Q9957 HCPCS code: Injection, perflutren lipid microspheres, per ml

Q9957 is the HCPCS Level II code for injection, perflutren lipid microspheres, per ml. In 2024 Medicare paid an average of $32.06 per service for Q9957 across 91,938 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 3 per day on outpatient hospital claims. Medicare volume rose 20% from 2022 to 2024 (76,315 to 91,938 services). In 2024, about 4,538 clinicians billed Medicare for Q9957 for 47,624 beneficiaries; California, New York, North Carolina accounted for 31% of services.

Code details

Who bills Q9957 (2024)

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

Medicare utilization for Q9957, 2022–2024

States with the most Q9957 services (2024)

NCCI unit limits (MUE)

Medicare policy articles for this code

• A56505: Billing and Coding: Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE) (Novitas Solutions, Inc. (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B))
• A56781: Billing and Coding: Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE) (Wellpoint Federal (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B))
• A57306: Billing and Coding: Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE) (CGS Administrators, LLC (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B))
• A58503: Billing and Coding: Echocardiography for Myocardial Perfusion (Palmetto GBA (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B))

Covered diagnoses (1,839 ICD-10-CM codes)

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

Showing 10 of 1,839. The full list, non-covered diagnoses and CSV export are in Caduvo.

What changed for Q9957

• 2005-04-01: Q9957 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 Q9957?

Q9957 is the HCPCS Level II code for injection, perflutren lipid microspheres, per ml. Short descriptor: "Inj perflutren lip micros,ml".

How much does Medicare pay for Q9957?

In 2024, the average Medicare payment was $32.06 per service (average allowed $41.36).

Does Medicare cover Q9957?

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

Which diagnoses support coverage for Q9957?

Medicare policy articles that cite Q9957 list 1,839 covered ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes across 4 articles. The most cited include I21.01 (ST elevation (STEMI) myocardial infarction involving left main coronary artery), I21.02 (ST elevation (STEMI) myocardial infarction involving left anterior descending coronary artery), I21.09 (ST elevation (STEMI) myocardial infarction involving other coronary artery of anterior wall). A listed diagnosis is necessary but not sufficient; the policy's other criteria still apply.

How many units of Q9957 can be billed per day?

3 on outpatient hospital claims; 3 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
• 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
• 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 Q9957
• Watch Q9957 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
• Build a full Medicare revenue model for Q9957

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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