top of page

G3002
Description, Billing Rules, and Use Cases

G3002 is a monthly bundled service code for Chronic Pain Management (CPM). It captures the first 30 minutes of physician-led treatment including pain assessments, care plan development, medication management, behavioral health coordination, and more.

 

This foundational code establishes eligibility for ongoing billing of chronic pain services.

What is HCPCS Code G3002?

G3002 is a time-based HCPCS G-code used to bill for the first 30 minutes of face-to-face chronic pain management services provided by a physician or other qualified healthcare professional in a calendar month. This code represents the initial portion of a structured, multidisciplinary approach to managing chronic pain through both clinical and care coordination interventions.

​

It is a required starting point before billing additional time using G3003. Services covered under G3002 include:

​

  • A comprehensive diagnosis and pain assessment

  • Use of a validated pain rating scale or tool

  • Creation or revision of a person-centered care plan

  • Medication and treatment management

  • Behavioral health referral coordination

  • Crisis support for pain-related emergencies

  • Communication with other providers, such as PT/OT or community care teams

​

Note: At least 30 minutes of physician or QHP time must be documented to report G3002. Time must be personally provided — not under general supervision.

G3002 Billing Requirements and Eligibility

To compliantly report G3002, providers must deliver a qualifying 30 minutes of Chronic Pain Management (CPM) services during a single calendar month. These services must be delivered in-person by a physician or qualified health care professional (QHP) and are subject to specific clinical, time, and documentation requirements.

Who Can Bill G3002?

Only physicians or QHPs (e.g., NP, PA, CNS) may bill G3002:

​

  • Must perform services personally (no incident-to or general supervision)

  • Must be enrolled in Medicare and meet scope-of-practice guidelines

  • May be performed in various settings: office, outpatient clinic, FQHC, RHC

Service Requirements

G3002 may be billed once per month per patient when all the following are met:

​

  • At least 30 minutes of personally performed CPM services

    • Time must be documented in the patient chart

    • Multiple shorter visits may be aggregated across the month

  • Pain assessment with validated tool

    • Examples: Numeric Pain Rating Scale, Brief Pain Inventory

    • Assessment must be clearly documented

  • Person-centered care plan created or updated

    • Plan must include pain etiology, treatment goals, and interventions

    • Document any medication changes or referrals to ancillary care

  • Behavioral and/or functional care coordination

    • Coordination with mental health, rehab, or primary care

    • Must be relevant to chronic pain management

  • Crisis support and safety planning (if applicable)

    • For patients at risk of pain-related emergencies

    • Document interventions, referrals, or emergency planning

Patient Eligibility

G3002 may only be billed for patients with a chronic pain diagnosis:

​

  • Pain must persist for ≥3 months

  • Must cause significant functional impairment or require ongoing care

  • A documented pain management plan must be active or initiated

 

There is no frequency limitation beyond the one-unit-per-month restriction, and services may continue indefinitely if medically necessary.

G3002 Billing Documentation Checklist

To bill G3002 compliantly, the following elements must be documented in the patient’s medical record for the calendar month:

​

  • Chronic pain diagnosis and duration:

    • Condition causing pain must be clearly documented

    • Pain must be noted as persisting ≥3 months or recurring regularly

    • Functional impairment or clinical significance described

  • Total time spent: ≥30 minutes:

    • Services must be personally provided by a physician or QHP

    • May be delivered in one or multiple visits within the same month

    • Cumulative time must be clearly documented (e.g., 15 min + 15 min = 30 min)

  • Validated pain assessment tool used:

    • Examples: Numeric Pain Rating Scale, PEG-3, Brief Pain Inventory

    • Tool results and provider interpretation included in note

  • Person-centered pain care plan created or updated:

    • Must include:

      • Diagnosis and suspected cause

      • Goals for pain reduction and function

      • Planned interventions (medications, PT/OT, behavior therapy, etc.)

    • Plan must be shared with patient or caregiver

  • Medication management and review (if applicable):

    • Documentation of prescribed medications (opioids, NSAIDs, adjuvants, etc.)

    • Risk/benefit considerations and side effect review

    • Adjustment or refill activity noted if performed

  • Coordination of care or referrals:

    • Communication with:

      • Mental health providers

      • Physical or occupational therapists

      • Community-based pain programs

    • Any care transitions, specialist consults, or support services initiated

  • Crisis support (if needed):

    • Screening for suicide risk, opioid misuse, or acute flare-ups

    • Safety planning and emergency referrals documented

  • Consent to receive CPM services:

    • Signed or verbal consent to initiate the monthly CPM process

    • Consent must be documented at the outset and retained in record

G3002 Time Thresholds and Code Combinations

G3002 is the base code used to report the first 30 minutes of personally delivered Chronic Pain Management (CPM) services each calendar month. If more time is spent beyond the first 30 minutes, add-on units of G3003 may be billed to reflect additional 15-minute increments.

​

Use the following chart to determine the correct billing combination:

Table showing how G3002 forms the base of chronic pain management billing, with G3003 add-ons based on total time spent by the physician or QHP.

Key Reminders:

  • G3002 is always billed first — it is required before any G3003 billing

  • Only physician or QHP time counts

  • Time must be:

    • Personally provided

    • Cumulative across all CPM sessions in the month

    • Fully documented in the chart

  • G3003 may be stacked for each full 15-minute increment beyond 30 minutes

When to Use G3002:
Common Scenarios and Use Cases

G3002 should be billed when a physician or QHP personally delivers 30 minutes or more of Chronic Pain Management (CPM) services in a calendar month. This includes pain assessment, care planning, medication review, coordination with specialists, and behavioral or functional support.

​

  • Initial Pain Management Plan for Chronic Low Back Pain
    A primary care physician:

    • Uses a validated pain scale to assess baseline status

    • Develops a care plan including home exercise and NSAIDs

    • Refers patient to physical therapy and schedules monthly follow-up
      Total time: 34 minutes
      Billing: G3002
       

  • Comprehensive Visit for Diabetic Neuropathy Pain
    A nurse practitioner:

    • Reviews medication regimen and titrates gabapentin

    • Screens for depression and coordinates with behavioral health

    • Updates care plan with dietary and lifestyle components
      Total time: 45 minutes
      Billing: G3002 + G3003
       

  • Multidisciplinary Coordination for Cancer Pain
    A physician assistant:

    • Performs opioid risk assessment and discusses dosing taper

    • Coordinates with oncology and social work

    • Supports family caregiver education and crisis planning
      Total time: 76 minutes
      Billing: G3002 + G3003 ×3

Common G3002 Billing Mistakes
(and How to Avoid Them)

Because G3002 is a structured monthly bundle with time, documentation, and care delivery requirements, mistakes often lead to rejections or post-payment audits. Here's how to avoid the most common pitfalls.
 

❌ Billing G3002 With Less Than 30 Minutes of Time
CMS requires a minimum of 30 minutes of personally delivered CPM services. Rounding up or including time from non-qualified staff will result in denial.
 

❌ Lack of Documented Pain Assessment Tool
A validated pain scale (e.g., Numeric Rating Scale, Brief Pain Inventory) must be administered and interpreted. If the tool or results are missing, the claim is at risk.
 

❌ No Care Plan or Plan Not Updated
A person-centered care plan must be:

  • Created or revised during the month

  • Specific to the chronic pain condition

  • Shared with the patient or caregiver
    Plans that are generic, unchanged, or missing will not meet CMS criteria.
     

❌ Including General Supervision Time
G3002 only counts personally performed time by the billing provider (physician or QHP). Time spent by nurses, MAs, or other team members cannot be counted under G3002.
 

❌ Billed Without Consent
While consent is not needed every month, it must be documented once before initiating CPM services and kept on file. Lack of consent documentation may trigger medical review.

bottom of page