Lung Cancer Screening ICD-10 Codes: Easy Reference Guide | Best Writes Links

Lung Cancer Screening ICD-10 Codes: Easy Reference Guide

Lung cancer screening plays a vital role in detecting lung cancer early, giving patients the best chance for treatment and survival. For healthcare providers, accurate ICD-10 coding ensures proper billing, clear documentation, and full insurance reimbursement.

This easy reference guide from Best Writes Links explains the correct ICD-10 codes, eligibility criteria, and billing process for lung cancer screening in 2025.

🩺 What Is Lung Cancer Screening?

Lung cancer screening is a preventive imaging test that looks for early signs of cancer in the lungs before symptoms appear. The screening is performed using Low-Dose Computed Tomography (LDCT), which uses low levels of radiation to take detailed pictures of the lungs.

The goal is early detection — finding lung cancer while it’s still small and treatable. Studies show LDCT scans can significantly reduce deaths caused by lung cancer.

🧠 Who Should Be Screened for Lung Cancer?

According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and American Cancer Society (ACS) 2025 guidelines, annual lung cancer screening is recommended for:

• Adults aged 50 to 80 years

• Those with a 20 pack-year or greater smoking history

• People who currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years

Screening should stop once the person has not smoked for 15 years or develops serious health conditions that limit life expectancy.

Healthcare providers should always document these criteria to confirm medical necessity and ensure insurance coverage.

🧾 Primary ICD-10 Code for Lung Cancer Screening

The main ICD-10 code for preventive lung cancer screening is:

➡️ Z12.2 — Encounter for screening for malignant neoplasm of respiratory organs

This code is used for all preventive LDCT lung cancer screenings, even when the patient shows no symptoms. It clearly indicates that the encounter is for screening, not diagnosis or treatment.

Example:

A 60-year-old current smoker with a 30-pack-year history comes for an annual LDCT scan.
Use ICD-10 Code: Z12.2

💡 Supporting ICD-10 Codes for Smoking History

To properly document patient eligibility and satisfy payer requirements, use an additional code that describes the patient’s smoking status or history:

• Z87.891 — Personal history of nicotine dependence

• F17.210 — Nicotine dependence, cigarettes, uncomplicated

• F17.211 — Nicotine dependence, in remission

Including one of these codes helps confirm that the screening meets USPSTF criteria and supports insurance reimbursement.

Example:

Z12.2 (screening) + Z87.891 (smoking history)

💼 Procedure and Billing Code

The HCPCS code for the lung cancer screening LDCT procedure is:

➡️ G0297 — Low-Dose CT (LDCT) scan for lung cancer screening

For billing, link G0297 with Z12.2 and a smoking-related ICD-10 code.
This ensures accurate claims submission and payment approval from insurance providers.

💰 Insurance Coverage for Lung Cancer Screening

Most insurance plans, including Medicare, cover annual LDCT screenings for eligible patients if documentation meets medical necessity standards.

Providers must record:

• Patient age (50–80 years)

• Smoking history and quit date (if applicable)

• A note confirming shared decision-making between provider and patient

• Correct ICD-10 and HCPCS codes in the claim

When all information is complete, patients are usually covered for one screening LDCT per year.

⚠️ Common Coding & Billing Errors

Avoid the following mistakes to prevent claim denials or compliance issues:

• ❌ Using cancer diagnosis codes (C34.x) instead of the screening code (Z12.2)

• ❌ Forgetting to document smoking history

• ❌ Leaving out the LDCT procedure code (G0297)

• ❌ Missing shared decision-making documentation

Accurate coding and thorough documentation keep billing error-free and ensure full reimbursement.

🌿 Final Thoughts

Accurate ICD-10 coding for lung cancer screening procedures is essential for both quality care and proper billing. Always use:

• Z12.2 as the main screening code

• Add a smoking history code (like Z87.891 or F17.210)

• Link with G0297 for the LDCT procedure

These steps help healthcare providers comply with payer guidelines and provide life-saving preventive care efficiently.

For more reliable healthcare billing updates and medical coding references, explore Best Writes Links — your trusted source for accurate and simplified medical content.