Q9960 HCPCS code: High osmolar contrast material, 200-249 mg/ml iodine concentration, per ml
Q9960 is the HCPCS Level II code for high osmolar contrast material, 200-249 mg/ml iodine concentration, per ml. In 2024 Medicare paid an average of $0.22 per service for Q9960 across 2,365 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 250 per day on outpatient hospital claims. Medicare volume fell 80% from 2022 to 2024 (11,597 to 2,365 services). In 2024, about 28 clinicians billed Medicare for Q9960 for 608 beneficiaries; Texas, Florida, Maryland accounted for 95% of services.
Code details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Section | Q codes — Temporary codes |
| Coverage code | D — Special coverage instructions apply |
| Pricing indicator | 51 — Drug or biological (priced per ASP/average sales price rules) |
| BETOS category | I1E |
| Added | 2005-07-01 |
| Last action effective | 2005-07-01 |
Who bills Q9960 (2024)
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Clinicians billing (by place of service) | 28 |
| Medicare beneficiaries | 608 |
| States with claims | 5 |
| Share of services in top 3 states (Texas, Florida, Maryland) | 95% |
Counts only. Supplier and clinician names, contact lists and state-by-state detail are in Caduvo.
Medicare utilization for Q9960, 2022–2024
| Year | Services | Beneficiaries | Avg. allowed | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 11,597 | 1,888 | $0.27 | $0.22 |
| 2023 | 1,503 | 443 | $0.27 | $0.22 |
| 2024 | 2,365 | 608 | $0.27 | $0.22 |
States with the most Q9960 services (2024)
| State | Services | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 1,269 | $0.22 |
| Florida | 528 | $0.22 |
| Maryland | 220 | $0.21 |
| Pennsylvania | 55 | $0.22 |
| California | 51 | $0.22 |
NCCI unit limits (MUE)
| Claim type | Max units per day | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| outpatient hospital claims | 250 | Prescribing Information |
| practitioner claims | 250 | Prescribing Information |
What changed for Q9960
- 2005-07-01: Q9960 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 Q9960?
Q9960 is the HCPCS Level II code for high osmolar contrast material, 200-249 mg/ml iodine concentration, per ml. Short descriptor: "Hocm 200-249mg/ml iodine,1ml".
How much does Medicare pay for Q9960?
In 2024, the average Medicare payment was $0.22 per service (average allowed $0.27).
Does Medicare cover Q9960?
Coverage code D — Special coverage instructions apply. Medicare covers it when its national or local coverage criteria are met.
How many units of Q9960 can be billed per day?
250 on outpatient hospital claims; 250 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
- 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
- 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 Q9960
- Watch Q9960 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for Q9960
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.