Z79.899: Other long term (current) drug therapy

Z79.899, other long term (current) drug therapy, is listed as a covered diagnosis in 19 Medicare billing and coding articles that apply to 61 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 Z79.899 as a covered diagnosis

CodeDescriptionMedicare coverageDMEPOS fee 2026 (state range)Articles listing it
G0480Drug 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 performedCarrier judgment—7
G0483Drug 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 performedCarrier judgment—7
G0482Drug 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 performedCarrier judgment—7
G0481Drug 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 performedCarrier judgment—7
G0659Drug 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 classesCarrier judgment—7
J0153Injection, adenosine, 1 mg (not to be used to report any adenosine phosphate compounds)Special coverage instructions apply—5
J1250Injection, dobutamine hydrochloride, per 250 mgSpecial coverage instructions apply—5
J1245Injection, dipyridamole, per 10 mgSpecial coverage instructions apply—5
J0461Injection, atropine sulfate, 0.01 mgSpecial coverage instructions apply—4
J0280Injection, aminophyllin, up to 250 mgSpecial coverage instructions apply—4
Q9957Injection, perflutren lipid microspheres, per mlCarrier judgment—3
Q9956Injection, octafluoropropane microspheres, per mlCarrier judgment—3
Q9955Injection, perflexane lipid microspheres, per mlCarrier judgment—3
A9700Supply of injectable contrast material for use in echocardiography, per studySpecial coverage instructions apply—3
J3490Unclassified drugsSpecial coverage instructions apply—2
G0238Therapeutic procedures to improve respiratory function, other than described by g0237, one on one, face to face, per 15 minutes (includes monitoring)Carrier judgment—2
G0237Therapeutic procedures to increase strength or endurance of respiratory muscles, face to face, one on one, each 15 minutes (includes monitoring)Carrier judgment—2
G0239Therapeutic procedures to improve respiratory function or increase strength or endurance of respiratory muscles, two or more individuals (includes monitoring)Carrier judgment—2
J3489Injection, zoledronic acid, 1 mgCarrier judgment—1
J1740Injection, ibandronate sodium, 1 mgCarrier judgment—1
J2430Injection, pamidronate disodium, per 30 mgSpecial coverage instructions apply—1
J2785Injection, regadenoson, 0.1 mgCarrier judgment—2
C8921Transthoracic echocardiography with contrast, or without contrast followed by with contrast, for congenital cardiac anomalies; completeSpecial coverage instructions apply—2
C8922Transthoracic echocardiography with contrast, or without contrast followed by with contrast, for congenital cardiac anomalies; follow-up or limited studySpecial coverage instructions apply—2
C8923Transthoracic 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 echocardiographySpecial coverage instructions apply—2

36 more codes are listed. See every code with payment by region in Caduvo.

Medicare policy articles listing Z79.899

4 more articles list Z79.899.

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)

Frequently asked questions

Does Medicare cover Z79.899 (Other long term (current) drug therapy)?

Medicare covers items and services, not diagnoses. 19 Medicare billing and coding articles list Z79.899 as a covered diagnosis for 61 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 Z79.899?

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 Z79.899?

A56907 (Billing and Coding: Bisphosphonate Drug Therapy); A56795 (Billing and Coding: Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agents (ESAs)); A57077 (Billing and Coding: Controlled Substance Monitoring and Drugs of Abuse Testing), and 16 more articles.

What is ICD-10-CM code Z79.899?

Z79.899 is the ICD-10-CM code for other long term (current) drug therapy, in category Z79 (Long term (current) drug therapy), chapter 22: Factors influencing health status and contact with health services.

Next steps

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