A6451 HCPCS code: Moderate compression bandage, elastic, knitted/woven, load resistance of 1.25 to 1.34 foot pounds at 50% maximum stretch, width greater than or equal to three inches and less than five inches, per yard
A6451 is the HCPCS Level II code for moderate compression bandage, elastic, knitted/woven, load resistance of 1.25 to 1.34 foot pounds at 50% maximum stretch, width greater than or equal to three inches and less than five inches, per yard. The 2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule pays $2.50 to $2.96 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 8 per day on outpatient hospital claims. Medicare volume fell 84% from 2022 to 2024 (12,874 to 2,110 services). In 2024, 17 suppliers billed Medicare for A6451 (purchases), serving 42 beneficiaries. Its average fee ranks 19 of 21 A64 codes (family range $0.15–$8.43).
Code details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Section | A codes — Transportation, medical/surgical supplies and miscellaneous |
| Coverage code | C — Carrier judgment |
| Pricing indicator | 35 — DMEPOS: surgical dressings |
| BETOS category | D1A — Medical/surgical supplies |
| Added | 2004-01-01 |
| Last action effective | 2004-01-01 |
2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule for A6451
| Modifier | Meaning | Lowest state fee | Highest state fee | Ceiling | Floor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | base fee | $2.50 | $2.96 | $2.50 | $2.13 |
| State | Modifier | Fee | Rural fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| AK | — | $2.50 | — |
| AL | — | $2.50 | — |
| AR | — | $2.50 | — |
| AZ | — | $2.50 | — |
| CA | — | $2.50 | — |
| CO | — | $2.50 | — |
| CT | — | $2.50 | — |
| DC | — | $2.50 | — |
| DE | — | $2.50 | — |
| FL | — | $2.50 | — |
| GA | — | $2.50 | — |
| HI | — | $2.50 | — |
| IA | — | $2.50 | — |
| ID | — | $2.50 | — |
| IL | — | $2.50 | — |
| IN | — | $2.50 | — |
| KS | — | $2.50 | — |
| KY | — | $2.50 | — |
| LA | — | $2.50 | — |
| MA | — | $2.50 | — |
| MD | — | $2.50 | — |
| ME | — | $2.50 | — |
| MI | — | $2.50 | — |
| MN | — | $2.50 | — |
| MO | — | $2.50 | — |
| MS | — | $2.50 | — |
| MT | — | $2.50 | — |
| NC | — | $2.50 | — |
| ND | — | $2.50 | — |
| NE | — | $2.50 | — |
| NH | — | $2.50 | — |
| NJ | — | $2.50 | — |
| NM | — | $2.50 | — |
| NV | — | $2.50 | — |
| NY | — | $2.50 | — |
| OH | — | $2.50 | — |
| OK | — | $2.50 | — |
| OR | — | $2.50 | — |
| PA | — | $2.50 | — |
| PR | — | $2.96 | — |
| RI | — | $2.50 | — |
| SC | — | $2.50 | — |
| SD | — | $2.50 | — |
| TN | — | $2.50 | — |
| TX | — | $2.50 | — |
| UT | — | $2.50 | — |
| VA | — | $2.50 | — |
| VI | — | $2.50 | — |
| VT | — | $2.50 | — |
| WA | — | $2.50 | — |
| WI | — | $2.50 | — |
| WV | — | $2.50 | — |
| WY | — | $2.50 | — |
How the A6451 fee compares
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Rank among 21 A64 codes (lowest = 1) | 19 |
| Family fee range (average of state fees) | $0.15–$8.43 |
| Rural fee uplift | — |
Who bills A6451 (2024)
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Suppliers billing rentals | — |
| Suppliers billing purchases | 17 |
| Referring clinicians | 32 |
| Medicare beneficiaries | 42 |
| States with claims | 3 |
| Year | Suppliers | Beneficiaries |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 15 | 108 |
| 2023 | 12 | 48 |
| 2024 | 17 | 42 |
Counts only. Supplier and clinician names, contact lists and state-by-state detail are in Caduvo.
Medicare utilization for A6451, 2022–2024
| Year | Services | Beneficiaries | Avg. allowed | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 12,874 | 108 | $2.13 | $1.68 |
| 2023 | 2,923 | 48 | $1.89 | $1.44 |
| 2024 | 2,110 | 42 | $1.53 | $1.10 |
States with the most A6451 services (2024)
| State | Services | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 840 | $0.18 |
| Minnesota | 804 | $1.65 |
| Ohio | 116 | $1.87 |
NCCI unit limits (MUE)
| Claim type | Max units per day | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| outpatient hospital claims | 8 | Clinical: Data |
Medicare policy articles for this code
- A54563: Surgical Dressings - Policy Article (CGS Administrators, LLC (DME MAC) Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC (DME MAC)) — mentions this code in its coding guidance
What changed for A6451
- 2026-01-01: Average state fee rose 2.0%: $2.46 to $2.51
- 2004-01-01: A6451 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 A6451?
A6451 is the HCPCS Level II code for moderate compression bandage, elastic, knitted/woven, load resistance of 1.25 to 1.34 foot pounds at 50% maximum stretch, width greater than or equal to three inches and less than five inches, per yard. Short descriptor: "Mod compres band w>=3"<5"/yd".
How much does Medicare pay for A6451?
Under the 2026 DMEPOS fee schedule, non-rural state fees are base (base fee): $2.50–$2.96. Rural fees can be higher.
Does Medicare cover A6451?
Coverage code C — Carrier judgment. Coverage is decided by the Medicare contractor (MAC) case by case.
Did the Medicare fee for A6451 change in 2026?
The average non-rural state fee moved from $2.46 in 2025 to $2.51 in 2026 (+2.0%). CMS's next quarterly HCPCS and DMEPOS update takes effect January 1, 2027.
How many units of A6451 can be billed per day?
8 on outpatient hospital claims (NCCI medically unlikely edits).
Related A64 codes
- A6402 — Gauze, non-impregnated, sterile, pad size 16 sq. in. or less, without adhesive border, each dressing ($0.15–$0.18)
- A6403 — Gauze, non-impregnated, sterile, pad size more than 16 sq. in. less than or equal to 48 sq. in., without adhesive border, each dressing ($0.58–$0.73)
- A6404 — Gauze, non-impregnated, sterile, pad size more than 48 sq. in., without adhesive border, each dressing
- A6407 — Packing strips, non-impregnated, sterile, up to 2 inches in width, per linear yard ($2.66–$3.21)
- A6410 — Eye pad, sterile, each ($0.53–$0.68)
- A6411 — Eye pad, non-sterile, each
- A6412 — Eye patch, occlusive, each
- A6413 — Adhesive bandage, first-aid type, any size, each
- A6441 — Padding bandage, non-elastic, non-woven/non-knitted, width greater than or equal to three inches and less than five inches, per yard ($0.97–$1.16)
- A6442 — Conforming bandage, non-elastic, knitted/woven, non-sterile, width less than three inches, per yard ($0.23–$0.35)
- A6443 — Conforming bandage, non-elastic, knitted/woven, non-sterile, width greater than or equal to three inches and less than five inches, per yard ($0.40–$0.48)
- A6444 — Conforming bandage, non-elastic, knitted/woven, non-sterile, width greater than or equal to 5 inches, per yard ($0.80–$0.99)
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Next steps
- Run a reimbursement report for a device billed under A6451
- Watch A6451 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for A6451
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.