A6521 — Gradient compression garment, glove, padded, for nighttime use, custom, each
A6521 is a HCPCS Level II code for gradient compression garment, glove, padded, for nighttime use, custom, 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 A6521 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.
- DME supplier
- 4 units MAI 2 — Date of Service Edit: Policy · CMS 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 A6521
- Long descriptor
- Gradient compression garment, glove, padded, for nighttime use, custom, each
- Short descriptor
- G com garmnt glove nght cust
- Added
- January 1, 2024
- BETOS
- O1L
- Pricing indicator
- 40 — DMEPOS
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.
Lymphedema compression treatment items, effective 1 January 2024.
Codes adjacent to A6521
HCPCS has no hierarchy — related items simply sit next to each other in the numbering. If A6521 is not quite right, the correct code is very often within a few positions of it.
- A6512Compression burn garment, not otherwise classified
- A6513Compression burn mask, face and/or neck, plastic or equal, custom fabricated
- A6515Gradient compression wrap with adjustable straps, full leg, each, custom
- A6516Gradient compression wrap with adjustable straps, foot, each, custom
- A6517Gradient compression wrap with adjustable straps, below knee, each, custom
- A6518Gradient compression wrap with adjustable straps, arm, each, custom
- A6519Gradient compression garment, not otherwise specified, for nighttime use, each
- A6520Gradient compression garment, glove, padded, for nighttime use, each
- A6522Gradient compression garment, arm, padded, for nighttime use, each
- A6523Gradient compression garment, arm, padded, for nighttime use, custom, each
- A6524Gradient compression garment, lower leg and foot, padded, for nighttime use, each
- A6525Gradient compression garment, lower leg and foot, padded, for nighttime use, custom, each
- A6526Gradient compression garment, full leg and foot, padded, for nighttime use, each
- A6527Gradient compression garment, full leg and foot, padded, for nighttime use, custom, each
- A6528Gradient compression garment, bra, for nighttime use, each
- A6529Gradient compression garment, bra, for nighttime use, custom, each
Questions about A6521
What is HCPCS code A6521?
A6521 is a HCPCS Level II code for gradient compression garment, glove, padded, for nighttime use, custom, each. It sits in the Transportation, Medical & Surgical Supplies, Administrative section.
Does Medicare cover A6521?
The CMS HCPCS file marks A6521 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 A6521 paid under the physician fee schedule?
A6521 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.