HCPCS Level II A9280: Alert or Alarm Device, Not Otherwise Classified

HCPCS Level II code A9280 describes an alert or alarm device, not otherwise classified, used to notify patients or caregivers of physiologic events or environmental hazards; service type is alert/alarm device provision or rental, and the typical site of service is home or community-based settings where patient monitoring or safety notification is required.

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HCPCS Level II A9280: Alert or Alarm Device, Not Otherwise Classified

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Get alerted when payer policies referencing A9280 are released or updated.

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Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A typical patient receiving an A9280 device is an older adult or medically complex individual at risk for falls, wandering, or unattended emergencies who requires a portable alert or alarm device to summon assistance. The clinical workflow begins with a clinician (primary care physician, geriatrician, neurologist, or home health nurse) identifying risk through history and functional assessment — for example, recent falls, syncope, cognitive impairment, or high-risk medication use. An order is placed for an alert/alarm device. A durable medical equipment supplier or home health agency delivers the device, provides setup and patient/caregiver education, documents device serial number and settings, and confirms connectivity (cellular, landline, or base station). Follow-up visits or calls verify continued use, battery status, and response times from monitoring services. Typical settings for use include the patient’s home, assisted living facility, skilled nursing facility, or during transitional care after hospital discharge. Payors involved in authorization and coverage review include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, BUCA, and Medicare.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`99406`	Smoking and tobacco use cessation counseling, intermediate, 3-10 minutes	Example of a short counseling service that may be delivered during a home visit or clinic visit when ordering an alert device as part of risk-reduction counseling.
`99407`	Smoking and tobacco use cessation counseling, intensive, greater than 10 minutes	Represents a longer counseling encounter that could accompany comprehensive home safety counseling when ordering the device.
`99304`	Nursing facility care, per day, for the evaluation and management of a patient, typically 30 minutes	Used when device assessment, education, or coordination occurs during a nursing facility evaluation.
`96372`	Therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic injection (specify substance or drug); subcutaneous or intramuscular	Included as an example of a common procedure that may occur in the same care episode; not directly related to supplying the device but often billed in complex outpatient visits.
`99483`	Assessment and care planning for persons with cognitive impairment	Commonly performed by clinicians who order alert devices for patients with dementia to address safety and emergency response planning.

Related Modifiers

7 rows

Modifier	Description	When to Use
22	Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…	- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
52	Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…	- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
53	Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…	- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
54	Modifier ‑54 (“Surgical care only”) is appended to a CPT surgical procedure when the reporting surgeon performs the intraoperative (surgical) component but does not furnish the preoperative and/or…	- Use modifier -54 when the reporting surgeon provided only the intraoperative (surgical) component of a procedure and preoperative and/or postoperative management has been or will be provided by…
55	Modifier –55 indicates the billing provider furnished only postoperative management for a procedure that has a global surgical period. According to AAPC, this modifier is appended to the same CPT…	- Use modifier -55 when billing the same CPT surgical code that has a 10- or 90-day global period and you, as a provider other than the original surgeon, furnished ONLY postoperative management (no…
56	Modifier ‑56 indicates the reporting provider furnished only the preoperative management for a surgical procedure and did not perform the intraoperative or postoperative care. It is used in…	- Use Modifier -56 when a provider performs only the preoperative management in a split‑care situation (one physician manages preop care while a different physician performs the intraoperative…
62	Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…	- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…

Related Provider Taxonomies

8 rows

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
208000000X	Pediatrics Physician	A pediatrician is concerned with the physical, emotional and social health of children from birth to young adulthood. Care encompasses a broad spectru…
207Q00000X	Family Medicine Physician	Family Medicine is the medical specialty which is concerned with the total health care of the individual and the family. It is the specialty in breadt…
111N00000X	Chiropractor	A provider qualified by a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.), licensed by the State and who practices chiropractic medicine -that discipline within the hea…
3336C0002X	Clinic Pharmacy	A pharmacy in a clinic, emergency room or hospital (outpatient) that dispenses medications to patients for self-administration under the supervision o…
261QS1000X	Student Health Clinic/Center	Ambulatory Health Care Facilities · Clinic/Center
132700000X	Dietary Manager	A dietary manager is a trained food services professional who is charged with maintaining cost/profit objectives, purchasing foods and services for th…
385H00000X	Respite Care	Respite Care Facility · Respite Care
2084S0012X	Sleep Medicine (Psychiatry & Neurology) Physician	A Psychiatrist or Neurologist who practices Sleep Medicine is certified in the subspecialty of sleep medicine and specializes in the clinical assessme…

Related ICD-10-CM Codes

26 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
D50.9	Iron deficiency anemia, unspecified
D64.9	Anemia, unspecified
E11.9	Type 2 diabetes mellitus without complications
E78.5	Hyperlipidemia, unspecified
F02.80	Dementia in other diseases classified elsewhere, unspecified severity, without behavioral disturbance, psychotic disturbance, mood disturbance, and anxiety
F03.90	Unspecified dementia, unspecified severity, without behavioral disturbance, psychotic disturbance, mood disturbance, and anxiety
F10.21	Alcohol dependence, in remission
F11.14	Opioid abuse with opioid-induced mood disorder
G30.9	Alzheimer's disease, unspecified
G31.84	Mild cognitive impairment of uncertain or unknown etiology

Showing 1–10 of 26

Related Codes

HCPCS-A9150-NON-PRESCRIPTION-DRUGS

HCPCS Level II A9150: Non-prescription Drugs

HCPCS-A9152-SINGLE-ORAL-VITAMIN-MINERAL-DOSE

HCPCS A9152: Single Oral Vitamin/Mineral/Trace Element

HCPCS-A9153-MULTIVITAMIN-ORAL-PER-DOSE

HCPCS A9153: Multiple Vitamins, Oral, Per Dose

HCPCS-A9154-ARTIFICIAL-SALIVA-1ML

HCPCS Level II A9154: Artificial saliva, 1 ml

HCPCS-A9155-ARTIFICIAL-SALIVA-30ML

HCPCS Level II A9155: Artificial Saliva, 30 mL

HCPCS-A9156-ORAL-MUCOADHESIVE-PER-1ML

HCPCS Level II A9156: Oral Mucoadhesive, Per 1 ml

HCPCS-A9180-PEDICULOSIS-TOPICAL-TREATMENT-PATIENT-ADMINISTRATION

HCPCS Level II A9180: Pediculosis Topical Treatment for Patient/Caretaker

HCPCS-A9268-PROGRAMMER-TRANSIENT-INGESTED-CAPSULE

HCPCS Level II A9268: Programmer for Transient Orally Ingested Capsule

HCPCS-A9269-PROGRAMMABLE-TRANSIENT-ORAL-CAPSULE

HCPCS Level II A9269: Programmable Orally Ingested Capsule, Per Month

HCPCS-A9270-NON-COVERED-ITEM-OR-SERVICE

HCPCS A9270: Non-covered Item or Service

Showing 1–10 of 138

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

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Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`99406`	Smoking and tobacco use cessation counseling, intermediate, 3-10 minutes	Example of a short counseling service that may be delivered during a home visit or clinic visit when ordering an alert device as part of risk-reduction counseling.
`99407`	Smoking and tobacco use cessation counseling, intensive, greater than 10 minutes	Represents a longer counseling encounter that could accompany comprehensive home safety counseling when ordering the device.
`99304`	Nursing facility care, per day, for the evaluation and management of a patient, typically 30 minutes	Used when device assessment, education, or coordination occurs during a nursing facility evaluation.
`96372`	Therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic injection (specify substance or drug); subcutaneous or intramuscular	Included as an example of a common procedure that may occur in the same care episode; not directly related to supplying the device but often billed in complex outpatient visits.
`99483`	Assessment and care planning for persons with cognitive impairment	Commonly performed by clinicians who order alert devices for patients with dementia to address safety and emergency response planning.

Related Modifiers

7 rows

Modifier	Description	When to Use
22	Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…	- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
52	Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…	- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
53	Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…	- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
54	Modifier ‑54 (“Surgical care only”) is appended to a CPT surgical procedure when the reporting surgeon performs the intraoperative (surgical) component but does not furnish the preoperative and/or…	- Use modifier -54 when the reporting surgeon provided only the intraoperative (surgical) component of a procedure and preoperative and/or postoperative management has been or will be provided by…
55	Modifier –55 indicates the billing provider furnished only postoperative management for a procedure that has a global surgical period. According to AAPC, this modifier is appended to the same CPT…	- Use modifier -55 when billing the same CPT surgical code that has a 10- or 90-day global period and you, as a provider other than the original surgeon, furnished ONLY postoperative management (no…
56	Modifier ‑56 indicates the reporting provider furnished only the preoperative management for a surgical procedure and did not perform the intraoperative or postoperative care. It is used in…	- Use Modifier -56 when a provider performs only the preoperative management in a split‑care situation (one physician manages preop care while a different physician performs the intraoperative…
62	Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…	- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…

Related Provider Taxonomies

8 rows

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
208000000X	Pediatrics Physician	A pediatrician is concerned with the physical, emotional and social health of children from birth to young adulthood. Care encompasses a broad spectru…
207Q00000X	Family Medicine Physician	Family Medicine is the medical specialty which is concerned with the total health care of the individual and the family. It is the specialty in breadt…
111N00000X	Chiropractor	A provider qualified by a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.), licensed by the State and who practices chiropractic medicine -that discipline within the hea…
3336C0002X	Clinic Pharmacy	A pharmacy in a clinic, emergency room or hospital (outpatient) that dispenses medications to patients for self-administration under the supervision o…
261QS1000X	Student Health Clinic/Center	Ambulatory Health Care Facilities · Clinic/Center
132700000X	Dietary Manager	A dietary manager is a trained food services professional who is charged with maintaining cost/profit objectives, purchasing foods and services for th…
385H00000X	Respite Care	Respite Care Facility · Respite Care
2084S0012X	Sleep Medicine (Psychiatry & Neurology) Physician	A Psychiatrist or Neurologist who practices Sleep Medicine is certified in the subspecialty of sleep medicine and specializes in the clinical assessme…

Related ICD-10-CM Codes

26 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
D50.9	Iron deficiency anemia, unspecified
D64.9	Anemia, unspecified
E11.9	Type 2 diabetes mellitus without complications
E78.5	Hyperlipidemia, unspecified
F02.80	Dementia in other diseases classified elsewhere, unspecified severity, without behavioral disturbance, psychotic disturbance, mood disturbance, and anxiety
F03.90	Unspecified dementia, unspecified severity, without behavioral disturbance, psychotic disturbance, mood disturbance, and anxiety
F10.21	Alcohol dependence, in remission
F11.14	Opioid abuse with opioid-induced mood disorder
G30.9	Alzheimer's disease, unspecified
G31.84	Mild cognitive impairment of uncertain or unknown etiology

Showing 1–10 of 26

Related Codes

HCPCS-A9150-NON-PRESCRIPTION-DRUGS

HCPCS Level II A9150: Non-prescription Drugs

HCPCS-A9152-SINGLE-ORAL-VITAMIN-MINERAL-DOSE

HCPCS A9152: Single Oral Vitamin/Mineral/Trace Element

HCPCS-A9153-MULTIVITAMIN-ORAL-PER-DOSE

HCPCS A9153: Multiple Vitamins, Oral, Per Dose

HCPCS-A9154-ARTIFICIAL-SALIVA-1ML

HCPCS Level II A9154: Artificial saliva, 1 ml

HCPCS-A9155-ARTIFICIAL-SALIVA-30ML

HCPCS Level II A9155: Artificial Saliva, 30 mL

HCPCS-A9156-ORAL-MUCOADHESIVE-PER-1ML

HCPCS Level II A9156: Oral Mucoadhesive, Per 1 ml

HCPCS-A9180-PEDICULOSIS-TOPICAL-TREATMENT-PATIENT-ADMINISTRATION

HCPCS Level II A9180: Pediculosis Topical Treatment for Patient/Caretaker

HCPCS-A9268-PROGRAMMER-TRANSIENT-INGESTED-CAPSULE

HCPCS Level II A9268: Programmer for Transient Orally Ingested Capsule

HCPCS-A9269-PROGRAMMABLE-TRANSIENT-ORAL-CAPSULE

HCPCS Level II A9269: Programmable Orally Ingested Capsule, Per Month

HCPCS-A9270-NON-COVERED-ITEM-OR-SERVICE

HCPCS A9270: Non-covered Item or Service

Showing 1–10 of 138

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

HCPCS Level II A9280: Alert or Alarm Device, Not Otherwise Classified

Sign up for hcpcs A9280 policy alerts

HCPCS Level II A9280: Alert or Alarm Device, Not Otherwise Classified

Sign up for hcpcs A9280 policy alerts

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

Related Modifiers

Related Provider Taxonomies

Related ICD-10-CM Codes

Related Codes

What does HCPCS A9280 represent and where is it typically used?

Which patients and clinical workflows are associated with billing A9280?

Which modifiers are commonly used with A9280 and when are they applicable?

Which payers are referenced for A9280 coverage and do policies vary?

What related CPT and ICD-10 codes are associated with clinical use of A9280?

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

Related Modifiers

Related Provider Taxonomies

Related ICD-10-CM Codes

Related Codes

What does HCPCS A9280 represent and where is it typically used?

Which patients and clinical workflows are associated with billing A9280?

Which modifiers are commonly used with A9280 and when are they applicable?

Which payers are referenced for A9280 coverage and do policies vary?

What related CPT and ICD-10 codes are associated with clinical use of A9280?

References