Q9950 HCPCS code: Injection, sulfur hexafluoride lipid microspheres, per ml

Q9950 is the HCPCS Level II code for injection, sulfur hexafluoride lipid microspheres, per ml. In 2024 Medicare paid an average of $14.24 per service for Q9950 across 15,518 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 5 per day on outpatient hospital claims. Medicare volume fell 6% from 2022 to 2024 (16,500 to 15,518 services). In 2024, about 615 clinicians billed Medicare for Q9950 for 3,760 beneficiaries; Texas, Illinois, Washington accounted for 40% of services.

Code details

Who bills Q9950 (2024)

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

Medicare utilization for Q9950, 2022–2024

States with the most Q9950 services (2024)

NCCI unit limits (MUE)

Medicare policy articles for this code

• A58503: Billing and Coding: Echocardiography for Myocardial Perfusion (Palmetto GBA (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B))

Covered diagnoses (108 ICD-10-CM codes)

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

Showing 10 of 108. The full list, non-covered diagnoses and CSV export are in Caduvo.

What changed for Q9950

• 2016-01-01: Q9950 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 Q9950?

Q9950 is the HCPCS Level II code for injection, sulfur hexafluoride lipid microspheres, per ml. Short descriptor: "Inj sulf hexa lipid microsph".

How much does Medicare pay for Q9950?

In 2024, the average Medicare payment was $14.24 per service (average allowed $18.42).

Does Medicare cover Q9950?

Coverage code C — Carrier judgment. Coverage is decided by the Medicare contractor (MAC) case by case.

Which diagnoses support coverage for Q9950?

Medicare policy articles that cite Q9950 list 108 covered ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes across 1 article. The most cited include I20.0 (Unstable angina), I20.1 (Angina pectoris with documented spasm), I20.81 (Angina pectoris with coronary microvascular dysfunction). A listed diagnosis is necessary but not sufficient; the policy's other criteria still apply.

How many units of Q9950 can be billed per day?

5 on outpatient hospital claims; 5 on practitioner claims (NCCI medically unlikely edits).

Related Q99 codes

• Q9951 — Low osmolar contrast material, 400 or greater mg/ml iodine concentration, per ml
• Q9953 — Injection, iron-based magnetic resonance contrast agent, per ml
• Q9954 — Oral magnetic resonance contrast agent, per 100 ml
• Q9955 — Injection, perflexane lipid microspheres, per ml
• Q9956 — Injection, octafluoropropane microspheres, per ml
• Q9957 — Injection, perflutren lipid microspheres, per ml
• Q9958 — High osmolar contrast material, up to 149 mg/ml iodine concentration, per ml
• Q9959 — High osmolar contrast material, 150-199 mg/ml iodine concentration, per ml
• Q9960 — High osmolar contrast material, 200-249 mg/ml iodine concentration, per ml
• Q9961 — High osmolar contrast material, 250-299 mg/ml iodine concentration, per ml
• Q9962 — High osmolar contrast material, 300-349 mg/ml iodine concentration, per ml
• Q9963 — High osmolar contrast material, 350-399 mg/ml iodine concentration, per ml

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 Q9950
• Watch Q9950 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
• Build a full Medicare revenue model for Q9950

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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