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

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 West Virginia, Medicare pays $17.23 for G0444 in the office and $7.94 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$17.23Office (non-facility)
$7.94Hospital or facility
−7.9%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 West Virginia
  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 West Virginia 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. West Virginia pays $17.23. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

G0444 in West Virginia vs other payment areas
  1. West Virginia · this page$17.23
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$21.10+$3.87
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$21.27+$4.04
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$19.72+$2.49
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$19.24+$2.01
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$21.29+$4.06
  7. Alaska · Alaska$22.36+$5.13

Other areas in West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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

110

Locality
West Virginia
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.869
Malpractice
1.431
Office calculation for G0444 in West Virginia
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.18× 1.0000.1800
Practice expense0.37× 0.8690.3215
Malpractice0.01× 1.4310.0143
Total RVUs0.5158
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, West Virginia$17.23

Office: (0.18 × 1 + 0.37 × 0.869 + 0.01 × 1.431) × $33.4009 = $17.23

Facility: (0.18 × 1 + 0.05 × 0.869 + 0.01 × 1.431) × $33.4009 = $7.94

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 West Virginia

G0444 · Office / nonfacility

$17.23

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $1.50 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $15.73 to $17.23 (9.5%).

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

    $15.73changed to$17.23

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Practice expense RVU 0.34 changed to 0.37
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.862 changed to 0.869
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.333 changed to 1.431

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $17.34changed to$15.73

    • 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

    $17.06changed to$17.34

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $17.02changed to$17.06

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 0.36 changed to 0.38
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.860 changed to 0.862
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.266 changed to 1.333
  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $17.04changed to$17.02

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 0.35 changed to 0.36
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.858 changed to 0.860
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.198 changed to 1.266

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $17.18changed to$17.04

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $16.84changed to$17.18

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 0.32 changed to 0.35
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.857 changed to 0.858
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.247 changed to 1.198

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $16.84changed to$16.84

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.296 changed to 1.247

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $16.82changed to$16.84

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $16.65changed to$16.82

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.847 changed to 0.857
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.289 changed to 1.296

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $16.48changed to$16.65

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.836 changed to 0.847
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.282 changed to 1.289

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $16.54changed to$16.48

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $16.46changed to$16.54

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $16.14changed to$16.46

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 0.31 changed to 0.32
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.832 changed to 0.836
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.256 changed to 1.282

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $16.40changed to$16.14

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 0.35 changed to 0.31
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.828 changed to 0.832
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.229 changed to 1.256

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $16.40

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$17.23$7.94RVU26D
2026-07-01$17.23$7.94RVU26C
2026-04-01$17.23$7.94RVU26B
2026-01-01$17.23$7.94RVU26A
2025-10-01$15.73$8.48RVU25D
2025-07-01$15.73$8.48RVU25C
2025-04-01$15.73$8.48RVU25B
2025-01-01$15.73$8.48RVU25A
2024-10-01$17.34$8.73RVU24D
2024-07-01$17.34$8.73RVU24C
2024-04-01$17.34$8.73RVU24B
2024-03-09$17.34$8.73RVU24AR
2024-01-01$17.06$8.59RVU24A
2023-10-01$17.02$8.86RVU23D
2023-07-01$17.02$8.86RVU23C
2023-04-01$17.02$8.86RVU23B
2023-01-01$17.02$8.86RVU23A
2022-10-01$17.04$9.02RVU22D
2022-07-01$17.04$9.02RVU22C
2022-04-01$17.04$9.02RVU22B
2022-01-01$17.04$9.02RVU22A
2021-10-01$17.18$9.09RVU21D
2021-07-01$17.18$9.09RVU21C
2021-04-01$17.18$9.09RVU21B
2021-01-01$17.18$9.09RVU21A
2020-10-01$16.84$9.42RVU20D
2020-07-01$16.84$9.42RVU20C
2020-04-01$16.84$9.42RVU20B
2020-01-01$16.84$9.42RVU20A
2019-10-01$16.84$9.42RVU19D
2019-07-01$16.84$9.42RVU19C
2019-04-01$16.84$9.42RVU19B
2019-01-01$16.84$9.42RVU19A
2018-10-01$16.82$9.41RVU18D
2018-07-01$16.82$9.41RVU18C
2018-04-01$16.82$9.41RVU18B
2018-01-01$16.82$9.41RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$16.65$9.35RVU17D
2017-07-01$16.65$9.35RVU17C
2017-04-01$16.65$9.35RVU17B
2017-01-01$16.65$9.35RVU17A
2016-10-01$16.48$9.00RVU16D
2016-07-01$16.48$9.00RVU16C
2016-04-01$16.48$9.00RVU16B
2016-01-01$16.48$9.00RVU16A
2015-10-01$16.54$9.33RVU15D
2015-07-01$16.54$9.33RVU15C
2015-04-01$16.46$9.29RVU15B
2015-01-01$16.46$9.29RVU15A
2014-10-01$16.14$8.98RVU14D
2014-07-01$16.14$8.98RVU14C
2014-04-01$16.14$8.98RVU14B
2014-01-01$16.14$8.98RVU14A
2013-10-01$16.40$8.80RVU13D
2013-07-01$16.40$8.80RVU13C
2013-04-01$16.40$8.80RVU13B
2013-01-01$16.40$8.80RVU13AR

Price G0444 for an earlier date of service

Where the West Virginia rate applies

West Virginia is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 439 cities and communities in West Virginia. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Accoville
  • Addison (Webster Springs)
  • Adrian
  • Albright
  • Alderson
  • Alum Creek
  • Amherstdale
  • Anawalt

Browse all communities in West Virginia

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 West VirginiaGPCI2026.csv, line 110 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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