Q9966 HCPCS code: Low osmolar contrast material, 200-299 mg/ml iodine concentration, per ml
Q9966 is the HCPCS Level II code for low osmolar contrast material, 200-299 mg/ml iodine concentration, per ml. In 2024 Medicare paid an average of $0.29 per service for Q9966 across 3,911,003 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 rose 30% from 2022 to 2024 (3,005,289 to 3,911,003 services). In 2024, about 3,183 clinicians billed Medicare for Q9966 for 141,348 beneficiaries; New York, Texas, California accounted for 44% 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 | 2008-01-01 |
| Last action effective | 2008-01-01 |
Who bills Q9966 (2024)
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Clinicians billing (by place of service) | 3,183 |
| Medicare beneficiaries | 141,348 |
| States with claims | 50 |
| Share of services in top 3 states (New York, Texas, California) | 44% |
Counts only. Supplier and clinician names, contact lists and state-by-state detail are in Caduvo.
Medicare utilization for Q9966, 2022–2024
| Year | Services | Beneficiaries | Avg. allowed | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 3,005,289 | 152,444 | $0.33 | $0.26 |
| 2023 | 4,216,217 | 145,924 | $0.43 | $0.34 |
| 2024 | 3,911,003 | 141,348 | $0.36 | $0.29 |
States with the most Q9966 services (2024)
| State | Services | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 1,099,365 | $0.29 |
| Texas | 318,558 | $0.28 |
| California | 313,141 | $0.29 |
| North Carolina | 231,955 | $0.28 |
| Illinois | 215,970 | $0.29 |
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 Q9966
- 2008-01-01: Q9966 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 Q9966?
Q9966 is the HCPCS Level II code for low osmolar contrast material, 200-299 mg/ml iodine concentration, per ml. Short descriptor: "Locm 200-299mg/ml iodine,1ml".
How much does Medicare pay for Q9966?
In 2024, the average Medicare payment was $0.29 per service (average allowed $0.36).
Does Medicare cover Q9966?
Coverage code D — Special coverage instructions apply. Medicare covers it when its national or local coverage criteria are met.
How many units of Q9966 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
- 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
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Next steps
- Run a reimbursement report for a device billed under Q9966
- Watch Q9966 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for Q9966
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.