A9505 HCPCS code: Thallium tl-201 thallous chloride, diagnostic, per millicurie
A9505 is the HCPCS Level II code for thallium tl-201 thallous chloride, diagnostic, per millicurie. In 2024 Medicare paid an average of $32.26 per service for A9505 across 5,978 services. Its Medicare coverage code is C (Carrier judgment): Coverage is decided by the Medicare contractor (MAC) case by case. The NCCI unit limit is 4 per day on outpatient hospital claims. Medicare volume fell 86% from 2022 to 2024 (43,067 to 5,978 services). In 2024, about 38 clinicians billed Medicare for A9505 for 1,882 beneficiaries.
Code details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Section | A codes — Transportation, medical/surgical supplies and miscellaneous |
| Coverage code | C — Carrier judgment |
| Pricing indicator | 57 |
| BETOS category | I1E |
| Added | 1996-01-01 |
| Last action effective | 2006-01-01 |
Who bills A9505 (2024)
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Clinicians billing (by place of service) | 38 |
| Medicare beneficiaries | 1,882 |
| States with claims | 3 |
Counts only. Supplier and clinician names, contact lists and state-by-state detail are in Caduvo.
Medicare utilization for A9505, 2022–2024
| Year | Services | Beneficiaries | Avg. allowed | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 43,067 | 12,974 | $72.12 | $57.33 |
| 2023 | 8,066 | 2,422 | $57.72 | $46.01 |
| 2024 | 5,978 | 1,882 | $40.55 | $32.26 |
States with the most A9505 services (2024)
| State | Services | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|
| California | 5,319 | $29.09 |
| Florida | 631 | $57.60 |
| Illinois | 15 | $28.56 |
NCCI unit limits (MUE)
| Claim type | Max units per day | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| outpatient hospital claims | 4 | Prescribing Information |
| practitioner claims | 4 | Prescribing Information |
Medicare policy articles for this code
- A56476: Billing and Coding: Cardiac Radionuclide Imaging (Palmetto GBA (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B))
- A56476: Billing and Coding: Cardiac Radionuclide Imaging (Palmetto GBA (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B))
- A56494: Billing and Coding: Cardiovascular Nuclear Medicine (CGS Administrators, LLC (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B))
- A56743: Billing and Coding: Cardiovascular Nuclear Medicine (Wellpoint Federal (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B))
Covered diagnoses (695 ICD-10-CM codes)
The diagnoses most often listed as covered in the policy articles above:
| ICD-10-CM | Diagnosis | Articles listing it |
|---|---|---|
| I20.0 | Unstable angina | 3 |
| I20.1 | Angina pectoris with documented spasm | 3 |
| I20.81 | Angina pectoris with coronary microvascular dysfunction | 3 |
| I20.89 | Other forms of angina pectoris | 3 |
| I20.9 | Angina pectoris, unspecified | 3 |
| I21.01 | ST elevation (STEMI) myocardial infarction involving left main coronary artery | 3 |
| I21.02 | ST elevation (STEMI) myocardial infarction involving left anterior descending coronary artery | 3 |
| I21.09 | ST elevation (STEMI) myocardial infarction involving other coronary artery of anterior wall | 3 |
| I21.11 | ST elevation (STEMI) myocardial infarction involving right coronary artery | 3 |
| I21.19 | ST elevation (STEMI) myocardial infarction involving other coronary artery of inferior wall | 3 |
Showing 10 of 695. The full list, non-covered diagnoses and CSV export are in Caduvo.
What changed for A9505
- 1996-01-01: A9505 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 A9505?
A9505 is the HCPCS Level II code for thallium tl-201 thallous chloride, diagnostic, per millicurie. Short descriptor: "Tl201 thallium".
How much does Medicare pay for A9505?
In 2024, the average Medicare payment was $32.26 per service (average allowed $40.55).
Does Medicare cover A9505?
Coverage code C — Carrier judgment. Coverage is decided by the Medicare contractor (MAC) case by case.
Which diagnoses support coverage for A9505?
Medicare policy articles that cite A9505 list 695 covered ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes across 4 articles. The most cited include I20.0 (Unstable angina), I20.1 (Angina pectoris with documented spasm), I20.81 (Angina pectoris with coronary microvascular dysfunction). A listed diagnosis is necessary but not sufficient; the policy's other criteria still apply.
How many units of A9505 can be billed per day?
4 on outpatient hospital claims; 4 on practitioner claims (NCCI medically unlikely edits).
Related A95 codes
- A9500 — Technetium tc-99m sestamibi, diagnostic, per study dose
- A9501 — Technetium tc-99m teboroxime, diagnostic, per study dose
- A9502 — Technetium tc-99m tetrofosmin, diagnostic, per study dose
- A9503 — Technetium tc-99m medronate, diagnostic, per study dose, up to 30 millicuries
- A9504 — Technetium tc-99m apcitide, diagnostic, per study dose, up to 20 millicuries
- A9506 — Graphite crucible for preparation of technetium tc 99m-labeled carbon aerosol, one crucible
- A9507 — Indium in-111 capromab pendetide, diagnostic, per study dose, up to 10 millicuries
- A9508 — Iodine i-131 iobenguane sulfate, diagnostic, per 0.5 millicurie
- A9509 — Iodine i-123 sodium iodide, diagnostic, per millicurie
- A9510 — Technetium tc-99m disofenin, diagnostic, per study dose, up to 15 millicuries
- A9512 — Technetium tc-99m pertechnetate, diagnostic, per millicurie
- A9513 — Lutetium lu 177, dotatate, therapeutic, 1 millicurie
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Next steps
- Run a reimbursement report for a device billed under A9505
- Watch A9505 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for A9505
Sources: CMS HCPCS Level II release October 2025; CMS DMEPOS fee schedule; 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.