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CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01

G0397 in Merced

Office / nonfacility

$69.21

Base rate per service

Facility setting

$55.66

Base rate per service

Amounts below use the non-QP conversion factor for participating physicians. These are base physician payments before claim-level adjustments, not patient costs or total hospital charges.

Behavioral health

About G0397: Alcohol or substance intervention over 30 minutes

Structured alcohol or non-tobacco substance-use assessment and intervention lasting more than 30 minutes, with feedback, motivational counseling, and referral planning when indicated.

G0397 describes a structured assessment and intervention for alcohol or other substance use, excluding tobacco. The encounter may include reviewing a screening result, discussing health and safety risks, providing motivational feedback and advice about reducing or stopping use, and planning a treatment referral when indicated. It is used for focused clinician-patient encounters in settings such as primary care and outpatient care.

Choose G0397 when the documented time for the structured assessment and intervention exceeds 30 minutes; 15 through 30 minutes is reported with G0396. Document the assessment findings, intervention provided, time spent on this service, the patient’s response, and any referral or follow-up plan. The time should reflect the assessment and intervention rather than unrelated evaluation or routine counseling.

Where the value comes from

  • Work RVU1.30 · 64%
  • Practice expense (office) RVU0.65 · 32%
  • Malpractice RVU0.07 · 3%

2.4K

Medicare services in 2024 · #2342 by national volume

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.

G0397 compared with similar codes

Office rates for Merced, from the same CMS release.

G0396

Brief intervention

Alcohol or other substance, 15–30 minutes

$37.80

Both describe structured alcohol or non-tobacco substance-use assessment and intervention. Use G0397 for more than 30 minutes and G0396 for 15 through 30 minutes.

G0442

Alcohol screening

Annual 15-minute preventive screen

$19.84

G0442 is an alcohol misuse screening service. G0397 describes a longer assessment and intervention, not screening alone.

G0443

Alcohol counseling

Brief behavioral service

$35.37

G0443 is brief counseling focused on alcohol misuse. G0397 covers a longer structured intervention and can address other substances besides tobacco.

99409

Audit/dast over 30 min

No office rate

99409 is a related CPT code for screening and brief intervention lasting more than 30 minutes. G0397 is the HCPCS code used for this service in Medicare reporting.

The same code, a different location

How does Merced compare?

In Bakersfield, the office rate for G0397 is $69.46—$0.25 higher than the $69.21 rate in Merced. Both use the same code, release and participation basis.

G0397 across payment areas

Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0

  1. Merced · This locality

    $69.21

  2. Bakersfield

    $69.46

    $0.25 higher than Merced

  3. Chico

    $69.21

    The same base rate than Merced

  4. El Centro

    $69.22

    $0.01 higher than Merced

  5. Fresno

    $69.21

    The same base rate than Merced

  6. Hanford-Corcoran

    $69.21

    The same base rate than Merced

  7. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty)

    $72.44

    $3.23 higher than Merced

Other payment areas listed in California appear first, followed by selected cross-country examples. The chart compares amounts, not distance.

Across 109 of 109 CMS payment localities with a supported office rate, G0397 ranges from $63.27 in Arkansas to $89.54 in Alaska*. This is a geographic range, not an average.

The code’s RVUs stay the same in these comparisons. Geographic adjustments to work, practice expense and malpractice change the dollar amount. A city name alone may not identify the payment area for a service address.

Compare all 108 other payment areas

  • Madera

    California · G0397

    Office

    $69.21

    Facility

    $55.66

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Modesto

    California · G0397

    Office

    $69.21

    Facility

    $55.66

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Napa

    California · G0397

    Office

    $75.96

    Facility

    $59.67

    $6.75 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura

    California · G0397

    Office

    $71.76

    Facility

    $57.15

    $2.55 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Redding

    California · G0397

    Office

    $69.21

    Facility

    $55.66

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of California

    California · G0397

    Office

    $69.21

    Facility

    $55.66

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

    California · G0397

    Office

    $69.99

    Facility

    $56.45

    $0.78 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom

    California · G0397

    Office

    $71.49

    Facility

    $57.11

    $2.28 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Salinas

    California · G0397

    Office

    $71.18

    Facility

    $56.86

    $1.97 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

    California · G0397

    Office

    $71.96

    Facility

    $57.18

    $2.75 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)

    California · G0397

    Office

    $79.23

    Facility

    $61.81

    $10.02 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty)

    California · G0397

    Office

    $79.15

    Facility

    $61.73

    $9.94 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty)

    California · G0397

    Office

    $80.76

    Facility

    $62.94

    $11.55 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty)

    California · G0397

    Office

    $80.43

    Facility

    $62.61

    $11.22 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles

    California · G0397

    Office

    $70.14

    Facility

    $56.06

    $0.93 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville

    California · G0397

    Office

    $71.96

    Facility

    $56.95

    $2.75 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

    California · G0397

    Office

    $71.20

    Facility

    $56.79

    $1.99 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Santa Rosa-Petaluma

    California · G0397

    Office

    $72.64

    Facility

    $57.46

    $3.43 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Stockton

    California · G0397

    Office

    $69.21

    Facility

    $55.66

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Vallejo

    California · G0397

    Office

    $75.84

    Facility

    $59.56

    $6.63 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Visalia

    California · G0397

    Office

    $69.21

    Facility

    $55.66

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Yuba City

    California · G0397

    Office

    $69.21

    Facility

    $55.66

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Dc + Md/Va Suburbs

    District of Columbia · G0397

    Office

    $73.94

    Facility

    $59.39

    $4.73 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Miami

    Florida · G0397

    Office

    $71.93

    Facility

    $59.07

    $2.72 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Chicago

    Illinois · G0397

    Office

    $70.91

    Facility

    $58.49

    $1.70 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Manhattan

    New York · G0397

    Office

    $75.14

    Facility

    $60.78

    $5.93 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Alaska*

    Alaska · G0397

    Office

    $89.54

    Facility

    $76.38

    $20.33 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Alabama

    Alabama · G0397

    Office

    $63.74

    Facility

    $52.93

    $5.47 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Arkansas

    Arkansas · G0397

    Office

    $63.27

    Facility

    $52.66

    $5.94 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Arizona

    Arizona · G0397

    Office

    $66.46

    Facility

    $54.48

    $2.75 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Colorado

    Colorado · G0397

    Office

    $68.87

    Facility

    $55.72

    $0.34 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Connecticut

    Connecticut · G0397

    Office

    $70.50

    Facility

    $57.19

    $1.29 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Delaware

    Delaware · G0397

    Office

    $67.19

    Facility

    $54.98

    $2.02 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Fort Lauderdale

    Florida · G0397

    Office

    $69.64

    Facility

    $57.12

    $0.43 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Florida

    Florida · G0397

    Office

    $67.69

    Facility

    $55.88

    $1.52 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Atlanta

    Georgia · G0397

    Office

    $68.42

    Facility

    $55.86

    $0.79 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Georgia

    Georgia · G0397

    Office

    $65.57

    Facility

    $54.55

    $3.64 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Hawaii, Guam

    Hawaii · G0397

    Office

    $69.46

    Facility

    $55.41

    $0.25 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Iowa

    Iowa · G0397

    Office

    $64.21

    Facility

    $52.91

    $5.00 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Idaho

    Idaho · G0397

    Office

    $64.50

    Facility

    $53.13

    $4.71 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • East St. Louis

    Illinois · G0397

    Office

    $68.10

    Facility

    $56.73

    $1.11 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Illinois

    Illinois · G0397

    Office

    $66.90

    Facility

    $55.61

    $2.31 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Suburban Chicago

    Illinois · G0397

    Office

    $70.16

    Facility

    $57.47

    $0.95 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Indiana

    Indiana · G0397

    Office

    $64.68

    Facility

    $53.23

    $4.53 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Kansas

    Kansas · G0397

    Office

    $64.23

    Facility

    $53.05

    $4.98 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Kentucky

    Kentucky · G0397

    Office

    $64.86

    Facility

    $53.87

    $4.35 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • New Orleans

    Louisiana · G0397

    Office

    $66.51

    Facility

    $54.88

    $2.70 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Louisiana

    Louisiana · G0397

    Office

    $64.87

    Facility

    $53.94

    $4.34 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Boston

    Massachusetts · G0397

    Office

    $73.20

    Facility

    $58.45

    $3.99 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Massachusetts

    Massachusetts · G0397

    Office

    $68.84

    Facility

    $55.83

    $0.37 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Baltimore/Surr. Cntys

    Maryland · G0397

    Office

    $70.30

    Facility

    $57.04

    $1.09 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maryland

    Maryland · G0397

    Office

    $67.97

    Facility

    $55.47

    $1.24 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maine

    Maine · G0397

    Office

    $64.85

    Facility

    $53.48

    $4.36 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Southern Maine

    Maine · G0397

    Office

    $66.41

    Facility

    $54.16

    $2.80 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Detroit

    Michigan · G0397

    Office

    $68.31

    Facility

    $56.39

    $0.90 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Michigan

    Michigan · G0397

    Office

    $65.88

    Facility

    $54.60

    $3.33 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Minnesota

    Minnesota · G0397

    Office

    $66.45

    Facility

    $53.74

    $2.76 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Kansas City

    Missouri · G0397

    Office

    $66.09

    Facility

    $54.49

    $3.12 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan St. Louis

    Missouri · G0397

    Office

    $66.43

    Facility

    $54.67

    $2.78 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Missouri

    Missouri · G0397

    Office

    $64.41

    Facility

    $53.76

    $4.80 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Mississippi

    Mississippi · G0397

    Office

    $63.84

    Facility

    $53.20

    $5.37 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Montana**

    Montana · G0397

    Office

    $67.47

    Facility

    $55.11

    $1.74 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • North Carolina

    North Carolina · G0397

    Office

    $65.17

    Facility

    $53.64

    $4.04 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • North Dakota**

    North Dakota · G0397

    Office

    $66.08

    Facility

    $53.72

    $3.13 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Nebraska

    Nebraska · G0397

    Office

    $64.34

    Facility

    $52.94

    $4.87 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • New Hampshire

    New Hampshire · G0397

    Office

    $68.07

    Facility

    $55.20

    $1.14 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Northern Nj

    New Jersey · G0397

    Office

    $73.84

    Facility

    $59.50

    $4.63 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New Jersey

    New Jersey · G0397

    Office

    $71.43

    Facility

    $57.94

    $2.22 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • New Mexico

    New Mexico · G0397

    Office

    $66.14

    Facility

    $54.81

    $3.07 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Nevada**

    Nevada · G0397

    Office

    $67.10

    Facility

    $54.73

    $2.11 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Nyc Suburbs/Long Island

    New York · G0397

    Office

    $76.36

    Facility

    $61.66

    $7.15 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs

    New York · G0397

    Office

    $71.98

    Facility

    $58.44

    $2.77 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Queens

    New York · G0397

    Office

    $75.23

    Facility

    $60.63

    $6.02 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New York

    New York · G0397

    Office

    $65.69

    Facility

    $53.95

    $3.52 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Ohio

    Ohio · G0397

    Office

    $65.60

    Facility

    $54.32

    $3.61 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Oklahoma

    Oklahoma · G0397

    Office

    $64.63

    Facility

    $53.59

    $4.58 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Portland

    Oregon · G0397

    Office

    $69.98

    Facility

    $56.25

    $0.77 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Oregon

    Oregon · G0397

    Office

    $66.69

    Facility

    $54.38

    $2.52 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Philadelphia

    Pennsylvania · G0397

    Office

    $69.59

    Facility

    $56.73

    $0.38 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania · G0397

    Office

    $65.56

    Facility

    $54.22

    $3.65 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rico · G0397

    Office

    $67.67

    Facility

    $55.18

    $1.54 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rhode Island

    Rhode Island · G0397

    Office

    $68.76

    Facility

    $55.99

    $0.45 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • South Carolina

    South Carolina · G0397

    Office

    $65.47

    Facility

    $54.05

    $3.74 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • South Dakota**

    South Dakota · G0397

    Office

    $65.92

    Facility

    $53.56

    $3.29 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Tennessee

    Tennessee · G0397

    Office

    $64.41

    Facility

    $53.18

    $4.80 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Austin

    Texas · G0397

    Office

    $68.55

    Facility

    $55.47

    $0.66 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Beaumont

    Texas · G0397

    Office

    $65.35

    Facility

    $54.10

    $3.86 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Brazoria

    Texas · G0397

    Office

    $67.11

    Facility

    $54.86

    $2.10 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Dallas

    Texas · G0397

    Office

    $67.44

    Facility

    $55.13

    $1.77 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Fort Worth

    Texas · G0397

    Office

    $67.26

    Facility

    $55.07

    $1.95 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Galveston

    Texas · G0397

    Office

    $67.26

    Facility

    $54.99

    $1.95 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Houston

    Texas · G0397

    Office

    $68.54

    Facility

    $56.27

    $0.67 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Texas

    Texas · G0397

    Office

    $66.14

    Facility

    $54.41

    $3.07 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Utah

    Utah · G0397

    Office

    $65.93

    Facility

    $54.31

    $3.28 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Virginia

    Virginia · G0397

    Office

    $66.41

    Facility

    $54.27

    $2.80 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Virgin Islands

    United States Virgin Islands · G0397

    Office

    $67.67

    Facility

    $55.18

    $1.54 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Vermont

    Vermont · G0397

    Office

    $66.10

    Facility

    $53.86

    $3.11 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Washington

    Washington · G0397

    Office

    $68.63

    Facility

    $55.61

    $0.58 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Seattle (King Cnty)

    Washington · G0397

    Office

    $74.14

    Facility

    $58.98

    $4.93 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Wisconsin

    Wisconsin · G0397

    Office

    $64.94

    Facility

    $53.10

    $4.27 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • West Virginia

    West Virginia · G0397

    Office

    $65.63

    Facility

    $54.89

    $3.58 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Wyoming**

    Wyoming · G0397

    Office

    $66.86

    Facility

    $54.50

    $2.35 lower than Merced for the office setting.

See how rates vary across the country

G0397 · Office / nonfacility · Non-QP. Choose a state to explore its payment localities. A range means the amount varies within that state.

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

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.

$63.27

$89.54

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

View all state and territory rates as a table
State / territoryRate rangeLocalities
AK$89.541
AL$63.741
AR$63.271
AZ$66.461
CA$69.21–$80.7629
CO$68.871
CT$70.501
DC$73.941
DE$67.191
FL$67.69–$71.933
GA$65.57–$68.422
GU$69.461
HI$69.461
IA$64.211
ID$64.501
IL$66.90–$70.914
IN$64.681
KS$64.231
KY$64.861
LA$64.87–$66.512
MA$68.84–$73.202
MD$67.97–$73.943
ME$64.85–$66.412
MI$65.88–$68.312
MN$66.451
MO$64.41–$66.433
MS$63.841
MT$67.471
NC$65.171
ND$66.081
NE$64.341
NH$68.071
NJ$71.43–$73.842
NM$66.141
NV$67.101
NY$65.69–$76.365
OH$65.601
OK$64.631
OR$66.69–$69.982
PA$65.56–$69.592
PR$67.671
RI$68.761
SC$65.471
SD$65.921
TN$64.411
TX$65.35–$68.558
UT$65.931
VA$66.41–$73.942
VI$67.671
VT$66.101
WA$68.63–$74.142
WI$64.941
WV$65.631
WY$66.861

Explore G0397 on the national rate map →

Where does this rate apply?

Merced is a Medicare payment area. Our Census mapping connects it to 24 cities and communities in California, including the examples shown here.

Some communities span more than one payment area. Follow a city link to compare all of its mapped areas, or check the service-location ZIP above for an address-level starting point.

Browse all communities in California →

Why are the office and facility amounts different?

For G0397 in Merced, the physician’s office rate is $69.21 and the facility-setting rate is $55.66: a difference of $13.55.

The calculation uses a different practice-expense RVU for each setting. Both amounts here are physician fee-schedule amounts. The facility figure does not include a hospital’s separate charges, so this comparison does not tell you the total cost of receiving care in each setting.

See the inputs behind this difference →

Use this rate

What is a percentage of Medicare worth?

Turn a percentage into dollars for G0397 in Merced. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.

Reference amount per service

$76.13

$69.21 × 110% = $76.13

A contract may specify another Medicare year or additional adjustments. This is percentage arithmetic on the displayed base rate, not a claim adjudication.

Working with a whole code list?

Compare an offer across your annual code mix, including an older Medicare schedule or flat per-code rates.

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How this local rate is calculated

Each RVU component is multiplied by its own geographic practice cost index (GPCI). The three adjusted components are added, then multiplied by the conversion factor. These are the inputs used for G0397 in Merced.

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

15,221

Code
G0397
Physician work
1.30
Practice expense
0.65
Malpractice
0.07

GPCI2026.csv

15

Locality
Merced
Physician work
1.017
Practice expense
1.096
Malpractice
0.536
Office / nonfacility calculation for G0397 in Merced
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.30× 1.0171.3221
Practice expense0.65× 1.0960.7124
Malpractice0.07× 0.5360.0375
Total RVUs2.0720
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office / nonfacility rate, Merced$69.21

Open G0397 in the RVU calculator →

Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula

Office / nonfacility

Office / nonfacility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work1.31.017
Practice expense0.651.096
Malpractice0.070.536

(1.3 × 1.017 + 0.65 × 1.096 + 0.07 × 0.536) × $33.4009 = $69.21

Facility

Facility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work1.31.017
Practice expense0.281.096
Malpractice0.070.536

(1.3 × 1.017 + 0.28 × 1.096 + 0.07 × 0.536) × $33.4009 = $55.66

The office and facility calculations use their respective practice-expense RVUs. The facility amount here is the physician fee, not a separate hospital or facility bill.

How this rate has changed

G0397 · Office / nonfacility

$69.21

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $5.15 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $64.06 to $69.21 (8.0%).

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

    $64.06changed to$69.21

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Practice expense RVU 0.57 changed to 0.65
    • Work GPCI 1.014 changed to 1.017
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.093 changed to 1.096
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.560 changed to 0.536

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    Earliest loaded release: $64.06

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

Explore release dates and calculate this code in an earlier period →

Each row uses the accepted CMS release effective on that date and the same contractor and locality identifiers. Missing rates stay visible. Historical boundaries may differ; verify the service address for an older claim.

Inspect every release and its CMS source
Effective fromOffice / nonfacilityFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$69.21$55.66RVU26D
2026-07-01$69.21$55.66RVU26C
2026-04-01$69.21$55.66RVU26B
2026-01-01$69.21$55.66RVU26A
2025-10-01$64.06$60.88RVU25D
2025-07-01$64.06$60.88RVU25C
2025-04-01$64.06$60.88RVU25B
2025-01-01$64.06$60.88RVU25A

G0397 billing questions

How does G0397 differ from G0396?

G0397 is for a structured alcohol or non-tobacco substance-use assessment and intervention lasting more than 30 minutes. G0396 is used when the service lasts 15 through 30 minutes.

Does G0397 include tobacco counseling?

No. G0397 covers alcohol or other substance use, excluding tobacco.

Can a screening alone support G0397?

A screening alone does not describe the structured assessment and intervention represented by G0397. Documentation should show the intervention delivered and the time spent on the service.

What time should the record support?

Document the time spent on the structured assessment and intervention, and show that it exceeds 30 minutes. Do not include unrelated evaluation or routine counseling time in that total.

How does G0397 differ from G0443?

G0443 describes brief counseling for alcohol misuse. G0397 represents a longer structured assessment and intervention and can address substances other than alcohol, excluding tobacco.

Where these rates come from

FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense, and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indices and the applicable conversion factor. Unavailable or separately priced services are labeled rather than assigned a made-up amount.

Source: RVU26D. Effective 2026-10-01 through the day before 2027-01-01.

RVUs for G0397PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 15,221 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for MercedGPCI2026.csv, line 15 (RVU26D)
Open CMS sourceHow this rate is calculatedBuild a fee sheet