A9552 HCPCS code: Fluorodeoxyglucose f-18 fdg, diagnostic, per study dose, up to 45 millicuries
A9552 is the HCPCS Level II code for fluorodeoxyglucose f-18 fdg, diagnostic, per study dose, up to 45 millicuries. In 2024 Medicare paid an average of $255.89 per service for A9552 across 269,611 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 1 per day on outpatient hospital claims. Medicare volume rose 9% from 2022 to 2024 (247,283 to 269,611 services). In 2024, about 3,863 clinicians billed Medicare for A9552 for 198,238 beneficiaries; California, Florida, New York accounted for 40% of services.
Code details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Section | A codes — Transportation, medical/surgical supplies and miscellaneous |
| Coverage code | C — Carrier judgment |
| Pricing indicator | 53 |
| BETOS category | I1E |
| Added | 2006-01-01 |
| Last action effective | 2006-01-01 |
Who bills A9552 (2024)
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Clinicians billing (by place of service) | 3,863 |
| Medicare beneficiaries | 198,238 |
| States with claims | 52 |
| Share of services in top 3 states (California, Florida, New York) | 40% |
Counts only. Supplier and clinician names, contact lists and state-by-state detail are in Caduvo.
Medicare utilization for A9552, 2022–2024
| Year | Services | Beneficiaries | Avg. allowed | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 247,283 | 185,370 | $293.55 | $233.91 |
| 2023 | 258,068 | 191,988 | $318.53 | $253.58 |
| 2024 | 269,611 | 198,238 | $321.32 | $255.89 |
States with the most A9552 services (2024)
| State | Services | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|
| California | 43,977 | $279.90 |
| Florida | 38,123 | $385.01 |
| New York | 25,184 | $364.90 |
| Texas | 24,252 | $110.80 |
| Maryland | 13,945 | $116.54 |
NCCI unit limits (MUE)
| Claim type | Max units per day | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| outpatient hospital claims | 1 | Code Descriptor / CPT Instruction |
| practitioner claims | 1 | Code Descriptor / CPT Instruction |
Medicare policy articles for this code
- A53134: Billing and Coding: NCD Coding Article for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scans Used for Non-Oncologic Conditions (Novitas Solutions, Inc. (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B))
- A59049: Billing and Coding: NCD Coding Article for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scans Used for Non-Oncologic Conditions (First Coast Service Options, Inc. (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B))
- A59318: Billing and Coding: Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan for Inflammation and Infection (CGS Administrators, LLC (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B))
Covered diagnoses (140 ICD-10-CM codes)
The diagnoses most often listed as covered in the policy articles above:
| ICD-10-CM | Diagnosis | Articles listing it |
|---|---|---|
| F03.90 | Unspecified dementia, unspecified severity, without behavioral disturbance, psychotic disturbance, mood disturbance, and anxiety | 2 |
| F03.911 | Unspecified dementia, unspecified severity, with agitation | 2 |
| F03.918 | Unspecified dementia, unspecified severity, with other behavioral disturbance | 2 |
| F03.92 | Unspecified dementia, unspecified severity, with psychotic disturbance | 2 |
| F03.93 | Unspecified dementia, unspecified severity, with mood disturbance | 2 |
| F03.94 | Unspecified dementia, unspecified severity, with anxiety | 2 |
| F03.A0 | Unspecified dementia, mild, without behavioral disturbance, psychotic disturbance, mood disturbance, and anxiety | 2 |
| F03.A11 | Unspecified dementia, mild, with agitation | 2 |
| F03.A18 | Unspecified dementia, mild, with other behavioral disturbance | 2 |
| F03.A2 | Unspecified dementia, mild, with psychotic disturbance | 2 |
Showing 10 of 140. The full list, non-covered diagnoses and CSV export are in Caduvo.
What changed for A9552
- 2006-01-01: A9552 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 A9552?
A9552 is the HCPCS Level II code for fluorodeoxyglucose f-18 fdg, diagnostic, per study dose, up to 45 millicuries. Short descriptor: "F18 fdg".
How much does Medicare pay for A9552?
In 2024, the average Medicare payment was $255.89 per service (average allowed $321.32).
Does Medicare cover A9552?
Coverage code C — Carrier judgment. Coverage is decided by the Medicare contractor (MAC) case by case.
Which diagnoses support coverage for A9552?
Medicare policy articles that cite A9552 list 140 covered ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes across 3 articles. The most cited include F03.90 (Unspecified dementia, unspecified severity, without behavioral disturbance, psychotic disturbance, mood disturbance, and anxiety), F03.911 (Unspecified dementia, unspecified severity, with agitation), F03.918 (Unspecified dementia, unspecified severity, with other behavioral disturbance). A listed diagnosis is necessary but not sufficient; the policy's other criteria still apply.
How many units of A9552 can be billed per day?
1 on outpatient hospital claims; 1 on practitioner claims (NCCI medically unlikely edits).
Related A95 codes
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- A9503 — Technetium tc-99m medronate, diagnostic, per study dose, up to 30 millicuries
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- 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
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- A9512 — Technetium tc-99m pertechnetate, diagnostic, per millicurie
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Next steps
- Run a reimbursement report for a device billed under A9552
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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.