HCPCS code G0444: Depression screening, annual Medicare preventive screen2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Iowa

Report G0444 for an annual, 15-minute Medicare depression screening in a primary care setting equipped to support diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality2.6M Medicare services in 2024

In Iowa, Medicare pays $17.45 for G0444 in the office and $7.67 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$17.45Office (non-facility)
$7.67Hospital or facility
−6.7%vs the national office rate ($18.70)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · G0444 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 G0444 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Iowa
  2. What G0444 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 G0444 covers

G0444 covers an annual depression screen for a Medicare beneficiary in a primary care setting. A primary care clinician, such as a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant, may use a standardized instrument such as the PHQ-9; clinical staff may help administer and score it. The clinician reviews the result and arranges further evaluation when indicated. The setting must have staff-assisted depression care supports available for accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and follow-up.

Report one unit for the annual screening, rather than additional units for a longer encounter. Document the instrument, score, interpretation, and any follow-up indicated by the result; Z13.31 identifies an encounter for depression screening. Medicare waives beneficiary cost sharing for this preventive benefit. G0444 may be reported with an annual wellness visit when the separate screen is performed and documented. An independently necessary, separately identifiable problem-oriented E/M service on the same day is reported with modifier 25 on the E/M code.

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 Iowa compares for G0444

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for G0444 runs from $16.80 in Arkansas to $24.67 in San Benito County, CA. Iowa pays $17.45. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

G0444 in Iowa vs other payment areas
  1. Iowa · this page$17.45
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$21.10+$3.65
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$21.27+$3.82
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$19.72+$2.27
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$19.24+$1.79
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$21.29+$3.84
  7. Alaska · Alaska$22.36+$4.91

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

Every other payment area

G0444 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$17.01$7.66
ArkansasArkansas$16.80$7.62
ArizonaArizona$18.27$7.92
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$19.87$8.16
Chico, CACalifornia$19.84$8.12
El Centro, CACalifornia$19.84$8.13
Fresno, CACalifornia$19.84$8.12
Hanford, CACalifornia$19.84$8.12

G0444 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.

$16.80

$22.36

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

View every state and territory as a table
G0444 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$22.361
AL$17.011
AR$16.801
AZ$18.271
CA$19.84–$24.6729
CO$19.491
CT$19.851
DC$21.271
DE$18.551
FL$18.33–$19.723
GA$17.43–$18.992
GU$20.261
HI$20.261
IA$17.451
ID$17.541
IL$17.82–$19.344
IN$17.631
KS$17.351
KY$17.301
LA$17.27–$18.022
MA$19.39–$21.312
MD$18.89–$21.273
ME$17.59–$18.472
MI$17.67–$18.502
MN$18.831
MO$16.99–$18.113
MS$16.901
MT$18.701
NC$17.761
ND$18.511
NE$17.551
NH$19.171
NJ$20.11–$21.082
NM$17.751
NV$18.661
NY$17.99–$21.715
OH$17.631
OK$17.311
OR$18.56–$20.092
PA$17.67–$19.382
PR$18.841
RI$19.191
SC$17.721
SD$18.481
TN$17.431
TX$17.57–$19.408
UT$17.931
VA$18.40–$21.272
VI$18.841
VT$18.421
WA$19.36–$21.752
WI$17.951
WV$17.231
WY$18.621

See G0444 in every payment locality

How the G0444 rate is calculated

Each of G0444’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 · G0444

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.18

0.18 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense0.37

0.37 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.01

0.01 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

0.5600

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$18.70

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

The exact Iowa inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

15,264

Code
G0444
Physician work
0.18
Practice expense
0.37
Malpractice
0.01

GPCI2026.csv

53

Locality
Iowa
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.915
Malpractice
0.397
Office calculation for G0444 in Iowa
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.18× 1.0000.1800
Practice expense0.37× 0.9150.3386
Malpractice0.01× 0.3970.0040
Total RVUs0.5225
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Iowa$17.45

Office: (0.18 × 1 + 0.37 × 0.915 + 0.01 × 0.397) × $33.4009 = $17.45

Facility: (0.18 × 1 + 0.05 × 0.915 + 0.01 × 0.397) × $33.4009 = $7.67

Open G0444 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for G0444

G0444 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 · G0444

Which rate does Medicare pay?

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

POS 11 · non-facility rate · national

$18.70

Non-facility (office)
$18.70
Facility
$8.02

Higher because the practice carries its own overhead.

How G0444 has changed in Iowa

G0444 · Office / nonfacility

$17.45

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $1.44 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $16.01 to $17.45 (9.0%).

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

    $16.01changed to$17.45

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Practice expense RVU 0.34 changed to 0.37
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.913 changed to 0.915
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.457 changed to 0.397

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $17.69changed to$16.01

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 0.38 changed to 0.34

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $17.40changed to$17.69

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $17.35changed to$17.40

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 0.36 changed to 0.38
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.910 changed to 0.913
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.441 changed to 0.457
  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $17.36changed to$17.35

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 0.35 changed to 0.36
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.907 changed to 0.910
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.425 changed to 0.441

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $17.51changed to$17.36

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $17.12changed to$17.51

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 0.32 changed to 0.35
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.424 changed to 0.425

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $17.10changed to$17.12

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.423 changed to 0.424

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $17.08changed to$17.10

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $16.98changed to$17.08

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.902 changed to 0.907
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.458 changed to 0.423

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $16.89changed to$16.98

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.896 changed to 0.902
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.493 changed to 0.458

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $16.95changed to$16.89

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $16.86changed to$16.95

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $16.52changed to$16.86

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 0.31 changed to 0.32
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.892 changed to 0.896
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.475 changed to 0.493

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $16.84changed to$16.52

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 0.35 changed to 0.31
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.887 changed to 0.892
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.456 changed to 0.475

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $16.84

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$17.45$7.67RVU26D
2026-07-01$17.45$7.67RVU26C
2026-04-01$17.45$7.67RVU26B
2026-01-01$17.45$7.67RVU26A
2025-10-01$16.01$8.33RVU25D
2025-07-01$16.01$8.33RVU25C
2025-04-01$16.01$8.33RVU25B
2025-01-01$16.01$8.33RVU25A
2024-10-01$17.69$8.58RVU24D
2024-07-01$17.69$8.58RVU24C
2024-04-01$17.69$8.58RVU24B
2024-03-09$17.69$8.58RVU24AR
2024-01-01$17.40$8.44RVU24A
2023-10-01$17.35$8.72RVU23D
2023-07-01$17.35$8.72RVU23C
2023-04-01$17.35$8.72RVU23B
2023-01-01$17.35$8.72RVU23A
2022-10-01$17.36$8.89RVU22D
2022-07-01$17.36$8.89RVU22C
2022-04-01$17.36$8.89RVU22B
2022-01-01$17.36$8.89RVU22A
2021-10-01$17.51$8.96RVU21D
2021-07-01$17.51$8.96RVU21C
2021-04-01$17.51$8.96RVU21B
2021-01-01$17.51$8.96RVU21A
2020-10-01$17.12$9.27RVU20D
2020-07-01$17.12$9.27RVU20C
2020-04-01$17.12$9.27RVU20B
2020-01-01$17.12$9.27RVU20A
2019-10-01$17.10$9.25RVU19D
2019-07-01$17.10$9.25RVU19C
2019-04-01$17.10$9.25RVU19B
2019-01-01$17.10$9.25RVU19A
2018-10-01$17.08$9.24RVU18D
2018-07-01$17.08$9.24RVU18C
2018-04-01$17.08$9.24RVU18B
2018-01-01$17.08$9.24RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$16.98$9.21RVU17D
2017-07-01$16.98$9.21RVU17C
2017-04-01$16.98$9.21RVU17B
2017-01-01$16.98$9.21RVU17A
2016-10-01$16.89$8.87RVU16D
2016-07-01$16.89$8.87RVU16C
2016-04-01$16.89$8.87RVU16B
2016-01-01$16.89$8.87RVU16A
2015-10-01$16.95$9.22RVU15D
2015-07-01$16.95$9.22RVU15C
2015-04-01$16.86$9.18RVU15B
2015-01-01$16.86$9.18RVU15A
2014-10-01$16.52$8.86RVU14D
2014-07-01$16.52$8.86RVU14C
2014-04-01$16.52$8.86RVU14B
2014-01-01$16.52$8.86RVU14A
2013-10-01$16.84$8.69RVU13D
2013-07-01$16.84$8.69RVU13C
2013-04-01$16.84$8.69RVU13B
2013-01-01$16.84$8.69RVU13AR

Price G0444 for an earlier date of service

Where the Iowa rate applies

Iowa is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 1026 cities and communities in Iowa. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Ackley
  • Ackworth
  • Adair
  • Adel
  • Afton
  • Agency
  • Ainsworth
  • Akron

Browse all communities in Iowa

G0444 billing questions

Can this screen be billed with an annual wellness visit?

Yes. G0444 may be reported with an initial (G0438) or subsequent (G0439) annual wellness visit when a separate annual depression screen is performed and documented.

What documentation supports the claim?

Record the standardized instrument, score, interpretation, and follow-up when indicated. The code describes a 15-minute screening service; document the service furnished rather than treating 15 minutes as a maximum.

Should this code be used to monitor diagnosed depression?

No. G0444 is for screening, not symptom monitoring in a patient with known depression. A brief standardized assessment may instead be reported with 96127 when its requirements are met.

How often does Medicare cover it?

Medicare covers one G0444 depression screening annually. Do not report additional units for a longer screen or a repeat screening within the annual interval.

Which settings qualify?

The screening must occur in a primary care setting with staff-assisted supports for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. An emergency department or inpatient stay is not a qualifying primary care setting.

Does a same-day problem-oriented visit need a modifier?

If a medically necessary, separately identifiable E/M service is performed, append modifier 25 to the E/M code, not to G0444.

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 G0444PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 15,264 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for IowaGPCI2026.csv, line 53 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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