M0249 HCPCS code: Intravenous infusion, tocilizumab, for hospitalized adults and pediatric patients (2 years of age and older) with covid-19 who are receiving systemic corticosteroids and require supplemental oxygen, non-invasive or invasive mechanical ventilation, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) only, includes infusion and post administration monitoring, first dose
M0249 is the HCPCS Level II code for intravenous infusion, tocilizumab, for hospitalized adults and pediatric patients (2 years of age and older) with covid-19 who are receiving systemic corticosteroids and require supplemental oxygen, non-invasive or invasive mechanical ventilation, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) only, includes infusion and post administration monitoring, first dose. 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.
Code details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Section | M codes — Medical services and quality measures |
| Coverage code | C — Carrier judgment |
| Pricing indicator | 54 |
| BETOS category | O1G — Immunizations/vaccinations |
| Added | 2021-06-24 |
| Last action effective | 2021-06-24 |
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 |
What changed for M0249
- 2021-06-24: M0249 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 M0249?
M0249 is the HCPCS Level II code for intravenous infusion, tocilizumab, for hospitalized adults and pediatric patients (2 years of age and older) with covid-19 who are receiving systemic corticosteroids and require supplemental oxygen, non-invasive or invasive mechanical ventilation, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) only, includes infusion and post administration monitoring, first dose. Short descriptor: "Adm tocilizu covid-19 1st".
Does Medicare cover M0249?
Coverage code C — Carrier judgment. Coverage is decided by the Medicare contractor (MAC) case by case.
How many units of M0249 can be billed per day?
1 on outpatient hospital claims; 1 on practitioner claims (NCCI medically unlikely edits).
Related M02 codes
- M0201 — Administration of pneumococcal, influenza, hepatitis b, and/or covid-19 vaccine inside a patient's home; reported only once per individual home per date of service when such vaccine administration(s) are performed at the patient's home
- M0220 — Injection, tixagevimab and cilgavimab, for the pre-exposure prophylaxis only, for certain adults and pediatric individuals (12 years of age and older weighing at least 40kg) with no known sars-cov-2 exposure, who either have moderate to severely compromised immune systems or for whom vaccination with any available covid-19 vaccine is not recommended due to a history of severe adverse reaction to a covid-19 vaccine(s) and/or covid-19 vaccine component(s), includes injection and post administration monitoring
- M0221 — Injection, tixagevimab and cilgavimab, for the pre-exposure prophylaxis only, for certain adults and pediatric individuals (12 years of age and older weighing at least 40kg) with no known sars-cov-2 exposure, who either have moderate to severely compromised immune systems or for whom vaccination with any available covid-19 vaccine is not recommended due to a history of severe adverse reaction to a covid-19 vaccine(s) and/or covid-19 vaccine component(s), includes injection and post administration monitoring in the home or residence; this includes a beneficiary's home that has been made provider-based to the hospital during the covid-19 public health emergency
- M0222 — Intravenous injection, bebtelovimab, includes injection and post administration monitoring
- M0223 — Intravenous injection, bebtelovimab, includes injection and post administration monitoring in the home or residence; this includes a beneficiary's home that has been made provider-based to the hospital during the covid-19 public health emergency
- M0224 — Intravenous infusion, pemivibart, for the pre-exposure prophylaxis only, for certain adults and adolescents (12 years of age and older weighing at least 40 kg) with no known sars-cov-2 exposure, who either have moderate-to-severe immune compromise due to a medical condition or receipt of immunosuppressive medications or treatments, includes infusion and post administration monitoring
- M0235 — Intravenous infusion, monoclonal antibody products with an indication for post-exposure prophylaxis or treatment of covid-19, for hospitalized adults and/or pediatric patients who are receiving systemic corticosteroids and require supplemental oxygen, non-invasive or invasive mechanical ventilation, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) only, includes infusion and post administration monitoring, not otherwise classified, first dose
- M0236 — Intravenous infusion, monoclonal antibody products with an indication for post-exposure prophylaxis or treatment of covid-19, for hospitalized adults and/or pediatric patients who are receiving systemic corticosteroids and require supplemental oxygen, non-invasive or invasive mechanical ventilation, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) only, includes infusion and post administration monitoring, not otherwise classified, second dose
- M0237 — Intravenous infusion, tocilizumab-anoh, for hospitalized adult patients with covid-19 who are receiving systemic corticosteroids and require supplemental oxygen, non-invasive or invasive mechanical ventilation, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) only, includes infusion and post administration monitoring, first dose
- M0238 — Intravenous infusion, tocilizumab-anoh, for hospitalized adult patients with covid-19 who are receiving systemic corticosteroids and require supplemental oxygen, non-invasive or invasive mechanical ventilation, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) only, includes infusion and post administration monitoring, second dose
- M0239 — Intravenous infusion, bamlanivimab-xxxx, includes infusion and post administration monitoring
- M0240 — Intravenous infusion or subcutaneous injection, casirivimab and imdevimab includes infusion or injection, and post administration monitoring, subsequent repeat doses
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Next steps
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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.