C8928 HCPCS code: Transthoracic echocardiography with contrast, or without contrast followed by with contrast, real-time with image documentation (2d), includes m-mode recording, when performed, during rest and cardiovascular stress test using treadmill, bicycle exercise and/or pharmacologically induced stress, with interpretation and report
C8928 is the HCPCS Level II code for transthoracic echocardiography with contrast, or without contrast followed by with contrast, real-time with image documentation (2d), includes m-mode recording, when performed, during rest and cardiovascular stress test using treadmill, bicycle exercise and/or pharmacologically induced stress, with interpretation and report. 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 outpatient hospital claims.
Code details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Section | C codes — Outpatient PPS (hospital outpatient temporary codes) |
| Coverage code | D — Special coverage instructions apply |
| Pricing indicator | 53 |
| BETOS category | I3C |
| Added | 2008-01-01 |
| Last action effective | 2009-01-01 |
NCCI unit limits (MUE)
| Claim type | Max units per day | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| outpatient hospital claims | 1 | Anatomic Consideration |
| practitioner claims | 1 | Anatomic Consideration |
Medicare policy articles for this code
- A56781: Billing and Coding: Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE) (Wellpoint Federal (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B))
- A57306: Billing and Coding: Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE) (CGS Administrators, LLC (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B))
Covered diagnoses (1,718 ICD-10-CM codes)
The diagnoses most often listed as covered in the policy articles above:
| ICD-10-CM | Diagnosis | Articles listing it |
|---|---|---|
| A18.84 | Tuberculosis of heart | 2 |
| A36.81 | Diphtheritic cardiomyopathy | 2 |
| A39.53 | Meningococcal pericarditis | 2 |
| A40.0 | Sepsis due to streptococcus, group A | 2 |
| A40.1 | Sepsis due to streptococcus, group B | 2 |
| A40.3 | Sepsis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae | 2 |
| A40.8 | Other streptococcal sepsis | 2 |
| A40.9 | Streptococcal sepsis, unspecified | 2 |
| A41.01 | Sepsis due to Methicillin susceptible Staphylococcus aureus | 2 |
| A41.02 | Sepsis due to Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus | 2 |
Showing 10 of 1,718. The full list, non-covered diagnoses and CSV export are in Caduvo.
What changed for C8928
- 2008-01-01: C8928 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 C8928?
C8928 is the HCPCS Level II code for transthoracic echocardiography with contrast, or without contrast followed by with contrast, real-time with image documentation (2d), includes m-mode recording, when performed, during rest and cardiovascular stress test using treadmill, bicycle exercise and/or pharmacologically induced stress, with interpretation and report. Short descriptor: "Tte w or w/o fol w/con,stres".
Does Medicare cover C8928?
Coverage code D — Special coverage instructions apply. Medicare covers it when its national or local coverage criteria are met.
Which diagnoses support coverage for C8928?
Medicare policy articles that cite C8928 list 1,718 covered ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes across 2 articles. The most cited include A18.84 (Tuberculosis of heart), A36.81 (Diphtheritic cardiomyopathy), A39.53 (Meningococcal pericarditis). A listed diagnosis is necessary but not sufficient; the policy's other criteria still apply.
How many units of C8928 can be billed per day?
1 on outpatient hospital claims; 1 on practitioner claims (NCCI medically unlikely edits).
Related C89 codes
- C8900 — Magnetic resonance angiography with contrast, abdomen
- C8901 — Magnetic resonance angiography without contrast, abdomen
- C8902 — Magnetic resonance angiography without contrast followed by with contrast, abdomen
- C8903 — Magnetic resonance imaging with contrast, breast; unilateral
- C8904 — Magnetic resonance imaging without contrast, breast; unilateral
- C8905 — Magnetic resonance imaging without contrast followed by with contrast, breast; unilateral
- C8906 — Magnetic resonance imaging with contrast, breast; bilateral
- C8907 — Magnetic resonance imaging without contrast, breast; bilateral
- C8908 — Magnetic resonance imaging without contrast followed by with contrast, breast; bilateral
- C8909 — Magnetic resonance angiography with contrast, chest (excluding myocardium)
- C8910 — Magnetic resonance angiography without contrast, chest (excluding myocardium)
- C8911 — Magnetic resonance angiography without contrast followed by with contrast, chest (excluding myocardium)
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 C8928
- Watch C8928 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for C8928
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.