Key Points
- The Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule established a new G-code, HCPCS G0136, for administering a standardized, evidence-based assessment of risk factors related to physical activity and/or nutrition.
- HCPCS — produced by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services — is a collection of standardized codes that represent medical procedures, supplies, products, and services.
- The assessment can take 5 to 15 minutes and can't be performed more than once every 6 months.
FIM Opportunities
The physical activity and nutrition risk assessment is intended to be used when a practitioner has reason to believe there are unmet physical activity and/or nutrition needs that could interfere with the practitioner's diagnosis and treatment of a condition or illness.
Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code G0136 is not designed for routine screening. Instead, it is an assessment of one or more known or suspected risk factors related to physical activity and/or nutrition needs that may interfere with the practitioners' diagnosis or treatment of the patient.
The physical activity and nutrition risk assessment may identify nutrition and food security needs that could benefit from Food Is Medicine interventions.
