A7046 HCPCS code: Water chamber for humidifier, used with positive airway pressure device, replacement, each
A7046 is the HCPCS Level II code for water chamber for humidifier, used with positive airway pressure device, replacement, each. The 2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule pays $15.83 to $23.57 (NU, new equipment, purchased) depending on the state. Its Medicare coverage code is D (Special coverage instructions apply): Medicare covers it when its national or local coverage criteria are met. The NCCI unit limit is 1 per day on DME suppliers. Medicare volume rose 13% from 2022 to 2024 (1,596,962 to 1,797,000 services). In 2024, 4,249 suppliers billed Medicare for A7046 (purchases), serving 1,265,354 beneficiaries; Florida, Texas, California accounted for 20% of services. Its average fee ranks 19 of 37 A70 codes billed NU (family range $0.71–$172.96); rural fees run 24% higher.
Code details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Section | A codes — Transportation, medical/surgical supplies and miscellaneous |
| Coverage code | D — Special coverage instructions apply |
| Pricing indicator | 32 — DMEPOS: inexpensive or routinely purchased item |
| BETOS category | D1E — Other durable medical equipment |
| Added | 2004-01-01 |
| Last action effective | 2004-01-01 |
2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule for A7046
| Modifier | Meaning | Lowest state fee | Highest state fee | Ceiling | Floor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NU | new equipment, purchased | $15.83 | $23.57 | — | — |
| State | Modifier | Fee | Rural fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| AK | NU | $21.19 | — |
| AL | NU | $17.01 | $21.23 |
| AR | NU | $17.01 | $21.23 |
| AZ | NU | $16.26 | $21.23 |
| CA | NU | $16.73 | $21.23 |
| CO | NU | $16.89 | $21.23 |
| CT | NU | $16.66 | $21.23 |
| DC | NU | $15.83 | $21.23 |
| DE | NU | $15.83 | $21.23 |
| FL | NU | $17.01 | $21.23 |
| GA | NU | $17.01 | $21.23 |
| HI | NU | $21.19 | — |
| IA | NU | $16.96 | $21.23 |
| ID | NU | $16.89 | $21.23 |
| IL | NU | $17.20 | $21.23 |
| IN | NU | $17.20 | $21.23 |
| KS | NU | $16.96 | $21.23 |
| KY | NU | $17.01 | $21.23 |
| LA | NU | $17.01 | $21.23 |
| MA | NU | $16.66 | $21.23 |
| MD | NU | $15.83 | $21.23 |
| ME | NU | $16.66 | $21.23 |
| MI | NU | $17.20 | $21.23 |
| MN | NU | $16.96 | $21.23 |
| MO | NU | $16.96 | $21.23 |
| MS | NU | $17.01 | $21.23 |
| MT | NU | $16.89 | $21.23 |
| NC | NU | $17.01 | $21.23 |
| ND | NU | $16.96 | $21.23 |
| NE | NU | $16.96 | $21.23 |
| NH | NU | $16.66 | $21.23 |
| NJ | NU | $15.83 | $21.23 |
| NM | NU | $16.26 | $21.23 |
| NV | NU | $16.73 | $21.23 |
| NY | NU | $15.83 | $21.23 |
| OH | NU | $17.20 | $21.23 |
| OK | NU | $16.26 | $21.23 |
| OR | NU | $16.73 | $21.23 |
| PA | NU | $15.83 | $21.23 |
| PR | NU | $23.57 | — |
| RI | NU | $16.66 | $21.23 |
| SC | NU | $17.01 | $21.23 |
| SD | NU | $16.96 | $21.23 |
| TN | NU | $17.01 | $21.23 |
| TX | NU | $16.26 | $21.23 |
| UT | NU | $16.89 | $21.23 |
| VA | NU | $17.01 | $21.23 |
| VI | NU | $21.19 | — |
| VT | NU | $16.66 | $21.23 |
| WA | NU | $16.73 | $21.23 |
| WI | NU | $17.20 | $21.23 |
| WV | NU | $17.01 | $21.23 |
| WY | NU | $16.89 | $21.23 |
How the A7046 fee compares
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Rank among 37 A70 codes billed NU (lowest = 1) | 19 |
| Family fee range (average of state fees) | $0.71–$172.96 |
| Rural fee uplift | 24.0% |
Who bills A7046 (2024)
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Suppliers billing rentals | — |
| Suppliers billing purchases | 4,249 |
| Referring clinicians | 130,283 |
| Medicare beneficiaries | 1,265,354 |
| States with claims | 56 |
| Share of services in top 3 states (Florida, Texas, California) | 20% |
| Year | Suppliers | Beneficiaries |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 4,352 | 1,147,174 |
| 2023 | 4,300 | 1,196,839 |
| 2024 | 4,249 | 1,265,354 |
Counts only. Supplier and clinician names, contact lists and state-by-state detail are in Caduvo.
Medicare utilization for A7046, 2022–2024
| Year | Services | Beneficiaries | Avg. allowed | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1,596,962 | 1,147,174 | $15.49 | $11.56 |
| 2023 | 1,671,847 | 1,196,839 | $16.68 | $12.49 |
| 2024 | 1,797,000 | 1,265,354 | $16.72 | $12.48 |
States with the most A7046 services (2024)
| State | Services | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | 131,692 | $11.67 |
| Texas | 113,658 | $12.23 |
| California | 113,467 | $12.22 |
| Illinois | 82,582 | $12.50 |
| Pennsylvania | 75,989 | $11.79 |
NCCI unit limits (MUE)
| Claim type | Max units per day | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| DME suppliers | 1 | Published Contractor Policy |
What changed for A7046
- 2026-01-01: Average state fee (NU) rose 2.7%: $16.68 to $17.12
- 2004-01-01: A7046 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 A7046?
A7046 is the HCPCS Level II code for water chamber for humidifier, used with positive airway pressure device, replacement, each. Short descriptor: "Repl water chamber, pap dev".
How much does Medicare pay for A7046?
Under the 2026 DMEPOS fee schedule, non-rural state fees are NU (new equipment, purchased): $15.83–$23.57. Rural fees can be higher.
Does Medicare cover A7046?
Coverage code D — Special coverage instructions apply. Medicare covers it when its national or local coverage criteria are met.
Did the Medicare fee for A7046 change in 2026?
The average non-rural state fee for NU moved from $16.68 in 2025 to $17.12 in 2026 (+2.7%). CMS's next quarterly HCPCS and DMEPOS update takes effect January 1, 2027.
How many units of A7046 can be billed per day?
1 on DME suppliers (NCCI medically unlikely edits).
Related A70 codes
- A7000 — Canister, disposable, used with suction pump, each ($9.24–$13.39)
- A7001 — Canister, non-disposable, used with suction pump, each ($40.06–$47.58)
- A7002 — Tubing, used with suction pump, each ($3.87–$5.47)
- A7003 — Administration set, with small volume nonfiltered pneumatic nebulizer, disposable ($1.86–$3.26)
- A7004 — Small volume nonfiltered pneumatic nebulizer, disposable ($1.51–$2.08)
- A7005 — Administration set, with small volume nonfiltered pneumatic nebulizer, non-disposable ($11.77–$29.20)
- A7006 — Administration set, with small volume filtered pneumatic nebulizer ($8.19–$14.94)
- A7007 — Large volume nebulizer, disposable, unfilled, used with aerosol compressor ($3.47–$5.87)
- A7008 — Large volume nebulizer, disposable, prefilled, used with aerosol compressor ($12.46–$18.09)
- A7009 — Reservoir bottle, non-disposable, used with large volume ultrasonic nebulizer ($54.00–$66.77)
- A7010 — Corrugated tubing, disposable, used with large volume nebulizer, 100 feet ($17.61–$27.19)
- A7011 — Corrugated tubing, non-disposable, used with large volume nebulizer, 10 feet
Building a device that would bill under a code like this? Caduvo matches a device description to HCPCS/CPT codes, Medicare coverage and payment, and the FDA pathway in one report.
Next steps
- Run a reimbursement report for a device billed under A7046
- Watch A7046 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for A7046
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.