Z79.891: Long term (current) use of opiate analgesic
Z79.891, long term (current) use of opiate analgesic, is listed as a covered diagnosis in 12 Medicare billing and coding articles that apply to 28 HCPCS Level II codes, including G0480 (Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug…), G0483 (Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug…), G0482 (Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug…). The articles come from 7 Medicare contractors. A listed diagnosis supports medical necessity only; coverage still depends on the LCD's criteria and on documentation in the medical record.
HCPCS Level II codes with Z79.891 as a covered diagnosis
| Code | Description | Medicare coverage | DMEPOS fee 2026 (state range) | Articles listing it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G0480 | Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug identification methods able to identify individual drugs and distinguish between structural isomers (but not necessarily stereoisomers), including, but not limited to gc/ms (any type, single or tandem) and lc/ms (any type, single or tandem and excluding immunoassays (e.g., ia, eia, elisa, emit, fpia) and enzymatic methods (e.g., alcohol dehydrogenase)), (2) stable isotope or other universally recognized internal standards in all samples (e.g., to control for matrix effects, interferences and variations in signal strength), and (3) method or drug-specific calibration and matrix-matched quality control material (e.g., to control for instrument variations and mass spectral drift); qualitative or quantitative, all sources, includes specimen validity testing, per day; 1-7 drug class(es), including metabolite(s) if performed | Carrier judgment | — | 7 |
| G0483 | Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug identification methods able to identify individual drugs and distinguish between structural isomers (but not necessarily stereoisomers), including, but not limited to gc/ms (any type, single or tandem) and lc/ms (any type, single or tandem and excluding immunoassays (e.g., ia, eia, elisa, emit, fpia) and enzymatic methods (e.g., alcohol dehydrogenase)), (2) stable isotope or other universally recognized internal standards in all samples (e.g., to control for matrix effects, interferences and variations in signal strength), and (3) method or drug-specific calibration and matrix-matched quality control material (e.g., to control for instrument variations and mass spectral drift); qualitative or quantitative, all sources, includes specimen validity testing, per day; 22 or more drug class(es), including metabolite(s) if performed | Carrier judgment | — | 7 |
| G0482 | Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug identification methods able to identify individual drugs and distinguish between structural isomers (but not necessarily stereoisomers), including, but not limited to gc/ms (any type, single or tandem) and lc/ms (any type, single or tandem and excluding immunoassays (e.g., ia, eia, elisa, emit, fpia) and enzymatic methods (e.g., alcohol dehydrogenase)), (2) stable isotope or other universally recognized internal standards in all samples (e.g., to control for matrix effects, interferences and variations in signal strength), and (3) method or drug-specific calibration and matrix-matched quality control material (e.g., to control for instrument variations and mass spectral drift); qualitative or quantitative, all sources, includes specimen validity testing, per day; 15-21 drug class(es), including metabolite(s) if performed | Carrier judgment | — | 7 |
| G0481 | Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug identification methods able to identify individual drugs and distinguish between structural isomers (but not necessarily stereoisomers), including, but not limited to gc/ms (any type, single or tandem) and lc/ms (any type, single or tandem and excluding immunoassays (e.g., ia, eia, elisa, emit, fpia) and enzymatic methods (e.g., alcohol dehydrogenase)), (2) stable isotope or other universally recognized internal standards in all samples (e.g., to control for matrix effects, interferences and variations in signal strength), and (3) method or drug-specific calibration and matrix-matched quality control material (e.g., to control for instrument variations and mass spectral drift); qualitative or quantitative, all sources, includes specimen validity testing, per day; 8-14 drug class(es), including metabolite(s) if performed | Carrier judgment | — | 7 |
| G0659 | Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing drug identification methods able to identify individual drugs and distinguish between structural isomers (but not necessarily stereoisomers), including but not limited to gc/ms (any type, single or tandem) and lc/ms (any type, single or tandem), excluding immunoassays (e.g., ia, eia, elisa, emit, fpia) and enzymatic methods (e.g., alcohol dehydrogenase), performed without method or drug-specific calibration, without matrix-matched quality control material, or without use of stable isotope or other universally recognized internal standard(s) for each drug, drug metabolite or drug class per specimen; qualitative or quantitative, all sources, includes specimen validity testing, per day, any number of drug classes | Carrier judgment | — | 7 |
| Q9957 | Injection, perflutren lipid microspheres, per ml | Carrier judgment | — | 3 |
| Q9956 | Injection, octafluoropropane microspheres, per ml | Carrier judgment | — | 3 |
| Q9955 | Injection, perflexane lipid microspheres, per ml | Carrier judgment | — | 3 |
| J0461 | Injection, atropine sulfate, 0.01 mg | Special coverage instructions apply | — | 3 |
| J0153 | Injection, adenosine, 1 mg (not to be used to report any adenosine phosphate compounds) | Special coverage instructions apply | — | 3 |
| J1250 | Injection, dobutamine hydrochloride, per 250 mg | Special coverage instructions apply | — | 3 |
| J0280 | Injection, aminophyllin, up to 250 mg | Special coverage instructions apply | — | 3 |
| J1245 | Injection, dipyridamole, per 10 mg | Special coverage instructions apply | — | 3 |
| A9700 | Supply of injectable contrast material for use in echocardiography, per study | Special coverage instructions apply | — | 3 |
| J2785 | Injection, regadenoson, 0.1 mg | Carrier judgment | — | 2 |
| C8921 | Transthoracic echocardiography with contrast, or without contrast followed by with contrast, for congenital cardiac anomalies; complete | Special coverage instructions apply | — | 2 |
| C8922 | Transthoracic echocardiography with contrast, or without contrast followed by with contrast, for congenital cardiac anomalies; follow-up or limited study | Special coverage instructions apply | — | 2 |
| C8923 | Transthoracic echocardiography with contrast, or without contrast followed by with contrast, real-time with image documentation (2d), includes m-mode recording, when performed, complete, without spectral or color doppler echocardiography | Special coverage instructions apply | — | 2 |
| C8924 | Transthoracic echocardiography with contrast, or without contrast followed by with contrast, real-time with image documentation (2d), includes m-mode recording, when performed, follow-up or limited study | Special coverage instructions apply | — | 2 |
| C8928 | Transthoracic echocardiography with contrast, or without contrast followed by with contrast, real-time with image documentation (2d), includes m-mode recording, when performed, during rest and cardiovascular stress test using treadmill, bicycle exercise and/or pharmacologically induced stress, with interpretation and report | Special coverage instructions apply | — | 2 |
| C8929 | Transthoracic echocardiography with contrast, or without contrast followed by with contrast, real-time with image documentation (2d), includes m-mode recording, when performed, complete, with spectral doppler echocardiography, and with color flow doppler echocardiography | Special coverage instructions apply | — | 2 |
| C8930 | Transthoracic echocardiography, with contrast, or without contrast followed by with contrast, real-time with image documentation (2d), includes m-mode recording, when performed, during rest and cardiovascular stress test using treadmill, bicycle exercise and/or pharmacologically induced stress, with interpretation and report; including performance of continuous electrocardiographic monitoring, with physician supervision | Special coverage instructions apply | — | 2 |
| C8925 | Transesophageal echocardiography (tee) with contrast, or without contrast followed by with contrast, real time with image documentation (2d) (with or without m-mode recording); including probe placement, image acquisition, interpretation and report | Special coverage instructions apply | — | 1 |
| C8926 | Transesophageal echocardiography (tee) with contrast, or without contrast followed by with contrast, for congenital cardiac anomalies; including probe placement, image acquisition, interpretation and report | Special coverage instructions apply | — | 1 |
| C8927 | Transesophageal echocardiography (tee) with contrast, or without contrast followed by with contrast, for monitoring purposes, including probe placement, real time 2-dimensional image acquisition and interpretation leading to ongoing (continuous) assessment of (dynamically changing) cardiac pumping function and to therapeutic measures on an immediate time basis | Special coverage instructions apply | — | 1 |
3 more codes are listed. See every code with payment by region in Caduvo.
Medicare policy articles listing Z79.891
- A57077: Billing and Coding: Controlled Substance Monitoring and Drugs of Abuse Testing (First Coast Service Options, Inc. (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 5 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L35006, L36393
- A55001: Billing and Coding: Urine Drug Testing (Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 5 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L34645, L35724, L36029, L36668
- A56915: Billing and Coding: Urine Drug Testing (WPS Insurance Corporation (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 5 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L34645, L35724, L36029, L36668
- A59416: Billing and Coding: Urine Drug Testing (Wellpoint Federal (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 5 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L34645, L35724, L36029, L36668
- A54799: Billing and Coding: Urine Drug Testing (Palmetto GBA (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 5 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L34645, L35724, L36029, L36668
- A56505: Billing and Coding: Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE) (Novitas Solutions, Inc. (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 6 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L33579, L34337, L35016
- A56389: Billing and Coding: Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and Visualization (Palmetto GBA (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 1 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L34434
- A56818: Billing and Coding: Urine Drug Testing (CGS Administrators, LLC (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 5 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L34645, L35724, L36029, L36668
- A57306: Billing and Coding: Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE) (CGS Administrators, LLC (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 19 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L33577, L34338
- A56645: Billing and Coding: Controlled Substance Monitoring and Drugs of Abuse Testing (Novitas Solutions, Inc. (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 5 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L35006, L36393
- A56781: Billing and Coding: Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE) (Wellpoint Federal (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 17 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L33577, L34338
- A56625: Billing and Coding: Echocardiography (Palmetto GBA (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 6 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L37379
A diagnosis listed as covered in a billing and coding article supports medical necessity for the article's codes; it does not guarantee payment. Coverage depends on the LCD's criteria, the contractor's jurisdiction and documentation in the medical record.
Other Z79 diagnoses (Long term (current) drug therapy)
- Z79.899 — Other long term (current) drug therapy
- Z79.810 — Long term (current) use of selective estrogen receptor modulators…
- Z79.811 — Long term (current) use of aromatase inhibitors
- Z79.818 — Long term (current) use of other agents affecting estrogen receptors…
- Z79.83 — Long term (current) use of bisphosphonates
- Z79.85 — Long-term (current) use of injectable non-insulin antidiabetic drugs
- Z79.01 — Long term (current) use of anticoagulants
- Z79.3 — Long term (current) use of hormonal contraceptives
- Z79.51 — Long term (current) use of inhaled steroids
- Z79.52 — Long term (current) use of systemic steroids
Frequently asked questions
Does Medicare cover Z79.891 (Long term (current) use of opiate analgesic)?
Medicare covers items and services, not diagnoses. 12 Medicare billing and coding articles list Z79.891 as a covered diagnosis for 28 HCPCS Level II codes: the diagnosis can support medical necessity for those codes, but payment still depends on the LCD's coverage criteria and the medical record.
Which HCPCS codes can be billed with ICD-10 Z79.891?
The Level II codes from the policies most specific to this diagnosis are G0480 (Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug…, 7 articles); G0483 (Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug…, 7 articles); G0482 (Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug…, 7 articles); G0481 (Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug…, 7 articles); G0659 (Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing drug identification…, 7 articles). Code choice depends on the item supplied; check each code's descriptor.
Which Medicare policy articles list Z79.891?
A57077 (Billing and Coding: Controlled Substance Monitoring and Drugs of Abuse Testing); A55001 (Billing and Coding: Urine Drug Testing); A56915 (Billing and Coding: Urine Drug Testing), and 9 more articles.
What is ICD-10-CM code Z79.891?
Z79.891 is the ICD-10-CM code for long term (current) use of opiate analgesic, in category Z79 (Long term (current) drug therapy), chapter 22: Factors influencing health status and contact with health services.
Next steps
- Run a reimbursement report for a device billed under G0480
- Watch G0480 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for G0480
Sources: CMS Medicare Coverage Database billing and coding articles (covered ICD-10 code lists and HCPCS links); ICD-10-CM FY2026; CMS HCPCS Level II release October 2026; CMS DMEPOS fee schedule 2026 (non-rural state fees). Not billing or legal advice.
Chapter 22: Factors influencing health status and contact with health services · All diagnoses · HCPCS lookup