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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesAdministrative, Miscellaneous and InvestigationalHCPCS hcpcs-a9537-technetium-mebrofenin-hepatobiliary-imaging
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    HCPCS Level II A9537: Technetium tc-99m Mebrofenin Diagnostic Study Dose

    HCPCS Level II code A9537 describes a diagnostic nuclear medicine radiopharmaceutical, technetium tc-99m mebrofenin, billed per study dose (up to 15 millicuries) typically used for hepatobiliary imaging; the service is a diagnostic nuclear medicine radiopharmaceutical administration and the typical site of service is an outpatient imaging center, hospital nuclear medicine department, or radiology clinic where hepatobiliary (HIDA) studies are performed.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Interferential Stimulation Devices (for home use), Durable Medical Equipment (DME): Tumor Treating Fields (Alternating Electric Field Therapy) Medical Guideline, Durable Medical Equipment (DME): Bone Growth Stimulators Medical Guideline.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is an adult referred to nuclear medicine for evaluation of hepatobiliary function and suspected biliary obstruction or acute cholecystitis. The clinician orders a technetium Tc-99m mebrofenin hepatobiliary (HIDA) study using billing code A9537 for a diagnostic radiopharmaceutical dose (up to 15 millicuries). The patient arrives to an outpatient imaging center or hospital nuclear medicine department, is screened for pregnancy and recent opioid use, and an intravenous line is placed. The radiopharmaceutical A9537 is administered intravenously and planar or SPECT imaging is acquired over the liver, biliary tree, gallbladder, and small bowel according to the study protocol. Imaging acquisition and interpretation are performed by a nuclear medicine physician or radiologist, with technologist preparation and injection documentation. Typical clinical indications include right upper quadrant pain, suspected acute cholecystitis, evaluation of biliary leak, assessment of biliary atresia in pediatrics, or assessment of bile duct patency after surgery. The typical site of service is an outpatient nuclear medicine department or hospital imaging center; inpatient studies are performed at the bedside or in the hospital’s nuclear medicine unit when clinically indicated.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    78800Radiopharmaceutical therapy and/or imaging, administered and imaged, single area; planar imaging (e.g., hepatobiliary)Common CPT for nuclear medicine imaging acquisition associated with HIDA studies when procedural coding is required.
    78803Radiopharmaceutical localization imaging, limited area, including planar, SPECT when performedUsed when limited or single-area nuclear imaging acquisition accompanies the radiopharmaceutical administration.
    96372Therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic injection (specify substance or drug); subcutaneous or intramuscularOccasionally used for documentation of injection services in clinic settings—less common for IV radiopharmaceutical administration but may appear in workflow documentation.
    77012Computed tomography guidance for radiopharmaceutical localization (SPECT/CT)Used when SPECT/CT fusion localization is performed as part of the hepatobiliary study.
    99213Office or other outpatient visit, established patientRepresents the clinician evaluation that may precede or follow the HIDA study when performed in outpatient settings.

    Related Modifiers

    6 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    52Modifier ‑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…
    53Modifier 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…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    78CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy CodeSpecialtyNotes
    207K00000XAllergy & Immunology PhysicianAn allergist-immunologist is trained in evaluation, physical and laboratory diagnosis, and management of disorders involving the immune system. Select…
    390200000XStudent in an Organized Health Care Education/Training ProgramAn individual who is enrolled in an organized health care education/training program leading to a degree, certification, registration, and/or licensur…
    363A00000XPhysician AssistantA physician assistant is a person who has successfully completed an accredited education program for physician assistant, is licensed by the state and…
    111NR0400XRehabilitation ChiropractorRehabilitation is the discipline focused on restoring a patient's functional abilities to pre-injury or pre-disease status. Functional abilities are d…
    246ZB0301XBiomedical EngineerNone
    224ZF0002XFeeding, Eating & Swallowing Occupational Therapy AssistantOccupational therapy assistants provide environmental modifications under the supervision of an occupational therapist. OTAs develop and implement an…
    283Q00000XPsychiatric HospitalAn organization including a physical plant and personnel that provides multidisciplinary diagnostic and treatment mental health services to patients r…
    261QP2300XPrimary Care Clinic/CenterAmbulatory Health Care Facilities · Clinic/Center

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    28 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    B18.2Chronic viral hepatitis C
    B18.9Chronic viral hepatitis, unspecified
    C18.9Malignant neoplasm of colon, unspecified
    C22.9Malignant neoplasm of liver, not specified as primary or secondary
    E78.5Hyperlipidemia, unspecified
    E83.10Disorder of iron metabolism, unspecified
    E88.01Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency
    I85.00Esophageal varices without bleeding
    I85.01Esophageal varices with bleeding
    K70.0Alcoholic fatty liver

    Showing 1–10 of 28

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Durable Medical Equipment (DME)1 / 3

    5 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Interferential Stimulation Devices (for home use)Moda Health2026-10-01
    Durable Medical Equipment (DME): Tumor Treating Fields (Alternating Electric Field Therapy) Medical GuidelineWPS Health Insurance2026-10-01
    Durable Medical Equipment (DME): Bone Growth Stimulators Medical GuidelineWPS Health Insurance2026-10-01
    General Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Medical GuidelineWPS Health Insurance2026-10-01
    Prior Authorization for Durable Medical Equipment (DME)Blue Cross Blue Shield - Rhode Island2026-10-01

    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

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 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. 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. 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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