- Free PDF
- Anthem BCBS
- Updated October 2026
What do Blue Cross and Anthem pay a dietitian for? The Anthem code sheet
The short answer. each Blue plan sets its own rules, so there is no national BCBS answer. Anthem's commercial plans list 97802 to 97804, G0270, G0271 and S9470 as preventive, with Z71.3, Z72.3 or Z72.4 first and a BMI or obesity code second on the obesity rows.
- Every rule links to its sourceThe payer's own policy, so you can check it before a claim goes out.
- Last verified October 22, 2026Every source opened that day.
- Made by a dietitian billing personBy Javier Alvarez, from filing claims for two dietitians.
By Javier Alvarez · Updated · 2 min read
| Codes | 97802, 97803, 97804, G0270, G0271, S9470; 99401 to 99404 |
|---|---|
| Telehealth | POS 02 or 10, a code in CPT Appendix P, and modifier 95 or GT for audio and video (93 or FQ for audio only). Professional virtual visits are "eligible for non-office place of service reimbursement" (C-08002) |
| Visit limits | Not in the guideline: set by the member's plan |
| Allowed amount | Your Anthem or local Blue contract |
| Last verified | October 22, 2026, every source opened that day |
What do Blue Cross and Anthem pay a dietitian for?
| Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (commercial) | |
|---|---|
| Where it applies | The Anthem guideline covers CO, CT, GA, IN, KY, ME, MO, NV, NH, NY, OH, VA and WI. Other Blue plans publish their own policies |
| Codes listed | 97802, 97803, 97804, G0270, G0271, S9470; 99401 to 99404 |
| Diagnoses listed | Obesity rows: primary Z71.3, Z72.3 or Z72.4; secondary Z68.30 to Z68.45 or E66.01, E66.09, E66.1, E66.8, E66.9. Healthy diet row: Z71.3 or Z83.42 when the counseling is outside a preventive visit |
| Telehealth | POS 02 or 10, a code in CPT Appendix P, and modifier 95 or GT for audio and video (93 or FQ for audio only). Professional virtual visits are "eligible for non-office place of service reimbursement" (C-08002) |
| Units | Per 15 minutes |
| Referral, prior auth | Not in the guideline: set by the member's plan |
| Visit limits | Not in the guideline: set by the member's plan |
| Allowed amount | Your Anthem or local Blue contract |
| Our paid-claim data | Pending |
Outside Anthem, check the local plan's edits. One example: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island denies claims with modifier 93, 95, FQ or GT and a place of service other than 02 or 10 from September 1, 2026.
Verified on October 22, 2026. Source: Anthem ACA preventive care coding guidelines, August 2026, Anthem C-08002 Virtual Visits, BCBSRI telemedicine edit. More on the Anthem page and the Blue Cross page.
What is on the Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield PDF?
The PDF holds only Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield: its codes, diagnoses, telehealth POS and modifier, units, limits, the date we opened each policy and the link to it. The other five payers have their own sheet, so you print only the one a claim needs. See the sheet for every payer.
How many units does a visit bill?
Short answer: One unit per 15 minutes of face-to-face time, counted from 8 minutes. That is CMS's table for 15-minute timed codes, and the same midpoint rule CPT uses. A commercial contract can count units differently or cap them per visit, and the contract wins.
| Face-to-face minutes | 97802 / 97803 / G0270 units |
|---|---|
| Under 8 | 0 (not billable) |
| 8 to 22 | 1 |
| 23 to 37 | 2 |
| 38 to 52 | 3 |
| 53 to 67 | 4 |
| 68 to 82 | 5 |
Group codes (97804, G0271) are per 30 minutes. The MNT units calculator does the arithmetic for any visit length. Source: CMS Claims Processing Manual, ch. 5 Section 20.2, verified October 22, 2026.
