Q9968 HCPCS code: Injection, non-radioactive, non-contrast, visualization adjunct (e.g., methylene blue, isosulfan blue), 1 mg
Q9968 is the HCPCS Level II code for injection, non-radioactive, non-contrast, visualization adjunct (e.g., methylene blue, isosulfan blue), 1 mg. In 2024 Medicare paid an average of $5.97 per service for Q9968 across 34,526 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 200 per day on outpatient hospital claims. Medicare volume rose 7% from 2022 to 2024 (32,146 to 34,526 services). In 2024, about 154 clinicians billed Medicare for Q9968 for 2,595 beneficiaries; Texas, Florida, Utah accounted for 46% of services.
Code details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Section | Q codes — Temporary codes |
| Coverage code | C — Carrier judgment |
| Pricing indicator | 51 — Drug or biological (priced per ASP/average sales price rules) |
| BETOS category | I1E |
| Added | 2010-01-01 |
| Last action effective | 2014-01-01 |
Who bills Q9968 (2024)
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Clinicians billing (by place of service) | 154 |
| Medicare beneficiaries | 2,595 |
| States with claims | 27 |
| Share of services in top 3 states (Texas, Florida, Utah) | 46% |
Counts only. Supplier and clinician names, contact lists and state-by-state detail are in Caduvo.
Medicare utilization for Q9968, 2022–2024
| Year | Services | Beneficiaries | Avg. allowed | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 32,146 | 1,901 | $7.26 | $5.79 |
| 2023 | 33,867 | 2,055 | $6.87 | $5.48 |
| 2024 | 34,526 | 2,595 | $7.49 | $5.97 |
States with the most Q9968 services (2024)
| State | Services | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 7,968 | $6.19 |
| Florida | 4,436 | $6.22 |
| Utah | 2,904 | $6.00 |
| California | 2,845 | $6.39 |
| Washington | 1,850 | $6.45 |
NCCI unit limits (MUE)
| Claim type | Max units per day | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| outpatient hospital claims | 200 | Clinical: Data |
| practitioner claims | 200 | Clinical: Data |
What changed for Q9968
- 2010-01-01: Q9968 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 Q9968?
Q9968 is the HCPCS Level II code for injection, non-radioactive, non-contrast, visualization adjunct (e.g., methylene blue, isosulfan blue), 1 mg. Short descriptor: "Visualization adjunct".
How much does Medicare pay for Q9968?
In 2024, the average Medicare payment was $5.97 per service (average allowed $7.49).
Does Medicare cover Q9968?
Coverage code C — Carrier judgment. Coverage is decided by the Medicare contractor (MAC) case by case.
How many units of Q9968 can be billed per day?
200 on outpatient hospital claims; 200 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 Q9968
- Watch Q9968 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for Q9968
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.