Q0506 HCPCS code: Battery, lithium-ion, for use with electric or electric/pneumatic ventricular assist device, replacement only
Q0506 is the HCPCS Level II code for battery, lithium-ion, for use with electric or electric/pneumatic ventricular assist device, replacement only. The 2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule pays $1,026.54 to $1,129.20 depending on the state. 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 8 per day on outpatient hospital claims. Medicare volume fell 3% from 2022 to 2024 (1,798 to 1,739 services). In 2024, about 26 clinicians billed Medicare for Q0506 for 348 beneficiaries. Its average fee ranks 5 of 6 Q05 codes (family range $37.42–$1,593.61).
Code details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Section | Q codes — Temporary codes |
| Coverage code | D — Special coverage instructions apply |
| Pricing indicator | 38 — DMEPOS: orthotics, prosthetics, prosthetic devices and vision services |
| BETOS category | D1F — Prosthetic and orthotic devices |
| Added | 2010-01-01 |
| Last action effective | 2013-01-01 |
2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule for Q0506
| Modifier | Meaning | Lowest state fee | Highest state fee | Ceiling | Floor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | base fee | $1,026.54 | $1,129.20 | $1,253.04 | $939.78 |
| State | Modifier | Fee | Rural fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| AK | — | $1,026.54 | — |
| AL | — | $1,057.44 | — |
| AR | — | $1,057.34 | — |
| AZ | — | $1,026.54 | — |
| CA | — | $1,026.54 | — |
| CO | — | $1,065.38 | — |
| CT | — | $1,026.54 | — |
| DC | — | $1,026.54 | — |
| DE | — | $1,026.54 | — |
| FL | — | $1,057.44 | — |
| GA | — | $1,057.44 | — |
| HI | — | $1,026.54 | — |
| IA | — | $1,046.55 | — |
| ID | — | $1,026.54 | — |
| IL | — | $1,051.71 | — |
| IN | — | $1,051.71 | — |
| KS | — | $1,046.55 | — |
| KY | — | $1,057.44 | — |
| LA | — | $1,057.34 | — |
| MA | — | $1,026.54 | — |
| MD | — | $1,026.54 | — |
| ME | — | $1,026.54 | — |
| MI | — | $1,051.71 | — |
| MN | — | $1,051.71 | — |
| MO | — | $1,046.55 | — |
| MS | — | $1,057.44 | — |
| MT | — | $1,065.38 | — |
| NC | — | $1,057.44 | — |
| ND | — | $1,065.38 | — |
| NE | — | $1,046.55 | — |
| NH | — | $1,026.54 | — |
| NJ | — | $1,026.54 | — |
| NM | — | $1,057.34 | — |
| NV | — | $1,026.54 | — |
| NY | — | $1,026.54 | — |
| OH | — | $1,051.71 | — |
| OK | — | $1,057.34 | — |
| OR | — | $1,026.54 | — |
| PA | — | $1,026.54 | — |
| PR | — | $1,129.20 | — |
| RI | — | $1,026.54 | — |
| SC | — | $1,057.44 | — |
| SD | — | $1,065.38 | — |
| TN | — | $1,057.44 | — |
| TX | — | $1,057.34 | — |
| UT | — | $1,065.38 | — |
| VA | — | $1,026.54 | — |
| VI | — | $1,129.20 | — |
| VT | — | $1,026.54 | — |
| WA | — | $1,026.54 | — |
| WI | — | $1,051.71 | — |
| WV | — | $1,026.54 | — |
| WY | — | $1,065.38 | — |
How the Q0506 fee compares
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Rank among 6 Q05 codes (lowest = 1) | 5 |
| Family fee range (average of state fees) | $37.42–$1,593.61 |
| Rural fee uplift | — |
Who bills Q0506 (2024)
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Clinicians billing (by place of service) | 26 |
| Medicare beneficiaries | 348 |
| States with claims | 2 |
Counts only. Supplier and clinician names, contact lists and state-by-state detail are in Caduvo.
Medicare utilization for Q0506, 2022–2024
| Year | Services | Beneficiaries | Avg. allowed | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1,798 | 368 | $888.13 | $708.00 |
| 2023 | 2,039 | 369 | $953.68 | $758.93 |
| 2024 | 1,739 | 348 | $980.28 | $780.98 |
States with the most Q0506 services (2024)
| State | Services | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | 1,623 | $782.26 |
| Arizona | 35 | $769.27 |
NCCI unit limits (MUE)
| Claim type | Max units per day | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| outpatient hospital claims | 8 | Nature of Equipment |
| practitioner claims | 8 | Nature of Equipment |
What changed for Q0506
- 2026-01-01: Average state fee rose 2.0%: $1,026.22 to $1,046.74
- 2010-01-01: Q0506 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 Q0506?
Q0506 is the HCPCS Level II code for battery, lithium-ion, for use with electric or electric/pneumatic ventricular assist device, replacement only. Short descriptor: "Lith-ion batt elec/pneum vad".
How much does Medicare pay for Q0506?
Under the 2026 DMEPOS fee schedule, non-rural state fees are base (base fee): $1,026.54–$1,129.20. Rural fees can be higher.
Does Medicare cover Q0506?
Coverage code D — Special coverage instructions apply. Medicare covers it when its national or local coverage criteria are met.
Did the Medicare fee for Q0506 change in 2026?
The average non-rural state fee moved from $1,026.22 in 2025 to $1,046.74 in 2026 (+2.0%). CMS's next quarterly HCPCS and DMEPOS update takes effect January 1, 2027.
How many units of Q0506 can be billed per day?
8 on outpatient hospital claims; 8 on practitioner claims (NCCI medically unlikely edits).
Related Q05 codes
- Q0500 — Filters for use with electric or electric/pneumatic ventricular assist device, replacement only ($36.71–$40.36)
- Q0501 — Shower cover for use with electric or electric/pneumatic ventricular assist device, replacement only ($613.75–$675.13)
- Q0502 — Mobility cart for pneumatic ventricular assist device, replacement only ($781.39–$859.54)
- Q0503 — Battery for pneumatic ventricular assist device, replacement only, each ($1,562.84–$1,719.11)
- Q0504 — Power adapter for pneumatic ventricular assist device, replacement only, vehicle type ($824.68–$907.15)
- Q0507 — Miscellaneous supply or accessory for use with an external ventricular assist device
- Q0508 — Miscellaneous supply or accessory for use with an implanted ventricular assist device
- Q0509 — Miscellaneous supply or accessory for use with any implanted ventricular assist device for which payment was not made under medicare part a
- Q0510 — Pharmacy supply fee for initial immunosuppressive drug(s), first month following transplant
- Q0511 — Pharmacy supply fee for oral anti-cancer, oral anti-emetic or immunosuppressive drug(s); for the first prescription in a 30-day period
- Q0512 — Pharmacy supply fee for oral anti-cancer, oral anti-emetic or immunosuppressive drug(s); for a subsequent prescription in a 30-day period
- Q0513 — Pharmacy dispensing fee for inhalation drug(s); per 30 days
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 Q0506
- Watch Q0506 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for Q0506
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.