HCPCS code G0542: Caregiver training2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Illinois
Reports additional time spent training a caregiver without the patient present, after the initial caregiver-training service has been provided.
Medicare pays $25.36–$26.40 for G0542 in the office in Illinois, from Rest Of Illinois to Suburban Chicago. Which amount applies depends on the service address.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
On this page 9 sections
What G0542 covers
G0542 represents additional 15-minute time spent training a caregiver when the patient is not present. The clinician may teach practical strategies for supporting the patient’s function or care, such as safe transfers, mobility, or activities of daily living. The caregiver receives the instruction directly; the patient is absent during this portion of the service.
Report G0542 only with the primary caregiver-training service, typically G0541 for the initial 30 minutes without the patient present. Documentation should identify the caregiver, the training provided, the patient’s relevant needs, and the additional time spent. CMS treats G0542 as an add-on: it is billed only with a primary procedure and paid within that procedure’s global period.
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.
Where G0542 pays more and less in Illinois
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
4 payment localities
$25.36 to $26.40
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $26.22 | $21.18 |
| East St. Louis | $25.41 | $20.80 |
| Rest Of Illinois | $25.36 | $20.78 |
| Suburban Chicago | $26.40 | $21.25 |
How the G0542 rate is calculated
Each of G0542’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 · G0542
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.54
0.54 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense0.24
0.24 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.00
0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
0.7800
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$26.05
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for G0542
The CMS indicators that decide how G0542 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · G0542
Caregiver training
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | ZZZ | Add-on code: falls within the primary procedure’s global period. |
| Multiple procedures | 0 | No multiple-procedure reduction. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
G0542 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
G0542 vs G0541 vs G0543: Medicare rates
How to choose
- G0541Caregiver training
- Choose G0541 for the initial 30 minutes of caregiver training without the patient present; G0542 reports additional 15-minute time.
- G0543Caregiver training
- G0543 describes group caregiver training without the patient present. G0542 is for additional time in an individual caregiver-training service.
G0542 billing questions
Can G0542 be reported by itself?
No. It is an add-on code and must be billed with a primary procedure, typically G0541 for the initial caregiver-training service without the patient present.
How does G0542 differ from G0541?
G0541 represents the initial 30 minutes of caregiver training without the patient present. G0542 represents additional 15-minute time.
Can G0542 be used for group caregiver training?
No. G0542 represents additional training time for an individual caregiver service. G0543 is the group-training code for training without the patient present.
What should the note include?
Document the caregiver and the training delivered, connect the instruction to the patient’s care or functional needs, and record the additional time spent.
How does the global-period rule affect payment?
G0542 is paid within the global period of its primary procedure and cannot be billed as a standalone service.
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
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