Summary & Overview
HCPCS A0392: ALS Defibrillation Disposable Supplies
HCPCS Level II code A0392 represents disposable supplies used for defibrillation as part of Advanced Life Support (ALS) services in emergency medical transport, designated for use where Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances are not permitted to perform defibrillation. Nationally, this code matters because it defines a billable supply item tied to pre-hospital cardiac care delivery, influencing EMS billing practices and payer coverage for life-saving interventions.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise explanation of the code’s clinical context, typical service setting, and which payers commonly adjudicate claims for ALS defibrillation supplies. The publication outlines expected benchmarks and coverage patterns where available, summarizes relevant policy considerations that affect claim adjudication, and clarifies common billing modifiers used with EMS supply codes. The content also highlights implementation issues for EMS agencies and billing departments, and notes where input data is not available for specific taxonomies, diagnosis pairings, or related codes.
This summary is written for a national audience and is intended to inform billing managers, EMS clinical leads, and payer policy analysts about the role and billing context of A0392.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code A0392 describes ALS specialized service disposable supplies for defibrillation intended for use in jurisdictions where defibrillation cannot be performed in BLS ambulances. The service type is advanced life support specialized supplies for defibrillation during emergency medical transport. The typical site of service is pre-hospital emergency medical services (ambulance/EMS), specifically ALS-level transport units operating under local scope-of-practice limitations.
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Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient scenario involves an advanced life support (ALS) ambulance crew dispatched for an adult with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest exhibiting ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia refractory to basic life support measures. On arrival, the crew performs high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation, establishes ALS interventions (airway management, IV/IO access, pharmacologic support), and uses a disposable external defibrillator electrode/paddle set specifically intended for defibrillation that is billed as an ALS specialized disposable supply under A0392. The device is used in jurisdictions where defibrillation cannot be performed in BLS ambulances and therefore ALS ambulance personnel supply and use the disposable defibrillation components during on-scene resuscitation, during transport to the emergency department, and when transferring care. Documentation includes patient condition on arrival, rhythm strips showing defibrillatable rhythm, number and energy level of shocks delivered, electrode/device lot numbers, time and results of each shock, concurrent ALS interventions, and patient disposition (return of spontaneous circulation, termination of resuscitation, or transport).
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | No modifier | Use when no other modifier is applicable for the service billed with . |