Q0163 HCPCS code: 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

Q0163 is the HCPCS Level II code for 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. In 2024 Medicare paid an average of $0.21 per service for Q0163 across 36 services. 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 13 per day on DME suppliers. Medicare volume fell 89% from 2022 to 2024 (328 to 36 services). In 2024, 2 suppliers billed Medicare for Q0163 (purchases), serving 0 beneficiaries.

Code details

Who bills Q0163 (2024)

Counts only. Supplier and clinician names, contact lists and state-by-state detail are in Caduvo.

Medicare utilization for Q0163, 2022–2024

States with the most Q0163 services (2024)

NCCI unit limits (MUE)

Medicare policy articles for this code

• A52480: Oral Antiemetic Drugs (Replacement for Intravenous Antiemetics) - Policy Article (CGS Administrators, LLC (DME MAC) Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC (DME MAC)) — mentions this code in its coding guidance

Covered diagnoses (1,280 ICD-10-CM codes)

The diagnoses most often listed as covered in the policy articles above:

Showing 10 of 1,280. The full list, non-covered diagnoses and CSV export are in Caduvo.

What changed for Q0163

• 1998-04-01: Q0163 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 Q0163?

Q0163 is the HCPCS Level II code for 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. Short descriptor: "Diphenhydramine hcl 50mg".

How much does Medicare pay for Q0163?

In 2024, the average Medicare payment was $0.21 per service (average allowed $0.28).

Does Medicare cover Q0163?

Coverage code D — Special coverage instructions apply. Medicare covers it when its national or local coverage criteria are met.

Which diagnoses support coverage for Q0163?

Medicare policy articles that cite Q0163 list 1,280 covered ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes across 1 article. The most cited include C00.0 (Malignant neoplasm of external upper lip), C00.1 (Malignant neoplasm of external lower lip), C00.3 (Malignant neoplasm of upper lip, inner aspect). A listed diagnosis is necessary but not sufficient; the policy's other criteria still apply.

How many units of Q0163 can be billed per day?

13 on DME suppliers; 6 on outpatient hospital 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
• Q0138 — Injection, ferumoxytol, for treatment of iron deficiency anemia, 1 mg (non-esrd use)
• 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
• 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

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Next steps

• Run a reimbursement report for a device billed under Q0163
• Watch Q0163 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
• Build a full Medicare revenue model for Q0163

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.

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