A4234 HCPCS code: Replacement battery, alkaline, j cell, for use with medically necessary home blood glucose monitor owned by patient, each
A4234 is the HCPCS Level II code for replacement battery, alkaline, j cell, for use with medically necessary home blood glucose monitor owned by patient, each. The 2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule pays $2.36 (NU, new equipment, purchased) depending on the state. Its Medicare coverage code is C (Carrier judgment): Coverage is decided by the Medicare contractor (MAC) case by case. The NCCI unit limit is 2 per day on DME suppliers. Its average fee ranks 4 of 5 A42 codes billed NU (family range $0.51–$8.32).
Code details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Section | A codes — Transportation, medical/surgical supplies and miscellaneous |
| Coverage code | C — Carrier judgment |
| Pricing indicator | 32 — DMEPOS: inexpensive or routinely purchased item |
| BETOS category | D1E — Other durable medical equipment |
| Added | 2006-01-01 |
| Last action effective | 2016-01-01 |
2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule for A4234
| Modifier | Meaning | Lowest state fee | Highest state fee | Ceiling | Floor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NU | new equipment, purchased | $2.36 | $2.36 | — | — |
| State | Modifier | Fee | Rural fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| AK | NU | $2.36 | — |
| AL | NU | $2.36 | — |
| AR | NU | $2.36 | — |
| AZ | NU | $2.36 | — |
| CA | NU | $2.36 | — |
| CO | NU | $2.36 | — |
| CT | NU | $2.36 | — |
| DC | NU | $2.36 | — |
| DE | NU | $2.36 | — |
| FL | NU | $2.36 | — |
| GA | NU | $2.36 | — |
| HI | NU | $2.36 | — |
| IA | NU | $2.36 | — |
| ID | NU | $2.36 | — |
| IL | NU | $2.36 | — |
| IN | NU | $2.36 | — |
| KS | NU | $2.36 | — |
| KY | NU | $2.36 | — |
| LA | NU | $2.36 | — |
| MA | NU | $2.36 | — |
| MD | NU | $2.36 | — |
| ME | NU | $2.36 | — |
| MI | NU | $2.36 | — |
| MN | NU | $2.36 | — |
| MO | NU | $2.36 | — |
| MS | NU | $2.36 | — |
| MT | NU | $2.36 | — |
| NC | NU | $2.36 | — |
| ND | NU | $2.36 | — |
| NE | NU | $2.36 | — |
| NH | NU | $2.36 | — |
| NJ | NU | $2.36 | — |
| NM | NU | $2.36 | — |
| NV | NU | $2.36 | — |
| NY | NU | $2.36 | — |
| OH | NU | $2.36 | — |
| OK | NU | $2.36 | — |
| OR | NU | $2.36 | — |
| PA | NU | $2.36 | — |
| PR | NU | $2.36 | — |
| RI | NU | $2.36 | — |
| SC | NU | $2.36 | — |
| SD | NU | $2.36 | — |
| TN | NU | $2.36 | — |
| TX | NU | $2.36 | — |
| UT | NU | $2.36 | — |
| VA | NU | $2.36 | — |
| VI | NU | $2.36 | — |
| VT | NU | $2.36 | — |
| WA | NU | $2.36 | — |
| WI | NU | $2.36 | — |
| WV | NU | $2.36 | — |
| WY | NU | $2.36 | — |
How the A4234 fee compares
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Rank among 5 A42 codes billed NU (lowest = 1) | 4 |
| Family fee range (average of state fees) | $0.51–$8.32 |
| Rural fee uplift | — |
NCCI unit limits (MUE)
| Claim type | Max units per day | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| DME suppliers | 2 | Clinical: Data |
Medicare policy articles for this code
- A52464: Glucose Monitor - Policy Article (CGS Administrators, LLC (DME MAC) Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC (DME MAC)) — mentions this code in its coding guidance
Covered diagnoses (461 ICD-10-CM codes)
The diagnoses most often listed as covered in the policy articles above:
| ICD-10-CM | Diagnosis | Articles listing it |
|---|---|---|
| E08.00 | Diabetes mellitus due to underlying condition with hyperosmolarity without nonketotic hyperglycemic-hyperosmolar coma (NKHHC) | 1 |
| E08.01 | Diabetes mellitus due to underlying condition with hyperosmolarity with coma | 1 |
| E08.10 | Diabetes mellitus due to underlying condition with ketoacidosis without coma | 1 |
| E08.11 | Diabetes mellitus due to underlying condition with ketoacidosis with coma | 1 |
| E08.21 | Diabetes mellitus due to underlying condition with diabetic nephropathy | 1 |
| E08.22 | Diabetes mellitus due to underlying condition with diabetic chronic kidney disease | 1 |
| E08.29 | Diabetes mellitus due to underlying condition with other diabetic kidney complication | 1 |
| E08.311 | Diabetes mellitus due to underlying condition with unspecified diabetic retinopathy with macular edema | 1 |
| E08.319 | Diabetes mellitus due to underlying condition with unspecified diabetic retinopathy without macular edema | 1 |
| E08.3211 | Diabetes mellitus due to underlying condition with mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy with macular edema, right eye | 1 |
Showing 10 of 461. The full list, non-covered diagnoses and CSV export are in Caduvo.
What changed for A4234
- 2006-01-01: A4234 added to HCPCS Level II
- Next scheduled CMS quarterly update (HCPCS and DMEPOS fee schedule): 2027-01-01
Frequently asked questions
What is HCPCS code A4234?
A4234 is the HCPCS Level II code for replacement battery, alkaline, j cell, for use with medically necessary home blood glucose monitor owned by patient, each. Short descriptor: "J-cell batt for glucose mon".
How much does Medicare pay for A4234?
Under the 2026 DMEPOS fee schedule, non-rural state fees are NU (new equipment, purchased): $2.36. Rural fees can be higher.
Does Medicare cover A4234?
Coverage code C — Carrier judgment. Coverage is decided by the Medicare contractor (MAC) case by case.
Which diagnoses support coverage for A4234?
Medicare policy articles that cite A4234 list 461 covered ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes across 1 article. The most cited include E08.00 (Diabetes mellitus due to underlying condition with hyperosmolarity without nonketotic hyperglycemic-hyperosmolar coma (NKHHC)), E08.01 (Diabetes mellitus due to underlying condition with hyperosmolarity with coma), E08.10 (Diabetes mellitus due to underlying condition with ketoacidosis without coma). A listed diagnosis is necessary but not sufficient; the policy's other criteria still apply.
Did the Medicare fee for A4234 change in 2026?
The average non-rural state fee for NU moved from $2.36 in 2025 to $2.36 in 2026 (+0.0%). CMS's next quarterly HCPCS and DMEPOS update takes effect January 1, 2027.
How many units of A4234 can be billed per day?
2 on DME suppliers (NCCI medically unlikely edits).
Related A42 codes
- A4206 — Syringe with needle, sterile, 1 cc or less, each
- A4207 — Syringe with needle, sterile 2 cc, each
- A4208 — Syringe with needle, sterile 3 cc, each
- A4209 — Syringe with needle, sterile 5 cc or greater, each
- A4210 — Needle-free injection device, each
- A4211 — Supplies for self-administered injections
- A4212 — Non-coring needle or stylet with or without catheter
- A4213 — Syringe, sterile, 20 cc or greater, each
- A4215 — Needle, sterile, any size, each
- A4216 — Sterile water, saline and/or dextrose, diluent/flush, 10 ml ($0.53–$0.99)
- A4217 — Sterile water/saline, 500 ml ($2.18–$4.93)
- A4218 — Sterile saline or water, metered dose dispenser, 10 ml
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Next steps
- Run a reimbursement report for a device billed under A4234
- Watch A4234 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for A4234
Sources: CMS HCPCS Level II release October 2026; CMS DMEPOS fee schedule 2026; CMS NCCI MUE tables; CMS Medicare utilization (physician and DME supplier files); CMS Medicare Coverage Database articles. Fees are Medicare allowables, not commercial rates. Not billing or legal advice.