A9698 — Non-radioactive contrast imaging material, not otherwise classified, per study
A9698 is a HCPCS Level II code for non-radioactive contrast imaging material, not otherwise classified, per study. It belongs to the Transportation, Medical & Surgical Supplies, Administrative section. Whether Medicare pays it depends on the coverage rule below.
Medicare coverage: Special coverage instructions apply
There are published conditions attached to this code. Check the applicable coverage policy before billing it: the code being valid is not the same as the service being covered.
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 A9698 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
- 2 units MAI 3 — Date of Service Edit: Clinical · Clinical: Data
- outpatient
- 3 units MAI 3 — Date of Service Edit: Clinical · Clinical: CMS Workgroup
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 A9698
- Long descriptor
- Non-radioactive contrast imaging material, not otherwise classified, per study
- Short descriptor
- Non-rad contrast materialnoc
- Added
- January 1, 2006
- BETOS
- I1E
- Pricing indicator
- 51 — Other
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.
Drugs.
Codes adjacent to A9698
HCPCS has no hierarchy — related items simply sit next to each other in the numbering. If A9698 is not quite right, the correct code is very often within a few positions of it.
- A9608Flotufolastat f 18, diagnostic, 1 millicurie
- A9609Fludeoxyglucose f18 up to 15 millicuries
- A9610Xenon xe-129 hyperpolarized gas, diagnostic, per study dose
- A9611Flurpiridaz f 18, diagnostic, 1 millicurie
- A9612Injection, fluorescein, 1 mg
- A9615Injection, pegulicianine, 1 mg
- A9616Gallium ga-68 gozetotide (gozellix), diagnostic, 1 millicurie
- A9697Injection, carboxydextran-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide, per study dose
- A9699Radiopharmaceutical, therapeutic, not otherwise classified
- A9700Supply of injectable contrast material for use in echocardiography, per study
- A9800Gallium ga-68 gozetotide, diagnostic, (locametz), 1 millicurie
- A9900Miscellaneous dme supply, accessory, and/or service component of another hcpcs code
- A9901Dme delivery, set up, and/or dispensing service component of another hcpcs code
- A9999Miscellaneous dme supply or accessory, not otherwise specified
- B4034Enteral feeding supply kit; syringe fed, per day, includes but not limited to feeding/flushing syringe, administration set tubing, dressings, tape
- B4035Enteral feeding supply kit; pump fed, per day, includes but not limited to feeding/flushing syringe, administration set tubing, dressings, tape
Questions about A9698
What is HCPCS code A9698?
A9698 is a HCPCS Level II code for non-radioactive contrast imaging material, not otherwise classified, per study. It sits in the Transportation, Medical & Surgical Supplies, Administrative section.
Does Medicare cover A9698?
The CMS HCPCS file marks A9698 as "Special coverage instructions apply". There are published conditions attached to this code. Check the applicable coverage policy before billing it: the code being valid is not the same as the service being covered.
How is A9698 paid under the physician fee schedule?
A9698 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.