Professional services (CMS-defined procedures)

G0023 — Principal illness navigation services by certified or trained auxiliary personnel under the direction of a physician or other practitioner, including a patient navigator; 60 minutes per calendar month, in the following activities: person-centered assessment, performed to better understand the individual context of the serious, high-risk condition. ++ conducting a person-centered assessment to understand the patient's life story, strengths, needs, goals, preferences, and desired outcomes, including understanding cultural and linguistic factors and including unmet sdoh needs (that are not separately billed). ++ facilitating patient-driven goal setting and establishing an action plan. ++ providing tailored support as needed to accomplish the practitioner's treatment plan. identifying or referring patient (and caregiver or family, if applicable) to appropriate supportive services. practitioner, home, and community-based care coordination. ++ coordinating receipt of needed services from healthcare practitioners, providers, and facilities; home- and community-based service providers; and caregiver (if applicable). ++ communication with practitioners, home-, and community-based service providers, hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities (or other health care facilities) regarding the patient's psychosocial strengths and needs, functional deficits, goals, preferences, and desired outcomes, including cultural and linguistic factors. ++ coordination of care transitions between and among health care practitioners and settings, including transitions involving referral to other clinicians; follow-up after an emergency department visit; or follow-up after discharges from hospitals, skilled nursing facilities or other health care facilities. ++ facilitating access to community-based social services (e.g., housing, utilities, transportation, food assistance) as needed to address sdoh need(s). health education- helping the patient contextualize health education provided by the patient's treatment team with the patient's individual needs, goals, preferences, and sdoh need(s), and educating the patient (and caregiver if applicable) on how to best participate in medical decision-making. building patient self-advocacy skills, so that the patient can interact with members of the health care team and related community-based services (as needed), in ways that are more likely to promote personalized and effective treatment of their condition. health care access / health system navigation. ++ helping the patient access healthcare, including identifying appropriate practitioners or providers for clinical care, and helping secure appointments with them. ++ providing the patient with information/resources to consider participation in clinical trials or clinical research as applicable. facilitating behavioral change as necessary for meeting diagnosis and treatment goals, including promoting patient motivation to participate in care and reach person-centered diagnosis or treatment goals. facilitating and providing social and emotional support to help the patient cope with the condition, sdoh need(s), and adjust daily routines to better meet diagnosis and treatment goals. leverage knowledge of the serious, high-risk condition and/or lived experience when applicable to provide support, mentorship, or inspiration to meet treatment goals

HCPCS code G0023 is used on U.S. medical bills for professional services (cms-defined procedures): Principal illness navigation services by certified or trained auxiliary personnel under the direction of a physician or other practitioner, including a patient navigator; 60 minutes per calendar month, in the following activities: person-centered assessment, performed to better understand the individual context of the serious, high-risk condition. ++ conducting a person-centered assessment to understand the patient's life story, strengths, needs, goals, preferences, and desired outcomes, including understanding cultural and linguistic factors and including unmet sdoh needs (that are not separately billed). ++ facilitating patient-driven goal setting and establishing an action plan. ++ providing tailored support as needed to accomplish the practitioner's treatment plan. identifying or referring patient (and caregiver or family, if applicable) to appropriate supportive services. practitioner, home, and community-based care coordination. ++ coordinating receipt of needed services from healthcare practitioners, providers, and facilities; home- and community-based service providers; and caregiver (if applicable). ++ communication with practitioners, home-, and community-based service providers, hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities (or other health care facilities) regarding the patient's psychosocial strengths and needs, functional deficits, goals, preferences, and desired outcomes, including cultural and linguistic factors. ++ coordination of care transitions between and among health care practitioners and settings, including transitions involving referral to other clinicians; follow-up after an emergency department visit; or follow-up after discharges from hospitals, skilled nursing facilities or other health care facilities. ++ facilitating access to community-based social services (e.g., housing, utilities, transportation, food assistance) as needed to address sdoh need(s). health education- helping the patient contextualize health education provided by the patient's treatment team with the patient's individual needs, goals, preferences, and sdoh need(s), and educating the patient (and caregiver if applicable) on how to best participate in medical decision-making. building patient self-advocacy skills, so that the patient can interact with members of the health care team and related community-based services (as needed), in ways that are more likely to promote personalized and effective treatment of their condition. health care access / health system navigation. ++ helping the patient access healthcare, including identifying appropriate practitioners or providers for clinical care, and helping secure appointments with them. ++ providing the patient with information/resources to consider participation in clinical trials or clinical research as applicable. facilitating behavioral change as necessary for meeting diagnosis and treatment goals, including promoting patient motivation to participate in care and reach person-centered diagnosis or treatment goals. facilitating and providing social and emotional support to help the patient cope with the condition, sdoh need(s), and adjust daily routines to better meet diagnosis and treatment goals. leverage knowledge of the serious, high-risk condition and/or lived experience when applicable to provide support, mentorship, or inspiration to meet treatment goals.

  • Typical setting: Outpatient
  • National avg charge (illustrative): Medicare physician fee schedule — see CMS lookup tool.
  • Most-disputed reason: Service billed at a level not supported by documentation

What it means

What G0023 actually means

Principal illness navigation services by certified or trained auxiliary personnel under the direction of a physician or other practitioner, including a patient navigator; 60 minutes per calendar month, in the following activities: person-centered assessment, performed to better understand the individual context of the serious, high-risk condition. ++ conducting a person-centered assessment to understand the patient's life story, strengths, needs, goals, preferences, and desired outcomes, including understanding cultural and linguistic factors and including unmet sdoh needs (that are not separately billed). ++ facilitating patient-driven goal setting and establishing an action plan. ++ providing tailored support as needed to accomplish the practitioner's treatment plan. identifying or referring patient (and caregiver or family, if applicable) to appropriate supportive services. practitioner, home, and community-based care coordination. ++ coordinating receipt of needed services from healthcare practitioners, providers, and facilities; home- and community-based service providers; and caregiver (if applicable). ++ communication with practitioners, home-, and community-based service providers, hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities (or other health care facilities) regarding the patient's psychosocial strengths and needs, functional deficits, goals, preferences, and desired outcomes, including cultural and linguistic factors. ++ coordination of care transitions between and among health care practitioners and settings, including transitions involving referral to other clinicians; follow-up after an emergency department visit; or follow-up after discharges from hospitals, skilled nursing facilities or other health care facilities. ++ facilitating access to community-based social services (e.g., housing, utilities, transportation, food assistance) as needed to address sdoh need(s). health education- helping the patient contextualize health education provided by the patient's treatment team with the patient's individual needs, goals, preferences, and sdoh need(s), and educating the patient (and caregiver if applicable) on how to best participate in medical decision-making. building patient self-advocacy skills, so that the patient can interact with members of the health care team and related community-based services (as needed), in ways that are more likely to promote personalized and effective treatment of their condition. health care access / health system navigation. ++ helping the patient access healthcare, including identifying appropriate practitioners or providers for clinical care, and helping secure appointments with them. ++ providing the patient with information/resources to consider participation in clinical trials or clinical research as applicable. facilitating behavioral change as necessary for meeting diagnosis and treatment goals, including promoting patient motivation to participate in care and reach person-centered diagnosis or treatment goals. facilitating and providing social and emotional support to help the patient cope with the condition, sdoh need(s), and adjust daily routines to better meet diagnosis and treatment goals. leverage knowledge of the serious, high-risk condition and/or lived experience when applicable to provide support, mentorship, or inspiration to meet treatment goals.

The official CMS HCPCS Level II descriptor for this code is shown above. If the description on your bill does not match the service you actually received, that is a reason to ask for the itemized bill and dispute the line.

Common errors with this code

What goes wrong on real bills.

Most bills that look correct still contain at least one of these issues. Up to 49% of medical bills contain errors (CFPB).

If you see G0023 on your bill

Three steps before paying.

1. Get the itemized bill. If your statement only shows a summary, request the CPT-level itemized bill before paying. Generate the request language →

2. Cross-check against the EOB. Compare what your insurer's Explanation of Benefits says you owe versus what the hospital is asking. They disagree more often than people think. Read the bill-vs-EOB guide →

3. Run a free Bill Scan. Upload the bill (and EOB if you have it) and BillBusted will flag the most likely issues with this specific code in your specific state. Run free scan →

Related codes

Other codes in this category.

People who land on G0023 often also see these adjacent codes on the same bill.

Related BillBusted guides

Plain-English reads if you see G0023 on a bill.

G0023 FAQ

Plain-English answers.

What is G0023 used for on a medical bill?

HCPCS code G0023 is used on medical bills for professional services (cms-defined procedures): Principal illness navigation services by certified or trained auxiliary personnel under the direction of a physician or other practitioner, including a patient navigator; 60 minutes per calendar month, in the following activities: person-centered assessment, performed to better understand the individual context of the serious, high-risk condition. ++ conducting a person-centered assessment to understand the patient's life story, strengths, needs, goals, preferences, and desired outcomes, including understanding cultural and linguistic factors and including unmet sdoh needs (that are not separately billed). ++ facilitating patient-driven goal setting and establishing an action plan. ++ providing tailored support as needed to accomplish the practitioner's treatment plan. identifying or referring patient (and caregiver or family, if applicable) to appropriate supportive services. practitioner, home, and community-based care coordination. ++ coordinating receipt of needed services from healthcare practitioners, providers, and facilities; home- and community-based service providers; and caregiver (if applicable). ++ communication with practitioners, home-, and community-based service providers, hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities (or other health care facilities) regarding the patient's psychosocial strengths and needs, functional deficits, goals, preferences, and desired outcomes, including cultural and linguistic factors. ++ coordination of care transitions between and among health care practitioners and settings, including transitions involving referral to other clinicians; follow-up after an emergency department visit; or follow-up after discharges from hospitals, skilled nursing facilities or other health care facilities. ++ facilitating access to community-based social services (e.g., housing, utilities, transportation, food assistance) as needed to address sdoh need(s). health education- helping the patient contextualize health education provided by the patient's treatment team with the patient's individual needs, goals, preferences, and sdoh need(s), and educating the patient (and caregiver if applicable) on how to best participate in medical decision-making. building patient self-advocacy skills, so that the patient can interact with members of the health care team and related community-based services (as needed), in ways that are more likely to promote personalized and effective treatment of their condition. health care access / health system navigation. ++ helping the patient access healthcare, including identifying appropriate practitioners or providers for clinical care, and helping secure appointments with them. ++ providing the patient with information/resources to consider participation in clinical trials or clinical research as applicable. facilitating behavioral change as necessary for meeting diagnosis and treatment goals, including promoting patient motivation to participate in care and reach person-centered diagnosis or treatment goals. facilitating and providing social and emotional support to help the patient cope with the condition, sdoh need(s), and adjust daily routines to better meet diagnosis and treatment goals. leverage knowledge of the serious, high-risk condition and/or lived experience when applicable to provide support, mentorship, or inspiration to meet treatment goals. Up to 49% of medical bills contain at least one error (CFPB, 2023), and codes in this category most often get flagged for service billed at a level not supported by documentation. If you see G0023 on your bill, request the itemized statement and compare the units, date of service, and description to your Explanation of Benefits before paying.

How much should G0023 cost?

How much G0023 should cost depends on your payer and region. Up to 49% of medical bills contain at least one error (CFPB, 2023), and pricing for this HCPCS code is set by Medicare fee schedules for Medicare claims and by negotiated allowed amounts for commercial plans. Check the Medicare fee-schedule lookup tool, your insurer's member portal, or run a free BillBusted scan to compare your charge against typical allowed amounts.

Can I dispute a G0023 charge on my medical bill?

Yes, you can dispute a G0023 charge on your medical bill if the units, modifier, date of service, or coverage doesn't match the medical record or your insurance benefits. About 73.7% of patients who actually dispute a medical bill receive a correction (JAMA Health Forum, 2024). Request the itemized bill, compare to your EOB, and use BillBusted's Resolution Pack to draft the dispute letter if needed.

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