A4608 — Transtracheal oxygen catheter, each
A4608 is a HCPCS Level II code for transtracheal oxygen catheter, each. It belongs to the Transportation, Medical & Surgical Supplies, Administrative section. Whether Medicare pays it depends on the coverage rule below.
Medicare coverage: Carrier judgment
Coverage is decided by your Medicare contractor, not by national policy. Whether this is paid depends on the LCD for your jurisdiction and on what the documentation supports.
From the coverage field of the CMS Alpha-Numeric HCPCS File, release 2026Q3-Jul. This states Medicare’s position on the code, not on your particular claim.
Physician fee schedule statusX
Statutory exclusion. The item or service is not within the statutory definition of 'physician services', so the fee schedule never pays it.
Global period: XXX
Want the dollar amount for your locality? The fee calculator applies your GPCI and the current conversion factor.
Medically Unlikely Edits — units per day
The most units of A4608 Medicare will pay on one date of service. Bill more on a single line and it is denied. The limit is not the same in every setting, so the row that matters is the one matching the claim you are building.
- practitioner
- 0 — never payable MAI 3 — Date of Service Edit: Clinical · CMS Policy
- outpatient
- 1 unit MAI 3 — Date of Service Edit: Clinical · Clinical: CMS Workgroup
- DME supplier
- 0 — never payable MAI 3 — Date of Service Edit: Clinical · Published Contractor Policy
The adjudication indicator decides whether exceeding the limit is worth appealing at all: MAI 1 is a line edit you can support with documentation, MAI 3 is a date-of-service edit that is also appealable, and MAI 2 is absolute — no documentation overrides it. CMS MUE 2026Q3.
The CMS record for A4608
- Long descriptor
- Transtracheal oxygen catheter, each
- Short descriptor
- Transtracheal oxygen cath
- Added
- January 1, 2001
- BETOS
- D1C
- Pricing indicator
- 00 — Not priced by Part B
The official wording. This is what the code means.
CMS's 28-character form, which is what shows up on a remittance advice.
When CMS introduced the code.
Berenson-Eggers Type of Service — CMS's own analytic grouping.
Service not separately priced by Part B — not covered, bundled into another service, or used by Part A only.
Codes adjacent to A4608
HCPCS has no hierarchy — related items simply sit next to each other in the numbering. If A4608 is not quite right, the correct code is very often within a few positions of it.
- A4595Electrical stimulator supplies, 2 lead, per month, (e.g., tens, nmes)
- A4596Cranial electrotherapy stimulation (ces) system supplies and accessories, per month
- A4600Sleeve for intermittent limb compression device, replacement only, each
- A4601Lithium ion battery, rechargeable, for non-prosthetic use, replacement
- A4602Replacement battery for external infusion pump owned by patient, lithium, 1.5 volt, each
- A4604Tubing with integrated heating element for use with positive airway pressure device
- A4605Tracheal suction catheter, closed system, each
- A4606Oxygen probe for use with oximeter device, replacement
- A4611Battery, heavy duty; replacement for patient owned ventilator
- A4612Battery cables; replacement for patient-owned ventilator
- A4613Battery charger; replacement for patient-owned ventilator
- A4614Peak expiratory flow rate meter, hand held
- A4615Cannula, nasal
- A4616Tubing (oxygen), per foot
- A4617Mouth piece
- A4618Breathing circuits
Questions about A4608
What is HCPCS code A4608?
A4608 is a HCPCS Level II code for transtracheal oxygen catheter, each. It sits in the Transportation, Medical & Surgical Supplies, Administrative section.
Does Medicare cover A4608?
The CMS HCPCS file marks A4608 as "Carrier judgment". Coverage is decided by your Medicare contractor, not by national policy. Whether this is paid depends on the LCD for your jurisdiction and on what the documentation supports.
How is A4608 paid under the physician fee schedule?
A4608 carries PFS status code X. Statutory exclusion. The item or service is not within the statutory definition of 'physician services', so the fee schedule never pays it.