Summary & Overview
HCPCS A4624: Tracheal Suction Catheter, Non-Closed System
HCPCS Level II code A4624 denotes a tracheal suction catheter (non-closed system), a disposable airway supply used to clear secretions from the trachea or endotracheal tube. This code matters nationally because tracheal suctioning is a common respiratory therapy procedure across acute, post-acute and home care settings; standardized coding enables accurate supply tracking, claims processing, and cost analysis for respiratory care.
Key payers covered in the analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context for use of the device, expected sites of service, and payer coverage scope. The publication summarizes typical billing practice elements, common modifiers encountered in claims, and practical benchmark considerations for supply-line management. It also highlights relevant policy and coding guidance trends that affect reimbursement and documentation for disposable suction catheters.
The content serves clinicians, billing professionals, and policy analysts seeking clear, nationally-oriented guidance on how A4624 is used in claims and the implications for supply utilization and revenue cycle workflows. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code A4624 describes a tracheal suction catheter, any type other than closed system, each. The service represents supply of a sterile suction catheter intended for use in tracheal or endotracheal suctioning to clear airway secretions.
Service Type: Disposable respiratory/airway supply
Typical Site of Service: Inpatient hospital, emergency department, outpatient clinic, long-term care facility, or home health settings where tracheal suctioning is performed
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult or pediatric inpatient in an acute care setting who requires intermittent tracheal suctioning for secretion clearance via an endotracheal or tracheostomy tube. The patient may have impaired cough reflex, thick pulmonary secretions, or acute respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. A respiratory therapist or trained nurse assembles a sterile single-use tracheal suction catheter (A4624) at bedside, pre-oxygenates the patient, advances the catheter through the artificial airway without a closed in-line system, applies suction while withdrawing the catheter, and monitors oxygenation and heart rate throughout. Documentation includes indication for suctioning, catheter size and type, suction pressure, number of passes, patient tolerance, and post-procedure breath sounds and oxygen saturation. Typical sites of service are inpatient acute care units, intensive care units, emergency departments, and long-term acute care hospitals where non-closed suction catheters are used.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | No modifier — default billing | Use when no special circumstances apply. |
22 |