K0603 HCPCS code: Replacement battery for external infusion pump owned by patient, alkaline, 1.5 volt, each
K0603 is the HCPCS Level II code for replacement battery for external infusion pump owned by patient, alkaline, 1.5 volt, each. The 2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule pays $0.80 to $0.91 (NU, new equipment, purchased) 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 10 per day on DME suppliers. Medicare volume fell 80% from 2022 to 2024 (10,961 to 2,180 services). In 2024, 6 suppliers billed Medicare for K0603 (purchases), serving 202 beneficiaries; Pennsylvania, Tennessee, California accounted for 39% of services. Its average fee ranks 1 of 6 K06 codes billed NU (family range $0.80–$182.95).
Code details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Section | K codes — Temporary codes for DME MACs |
| Coverage code | C — Carrier judgment |
| Pricing indicator | 32 — DMEPOS: inexpensive or routinely purchased item |
| BETOS category | D1E — Other durable medical equipment |
| Added | 2003-04-01 |
| Last action effective | 2003-04-01 |
2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule for K0603
| Modifier | Meaning | Lowest state fee | Highest state fee | Ceiling | Floor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NU | new equipment, purchased | $0.80 | $0.91 | — | — |
| State | Modifier | Fee | Rural fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| AK | NU | $0.80 | — |
| AL | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| AR | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| AZ | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| CA | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| CO | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| CT | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| DC | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| DE | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| FL | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| GA | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| HI | NU | $0.80 | — |
| IA | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| ID | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| IL | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| IN | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| KS | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| KY | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| LA | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| MA | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| MD | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| ME | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| MI | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| MN | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| MO | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| MS | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| MT | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| NC | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| ND | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| NE | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| NH | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| NJ | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| NM | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| NV | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| NY | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| OH | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| OK | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| OR | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| PA | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| PR | NU | $0.91 | — |
| RI | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| SC | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| SD | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| TN | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| TX | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| UT | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| VA | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| VI | NU | $0.80 | — |
| VT | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| WA | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| WI | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| WV | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
| WY | NU | $0.80 | $0.80 |
How the K0603 fee compares
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Rank among 6 K06 codes billed NU (lowest = 1) | 1 |
| Family fee range (average of state fees) | $0.80–$182.95 |
| Rural fee uplift | -0.3% |
Who bills K0603 (2024)
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Suppliers billing rentals | — |
| Suppliers billing purchases | 6 |
| Referring clinicians | 204 |
| Medicare beneficiaries | 202 |
| States with claims | 11 |
| Share of services in top 3 states (Pennsylvania, Tennessee, California) | 39% |
| Year | Suppliers | Beneficiaries |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 8 | 916 |
| 2023 | 7 | 425 |
| 2024 | 6 | 202 |
Counts only. Supplier and clinician names, contact lists and state-by-state detail are in Caduvo.
Medicare utilization for K0603, 2022–2024
| Year | Services | Beneficiaries | Avg. allowed | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 10,961 | 916 | $0.67 | $0.52 |
| 2023 | 4,382 | 425 | $0.72 | $0.55 |
| 2024 | 2,180 | 202 | $0.75 | $0.57 |
States with the most K0603 services (2024)
| State | Services | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 198 | $0.59 |
| Tennessee | 170 | $0.57 |
| California | 160 | $0.59 |
| New York | 156 | $0.56 |
| Florida | 132 | $0.58 |
NCCI unit limits (MUE)
| Claim type | Max units per day | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| DME suppliers | 10 | Clinical: Data |
Medicare policy articles for this code
- A52507: External Infusion Pumps - Policy Article (CGS Administrators, LLC (DME MAC) Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC (DME MAC)) — mentions this code in its coding guidance
Covered diagnoses (460 ICD-10-CM codes)
The diagnoses most often listed as covered in the policy articles above:
| ICD-10-CM | Diagnosis | Articles listing it |
|---|---|---|
| C91.00 | Acute lymphoblastic leukemia not having achieved remission | 1 |
| C91.01 | Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, in remission | 1 |
| C91.02 | Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, in relapse | 1 |
| D80.0 | Hereditary hypogammaglobulinemia | 1 |
| D80.2 | Selective deficiency of immunoglobulin A [IgA] | 1 |
| D80.3 | Selective deficiency of immunoglobulin G [IgG] subclasses | 1 |
| D80.4 | Selective deficiency of immunoglobulin M [IgM] | 1 |
| D80.5 | Immunodeficiency with increased immunoglobulin M [IgM] | 1 |
| D80.6 | Antibody deficiency with near-normal immunoglobulins or with hyperimmunoglobulinemia | 1 |
| D80.7 | Transient hypogammaglobulinemia of infancy | 1 |
Showing 10 of 460. The full list, non-covered diagnoses and CSV export are in Caduvo.
What changed for K0603
- 2026-01-01: Average state fee (NU) rose 2.5%: $0.78 to $0.80
- 2003-04-01: K0603 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 K0603?
K0603 is the HCPCS Level II code for replacement battery for external infusion pump owned by patient, alkaline, 1.5 volt, each. Short descriptor: "Repl batt alkaline 1.5 v".
How much does Medicare pay for K0603?
Under the 2026 DMEPOS fee schedule, non-rural state fees are NU (new equipment, purchased): $0.80–$0.91. Rural fees can be higher.
Does Medicare cover K0603?
Coverage code C — Carrier judgment. Coverage is decided by the Medicare contractor (MAC) case by case.
Which diagnoses support coverage for K0603?
Medicare policy articles that cite K0603 list 460 covered ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes across 1 article. The most cited include C91.00 (Acute lymphoblastic leukemia not having achieved remission), C91.01 (Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, in remission), C91.02 (Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, in relapse). A listed diagnosis is necessary but not sufficient; the policy's other criteria still apply.
Did the Medicare fee for K0603 change in 2026?
The average non-rural state fee for NU moved from $0.78 in 2025 to $0.80 in 2026 (+2.5%). CMS's next quarterly HCPCS and DMEPOS update takes effect January 1, 2027.
How many units of K0603 can be billed per day?
10 on DME suppliers (NCCI medically unlikely edits).
Related K06 codes
- K0601 — Replacement battery for external infusion pump owned by patient, silver oxide, 1.5 volt, each ($1.57–$1.72)
- K0602 — Replacement battery for external infusion pump owned by patient, silver oxide, 3 volt, each ($8.88–$9.89)
- K0604 — Replacement battery for external infusion pump owned by patient, lithium, 3.6 volt, each ($8.56–$9.50)
- K0605 — Replacement battery for external infusion pump owned by patient, lithium, 4.5 volt, each ($20.45–$22.73)
- K0606 — Automatic external defibrillator, with integrated electrocardiogram analysis, garment type ($3,588.90–$3,588.90)
- K0607 — Replacement battery for automated external defibrillator, garment type only, each ($27.69–$36.87)
- K0608 — Replacement garment for use with automated external defibrillator, each ($17.31–$230.11)
- K0609 — Replacement electrodes for use with automated external defibrillator, garment type only, each ($1,148.78–$1,530.56)
- K0669 — Wheelchair accessory, wheelchair seat or back cushion, does not meet specific code criteria or no written coding verification from dme pdac
- K0672 — Addition to lower extremity orthosis, removable soft interface, all components, replacement only, each ($101.70–$111.87)
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 K0603
- Watch K0603 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for K0603
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.