99408 Audit/dast 15-30 minutes
Also known as: substance abuse screening 15-30, AUDIT/DAST screening, alcohol screening brief
Alcohol and substance abuse screening and brief intervention services (not including illicit drugs); 15-30 minutes of physician or qualified health professional time devoted to screening, intervention, and referral to treatment services.
In Plain Language
Substance abuse check-up; Drug and alcohol screening
Clinical Context
Used for substance abuse and alcohol screening and brief intervention services, using validated screening instruments such as Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) or Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST), 15-30 minutes.
RVU Breakdown
| Work RVU | 0.65 |
| Total RVU | 0.65 |
Est. Medicare Payment
National estimate based on 2026 CMS PFS Conversion Factor ($33.40). Actual payment varies by locality (GPCI adjustment).
Billing & Documentation
E&M codes require documentation of medical decision-making (MDM) complexity or total time spent on the encounter. For 2026, time-based coding includes all physician time on the date of the encounter.
How This Code Compares
With a work RVU of 0.65, this code ranks in the 11th percentile among Evaluation & Management codes — 2.4x below the median (1.54). The highest wRVU in this category is 18.46.
Specialties
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CPT code 99408?
CPT 99408 (Audit/dast 15-30 minutes) is a Evaluation & Management code. Alcohol and substance abuse screening and brief intervention services (not including illicit drugs); 15-30 minutes of physician or qualified health professional time devoted to screening, intervention, and referral to treatment services.
Who uses CPT code 99408?
CPT 99408 is used by Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Psychiatry. Used for substance abuse and alcohol screening and brief intervention services, using validated screening instruments such as Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) or Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST), 15-30 minutes.
When is CPT 99408 used?
Used for substance abuse and alcohol screening and brief intervention services, using validated screening instruments such as Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) or Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST), 15-30 minutes.
Track This Code in RVU Edge
Log procedures, calculate wRVUs, and benchmark against MGMA data — all in one app.
CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association. Data sourced from CMS Physician Fee Schedule RVU26A. Descriptions, synonyms, and clinical context are original content by RVU Edge.