CPT Codes and Screening Guidelines for Cervical Cancer

Specimen Collection and Laboratory Interpretation

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends using G0101 for cervical/vaginal cytology screening, and Q0091 for screening Papanicolaou smear, with some practices using 99000 for specimen handling 1, 2
• The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists suggests that the actual pelvic examination is coded separately and is not part of the Pap smear code itself 2, 3

HPV Co-Testing and Screening Intervals

• The American Cancer Society recommends HPV DNA testing with the Pap test (co-testing) for women aged 30-65 years, allowing for 5-year screening intervals 4, 1, 5
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises against using HPV testing for women aged 21-29 years for routine screening 6, 2, 5
• The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends the following screening intervals:

Medicare Coverage

• Medicare covers Pap testing using specific HCPCS codes, including G0123, G0124, G0141, G0143, G0144, G0145, G0147, and G0148 1
• The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services allows screening at 3-year intervals for average-risk women, or yearly for high-risk women 1