Q0138 HCPCS code: Injection, ferumoxytol, for treatment of iron deficiency anemia, 1 mg (non-esrd use)
Q0138 is the HCPCS Level II code for injection, ferumoxytol, for treatment of iron deficiency anemia, 1 mg (non-esrd use). In 2024 Medicare paid an average of $0.27 per service for Q0138 across 33,848,571 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 510 per day on outpatient hospital claims. Medicare volume fell 39% from 2022 to 2024 (55,131,698 to 33,848,571 services). In 2024, about 3,697 clinicians billed Medicare for Q0138 for 26,679 beneficiaries; Florida, Texas, California accounted for 54% of services.
Code details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Section | Q codes — Temporary codes |
| Coverage code | C — Carrier judgment |
| Pricing indicator | 51 — Drug or biological (priced per ASP/average sales price rules) |
| BETOS category | O1E — Other drugs |
| Added | 2010-01-01 |
| Last action effective | 2010-01-01 |
Who bills Q0138 (2024)
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Clinicians billing (by place of service) | 3,697 |
| Medicare beneficiaries | 26,679 |
| States with claims | 46 |
| Share of services in top 3 states (Florida, Texas, California) | 54% |
Counts only. Supplier and clinician names, contact lists and state-by-state detail are in Caduvo.
Medicare utilization for Q0138, 2022–2024
| Year | Services | Beneficiaries | Avg. allowed | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 55,131,698 | 42,784 | $0.81 | $0.64 |
| 2023 | 43,875,794 | 34,208 | $0.50 | $0.39 |
| 2024 | 33,848,571 | 26,679 | $0.35 | $0.27 |
States with the most Q0138 services (2024)
| State | Services | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | 10,753,913 | $0.28 |
| Texas | 4,855,910 | $0.27 |
| California | 2,702,019 | $0.27 |
| Illinois | 1,688,763 | $0.27 |
| Maryland | 1,492,260 | $0.27 |
NCCI unit limits (MUE)
| Claim type | Max units per day | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| outpatient hospital claims | 510 | Prescribing Information |
| practitioner claims | 510 | Prescribing Information |
What changed for Q0138
- 2010-01-01: Q0138 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 Q0138?
Q0138 is the HCPCS Level II code for injection, ferumoxytol, for treatment of iron deficiency anemia, 1 mg (non-esrd use). Short descriptor: "Ferumoxytol, non-esrd".
How much does Medicare pay for Q0138?
In 2024, the average Medicare payment was $0.27 per service (average allowed $0.35).
Does Medicare cover Q0138?
Coverage code C — Carrier judgment. Coverage is decided by the Medicare contractor (MAC) case by case.
How many units of Q0138 can be billed per day?
510 on outpatient hospital claims; 510 on practitioner claims (NCCI medically unlikely edits).
Related Q01 codes
- Q0111 — Wet mounts, including preparations of vaginal, cervical or skin specimens
- Q0112 — All potassium hydroxide (koh) preparations
- Q0113 — Pinworm examinations
- Q0114 — Fern test
- Q0115 — Post-coital direct, qualitative examinations of vaginal or cervical mucous
- Q0139 — Injection, ferumoxytol, for treatment of iron deficiency anemia, 1 mg (for esrd on dialysis)
- Q0144 — Azithromycin dihydrate, oral, capsules/powder, 1 gram
- Q0155 — Dronabinol (syndros), 0.1 mg, oral, fda approved prescription anti-emetic, for use as a complete therapeutic substitute for an iv anti-emetic at the time of chemotherapy treatment, not to exceed a 48 hour dosage regimen
- Q0161 — Chlorpromazine hydrochloride, 5 mg, oral, fda approved prescription anti-emetic, for use as a complete therapeutic substitute for an iv anti-emetic at the time of chemotherapy treatment, not to exceed a 48 hour dosage regimen
- Q0162 — Ondansetron 1 mg, oral, fda approved prescription anti-emetic, for use as a complete therapeutic substitute for an iv anti-emetic at the time of chemotherapy treatment, not to exceed a 48 hour dosage regimen
- Q0163 — Diphenhydramine hydrochloride, 50 mg, oral, fda approved prescription anti-emetic, for use as a complete therapeutic substitute for an iv anti-emetic at time of chemotherapy treatment not to exceed a 48 hour dosage regimen
- Q0164 — Prochlorperazine maleate, 5 mg, oral, fda approved prescription anti-emetic, for use as a complete therapeutic substitute for an iv anti-emetic at the time of chemotherapy treatment, not to exceed a 48 hour dosage regimen
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 Q0138
- Watch Q0138 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for Q0138
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.