G0271 with Medicare: what the policy says
By Javier Alvarez · Updated · 2 min read
1 row: Medicare. Public policy, not the member's benefits.
Medicare
Original Medicare (Part B) · All states
| 97802 | Listed (once, for the first visit) [1] |
|---|---|
| 97803 | Listed (every later individual visit) [1] |
| G0270 | Listed (hours beyond the base, after a second referral in the same year) [1] |
| G0271 | Listed (group, after a second referral in the same year) [1] |
| Diagnoses | Diabetes and kidney disease, or a kidney transplant in the last 36 months. [2] |
| Telehealth POS | POS 02 or 10. POS 10 pays the non-facility rate. Patients can be at home through December 31, 2027. [3][4][5] |
| Telehealth modifier | 95 for audio and video, 93 for audio only. [3] |
| Visit limits | 3 hours the first calendar year, 2 hours each year after. Unused hours don't carry over. More hours need a second referral (G0270, G0271). [2][1] |
| Referral and prior auth | A referral from the treating doctor is required. [2] |
| Who can bill | Registered dietitians and nutrition professionals. Dietitians are eligible telehealth practitioners. [4] |
| Payment | 2026 national rate paid to a dietitian: $31.23 per unit of 97802, $26.97 per unit of 97803 or G0270. The patient pays nothing. [6][2] |
- CMS: Medicare Claims Processing Manual ch. 4, section 300 Medical Nutrition Therapy (Rev. 12694, 06-21-24), checked October 30, 2026
- Medicare.gov: Medical nutrition therapy services, checked October 22, 2026
- CMS: Change Request 13582 (POS 02 or 10 paired with modifier 95 or 93, PDF), checked October 22, 2026
- CMS MLN901705: Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring, December 2025 (PDF), checked October 22, 2026
- CMS: Telehealth FAQ, updated 10/8/2026 (home telehealth through Dec 31, 2027, PDF), checked October 22, 2026
- CMS: PFS Relative Value Files, RVU26D, checked October 22, 2026
What Medicare's policy says about G0271
G0271 is the HCPCS code for medical nutrition therapy; reassessment and subsequent intervention(s) following second referral in same year for change in diagnosis, medical condition or treatment regimen (including additional hours needed for renal disease), group (2 or more individuals), each 30 minutes. At Medicare it is listed: named in the payer's public policy. Each line below is from Medicare's own text:
- Where it is listed. Named in Claims Processing Manual ch. 4, section 300.4.B as the group code when the beneficiary's condition changes. (CMS, checked October 30, 2026)
- When it pays. Used for MNT hours beyond the usual 3 in the first calendar year or 2 in later years when the physician determines a change of diagnosis or medical condition requires a diet change. (CMS, checked October 30, 2026; CMS, checked October 30, 2026)
- Units. Each 30 minutes, for 2 or more individuals. (CMS, checked October 30, 2026)
- Telehealth. G0271 does not appear on the CMS CY 2026 list of Medicare telehealth services. The individual code G0270 does. (CMS, checked October 30, 2026)
- Also. Extra hours are reviewed after payment only. The patient is liable for hours denied over the limit only with a valid ABN. (CMS, checked October 30, 2026)
The rest of Medicare's MNT rules
The Medicare row has its codes, telehealth rule, limits and referrals, each with its source. Other codes we checked at Medicare: 97802, 97803, 97804, G0270, G0447, G0473, Z68 and G0108. What G0271 means at any payer is on the G0271 code page. Before the claim goes out, compare it with the row in the table above, then download the PDF of what you see.