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HCPCS · Medicare DME

A9999 Medicare coverage

MISCELLANEOUS DME SUPPLY OR ACCESSORY, NOT OTHERWISE SPECIFIED

Long description on the CMS LCD code table, this read.

Data read from the CMS Coverage API on 2026-10-13. The LCD version is the current final DME MAC LCD on that read. Text below is quoted from those CMS documents. Nothing here is a coverage rule Verzi wrote.

Coverage, in CMS's words

Local coverage indication

In addition to the “reasonable and necessary” criteria contained in this LCD there are other payment rules, which are discussed in the following documents, that must also be met prior to Medicare reimbursement: The LCD-related Standard Documentation Requirements Article, located at the bottom of this policy under the Related Local Coverage Documents section.

Excerpt from LCD L33690 version 20, effective 01/01/2020. CMS LCD L33690.

Local coverage indication

Because a water circulating heating pad system is not medically necessary, a replacement pump (E0236) or pad (E0249, A9999) will be denied as not reasonable and necessary. The safety and effectiveness of using a heat lamp (E0200, E0205) in the home setting is not established. Claims for these items will be denied as not reasonable and necessary. A Standard Written Order (SWO) must be communicated to the supplier before a claim is submitted. If the supplier bills for an item addressed in this policy without first receiving a completed SWO, the claim shall be denied as not reasonable and necessary. For Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) base items that require a Written Order Prior to Delivery (WOPD), the supplier must have received a signed SWO before the DMEPOS item is delivered to a beneficiary. If a supplier delivers a DMEPOS item without first receiving a WOPD, the claim shall be denied as not reasonable and necessary. Refer to the LCD-related Policy Article, located at the bottom of this policy under the Related Local Coverage Documents section. For DMEPOS base items that require a WOPD, and also require separately billed associated options, accessories, and/or supplies, the supplier must have received a WOPD which lists the base item and which may list all the associated options, accessories, and/or supplies that are separately billed prior to the delivery of the items. In this scenario, if the supplier separately bills for associated options, accessories, and/or supplies without first receiving a completed and signed WOPD of the base item prior to delivery, the claim(s) shall be denied as not reasonable and necessary. An item/service is correctly coded when it meets all the coding guidelines listed in CMS HCPCS guidelines, LCDs, LCD-related Policy Articles, or DME MAC articles. Claims that do not meet coding guidelines shall be denied as not reasonable and necessary/incorrectly coded. Proof of delivery (POD) is a Supplier Standard and DMEPOS suppliers are required to maintain POD documentation in their files.

Excerpt from LCD L33784 version 21, effective 01/01/2020. CMS LCD L33784.

Local coverage indication

In addition to the “reasonable and necessary” criteria contained in this LCD there are other payment rules, which are discussed in the following documents, that must also be met prior to Medicare reimbursement: The LCD-related Standard Documentation Requirements Article, located at the bottom of this policy under the Related Local Coverage Documents section.

Excerpt from LCD L33822 version 70, effective 10/01/2024. CMS LCD L33822.

What NCD 40.2 says the item is

CIM 60-11 There are several different types of blood glucose monitors that use reflectance meters to determine blood glucose levels. Medicare coverage of these devices varies, with respect to both the type of device and the medical condition of the patient for whom the device is prescribed. Reflectance colorimeter devices used for measuring blood glucose levels in clinical settings are not covered as durable medical equipment for use in the home because their need for frequent professional re-calibration makes them unsuitable for home use. However, some types of blood glucose monitors which use a reflectance meter specifically designed for home use by diabetic patients may be covered as durable medical equipment, subject to the conditions and limitations described below.

National coverage indication, NCD 40.2

Blood glucose monitors are meter devices that read color changes produced on specially treated reagent strips by glucose concentrations in the patient’s blood. The patient, using a disposable sterile lancet, draws a drop of blood, places it on a reagent strip and, following instructions which may vary with the device used, inserts it into the device to obtain a reading. Lancets, reagent strips, and other supplies necessary for the proper functioning of the device are also covered for patients for whom the device is indicated. Home blood glucose monitors enable certain patients to better control their blood glucose levels by frequently checking and appropriately contacting their attending physician for advice and treatment. Studies indicate that the patient’s ability to carefully follow proper procedures is critical to obtaining satisfactory results with these devices. In addition, the cost of the devices, with their supplies, limits economical use to patients who must make frequent checks of their blood glucose levels.

Excerpt from NCD 40.2 version 2. CMS NCD 40.2.

Governing LCD

L33690 · Automatic External Defibrillators

Version 20. CMS effective date 01/01/2020. CMS updated 02/13/2020. Contractors on the CMS report: CGS Administrators (DME MAC) and Noridian Healthcare Solutions (DME MAC).

CMS coverage policy citation on the LCD. NONE

Open L33690 on CMS

L33784 · Heating Pads and Heat Lamps

Version 21. CMS effective date 01/01/2020. CMS updated 02/14/2020. Contractors on the CMS report: CGS Administrators (DME MAC) and Noridian Healthcare Solutions (DME MAC).

CMS coverage policy citation on the LCD. CMS Manual System, Pub. 100-3, Medicare National Coverage Determinations Manual, Chapter 1, Section 280.1

Open L33784 on CMS

L33822 · Glucose Monitors

Version 70. CMS effective date 10/01/2024. CMS updated 10/09/2024. Contractors on the CMS report: CGS Administrators (DME MAC) and Noridian Healthcare Solutions (DME MAC).

CMS coverage policy citation on the LCD. CMS Pub. 100-03, (Medicare National Coverage Determinations Manual), Chapter 1, Section 40.2

Open L33822 on CMS

Governing NCD

NCD 280.1 · Durable Medical Equipment Reference List

Current version on the CMS national report: 4. Effective date 06/09/2025. Benefit category: Durable Medical Equipment. The LCD lists related NCD version 1. The excerpt on this page, when present, is version 4.

Open NCD 280.1 on CMS

LCD-cited version 1 on CMS

NCD 40.2 · Home Blood Glucose Monitors

Current version on the CMS national report: 2. Effective date 06/19/2006. Benefit category: Durable Medical Equipment. The LCD lists related NCD version 1. The excerpt on this page, when present, is version 2.

Open NCD 40.2 on CMS

LCD-cited version 1 on CMS

Documentation requirements

From A52458

In addition to policy specific documentation requirements, there are general documentation requirements that are applicable to all DMEPOS policies. These general requirements are located in the DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS section of the LCD. Refer to the LCD-related Standard Documentation Requirements article, located at the bottom of this Policy Article under the Related Local Coverage Documents section for additional information regarding GENERAL DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS and the POLICY SPECIFIC DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS discussed below. The diagnosis code that justifies the need for these items must be included on the claim.

CMS source A52458

From A55426, Standard Documentation Requirements for All Claims Submitted to DME MACs

GENERAL There are numerous CMS manual requirements, reasonable and necessary (R&N) requirements, benefit category, and other statutory and regulatory requirements that must be met in order for payment to be justified. In the event of a claim review, a DMEPOS supplier must provide sufficient information to demonstrate that the applicable criteria have been met thus justifying payment. Before submitting a claim to Medicare, the DMEPOS supplier must have on file an SWO, a WOPD (if applicable), information from the treating practitioner concerning the patient's diagnosis, and any information required for the use of specific

CMS article A55426

From A52502

In addition to policy specific documentation requirements, there are general documentation requirements that are applicable to all DMEPOS policies. These general requirements are located in the DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS section of the LCD. Refer to the LCD-related Standard Documentation Requirements article, located at the bottom of this Policy Article under the Related Local Coverage Documents section for additional information regarding GENERAL DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS and the POLICY SPECIFIC DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS.

CMS source A52502

From A55426, Standard Documentation Requirements for All Claims Submitted to DME MACs

GENERAL There are numerous CMS manual requirements, reasonable and necessary (R&N) requirements, benefit category, and other statutory and regulatory requirements that must be met in order for payment to be justified. In the event of a claim review, a DMEPOS supplier must provide sufficient information to demonstrate that the applicable criteria have been met thus justifying payment. Before submitting a claim to Medicare, the DMEPOS supplier must have on file an SWO, a WOPD (if applicable), information from the treating practitioner concerning the patient's diagnosis, and any information required for the use of specific

CMS article A55426

From A52464

In addition to policy specific documentation requirements, there are general documentation requirements that are applicable to all DMEPOS policies. These general requirements are located in the DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS section of the LCD. Refer to the LCD-related Standard Documentation Requirements article (A55426), located at the bottom of this Policy Article under the Related Local Coverage Documents section, for additional information regarding GENERAL DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS and the POLICY SPECIFIC DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS discussed below. For beneficiaries who exceed the usual utilization amounts of BGM testing supplies, there must be sufficient information in the beneficiary’s medical record to determine that: The treating practitioner has had an in-person or Medicare-approved telehealth visit to evaluate the beneficiary’s diabetes control; and, The specific quantities of supplies ordered are reasonable and necessary; and, The beneficiary is actually testing at a frequency that corroborates the quantity of supplies that have been dispensed (e.g., a specific narrative statement that adequately documents the frequency at which the beneficiary is actually testing or a copy of the beneficiary's log).

CMS source A52464

From A55426, Standard Documentation Requirements for All Claims Submitted to DME MACs

GENERAL There are numerous CMS manual requirements, reasonable and necessary (R&N) requirements, benefit category, and other statutory and regulatory requirements that must be met in order for payment to be justified. In the event of a claim review, a DMEPOS supplier must provide sufficient information to demonstrate that the applicable criteria have been met thus justifying payment. Before submitting a claim to Medicare, the DMEPOS supplier must have on file an SWO, a WOPD (if applicable), information from the treating practitioner concerning the patient's diagnosis, and any information required for the use of specific

CMS article A55426

Denial language in the policy

Get the signed answer via API

The signed answer is the receipt for this code on a date of service: the rule that was in force, with a hash you can replay. The call needs an API key. The source archive and as-of resolution are public.

curl -H "X-API-Key: $VERZI_API_KEY" \
  "https://api.verzi.health/v1/rules/warrant?hcpcs=A9999&as_of=2024-01-15&npi=1234567890&state=UT"

Other codes on the same LCD

Questions about this code

Which LCD lists A9999?

The current DME MAC LCD L33690, Automatic External Defibrillators, version 20, effective 01/01/2020.

Which National Coverage Determination applies to A9999?

NCD 280.1, Durable Medical Equipment Reference List, version 4, is the current national document related from the LCD.

What denial language does CMS publish for A9999?

If the supplier bills for an item addressed in this policy without first receiving a completed SWO, the claim shall be denied as not reasonable and necessary.

How do I get a signed answer for A9999?

Request a free API key and call the signed-answer endpoint with the HCPCS code, a date of service, the supplier NPI, and a state. The response is a receipt for the published rule on that date, not a guarantee of payment.