$24.13$21.71RVU23D
2023-07-01$24.13$21.71RVU23C
2023-04-01$24.13$21.71RVU23B
2023-01-01$24.13$21.71RVU23A
2022-10-01$24.90$22.43RVU22D
2022-07-01$24.90$22.43RVU22C
2022-04-01$24.90$22.43RVU22B
2022-01-01$24.90$22.43RVU22A
2021-10-01$25.10$22.61RVU21D
2021-07-01$25.10$22.61RVU21C
2021-04-01$25.10$22.61RVU21B
2021-01-01$25.10$22.61RVU21A
2020-10-01$25.21$22.94RVU20D
2020-07-01$25.21$22.94RVU20C
2020-04-01$25.21$22.94RVU20B
2020-01-01$25.21$22.94RVU20A
2019-10-01$25.23$22.96RVU19D
2019-07-01$25.23$22.96RVU19C
2019-04-01$25.23$22.96RVU19B
2019-01-01$25.23$22.96RVU19A
2018-10-01$24.88$22.93RVU18D
2018-07-01$24.88$22.93RVU18C
2018-04-01$24.88$22.93RVU18B
2018-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU18AR1
2017-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU17D
2017-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU17C
2017-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU17B
2017-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU17A
2016-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16D
2016-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16C
2016-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16B
2016-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16A
2015-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15D
2015-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15C
2015-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15B
2015-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15A
2014-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14D
2014-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14C
2014-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14B
2014-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14A
2013-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13D
2013-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13C
2013-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13B
2013-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13AR

Price G0443 for an earlier date of service

Where the Tennessee rate applies

Tennessee is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 504 cities and communities in Tennessee. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Adams
  • Adamsville
  • Alamo
  • Alcoa
  • Alexandria
  • Algood
  • Allardt
  • Altamont

Browse all communities in Tennessee

G0443 billing questions

How is G0443 different from G0442?

G0442 represents the annual alcohol misuse screening. G0443 represents the subsequent brief counseling service when counseling is furnished.

Can G0442 and G0443 be reported for the same visit?

They may describe separate services in the same encounter when screening and counseling are both performed and documented. Do not use G0443 to represent screening alone.

What documentation supports G0443?

Document the positive screening result, the counseling provided, and the face-to-face time. The note should show an intervention addressing the patient’s alcohol use, not merely a screening result.

What time does G0443 represent?

G0443 is a 15-minute counseling service. Document the time spent in the face-to-face counseling encounter.

How does G0443 differ from CPT 99408 or 99409?

G0443 is the Medicare HCPCS code for brief alcohol misuse counseling. CPT 99408 and 99409 describe structured screening and brief intervention services with different time-based criteria.

Where these rates come from

FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.

CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027

Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
RVUs for G0443PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 15,263 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for TennesseeGPCI2026.csv, line 95 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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