Q9953 HCPCS code: Injection, iron-based magnetic resonance contrast agent, per ml

Q9953 is the HCPCS Level II code for injection, iron-based magnetic resonance contrast agent, per ml. 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 10 per day on outpatient hospital claims.

Code details

NCCI unit limits (MUE)

Medicare policy articles for this code

• A57206: Billing and Coding: Lumbar MRI (Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B))

Covered diagnoses (3,361 ICD-10-CM codes)

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

Showing 10 of 3,361. The full list, non-covered diagnoses and CSV export are in Caduvo.

What changed for Q9953

• 2005-04-01: Q9953 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 Q9953?

Q9953 is the HCPCS Level II code for injection, iron-based magnetic resonance contrast agent, per ml. Short descriptor: "Inj fe-based mr contrast,1ml".

Does Medicare cover Q9953?

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

Which diagnoses support coverage for Q9953?

Medicare policy articles that cite Q9953 list 3,361 covered ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes across 1 article. The most cited include A02.21 (Salmonella meningitis), A02.24 (Salmonella osteomyelitis), A17.0 (Tuberculous meningitis). A listed diagnosis is necessary but not sufficient; the policy's other criteria still apply.

How many units of Q9953 can be billed per day?

10 on outpatient hospital claims; 10 on practitioner claims (NCCI medically unlikely edits).

Related Q99 codes

• Q9950 — Injection, sulfur hexafluoride lipid microspheres, per ml
• Q9951 — Low osmolar contrast material, 400 or greater mg/ml iodine concentration, 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

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Next steps

• Run a reimbursement report for a device billed under Q9953
• Watch Q9953 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
• Build a full Medicare revenue model for Q9953

Sources: CMS HCPCS Level II release October 2026; 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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