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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesAdministrative, Miscellaneous and InvestigationalHCPCS hcpcs-a9538-technetium-tc-99m-pyrophosphate-diagnostic
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    HCPCS Level II A9538: Technetium tc-99m Pyrophosphate Diagnostic Study Dose

    HCPCS Level II code A9538 describes a diagnostic radiopharmaceutical study dose of technetium tc-99m pyrophosphate, billed per study dose, up to 25 millicuries; the service is a nuclear medicine diagnostic imaging procedure typically performed in an outpatient imaging center or hospital nuclear medicine department and documented as a single study dose administration for myocardial or other tissue imaging.

    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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    Table of contents

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    • Billing CodesCPT, HCPCS, DRG & more
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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is an adult referred to nuclear medicine for evaluation of suspected myocardial infarction, cardiac amyloidosis, or myocardial necrosis where technetium pyrophosphate imaging is indicated. The patient arrives to an outpatient imaging center or hospital radiology/nuclear medicine department after clinical assessment in the emergency department, cardiology clinic, or inpatient ward. The nuclear medicine technologist confirms identity, checks for contraindications (recent radiopharmaceutical studies that may interfere, pregnancy, or breastfeeding), obtains informed consent as required by facility policy, and documents medication and allergy history. The technologist administers A9538 (Technetium tc-99m pyrophosphate) intravenous dose up to 25 millicuries. Imaging acquisition is performed by a nuclear medicine technologist or radiologic technologist under the supervision of a nuclear medicine physician or cardiologist, using planar and/or SPECT cardiac imaging protocols appropriate to the indication. The interpreting physician reviews images, correlates with clinical data (ECG, troponin levels, echocardiography), and provides a diagnostic report. The radiopharmaceutical dose billing uses A9538 for the per-study dose; technical and professional components of imaging may be billed separately using CPT procedures and applicable modifiers.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    78452Myocardial imaging, planar, SPECT, or SPECT/CT; single study with first radiopharmaceuticalCommon technical/professional CPT for cardiac perfusion/nuclear myocardial imaging protocols performed alongside A9538 administration
    78014Radionuclide imaging, limited, single area (e.g., thyroid uptake)May be used for limited planar radionuclide studies; less commonly paired with cardiac-specific pyrophosphate but listed for single-area radionuclide protocols
    71020Radiologic examination, chest; single viewPerformed adjunctively to assess chest anatomy prior to or concurrent with cardiac imaging when clinically indicated
    93000Electrocardiogram, routine ECG with interpretation and reportOften obtained same day to correlate with nuclear cardiology findings and billing as part of the diagnostic workup
    93010Electrocardiogram interpretation onlyUsed when only interpretation of ECG is billed separate from ECG acquisition

    Related Modifiers

    11 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…
    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…
    77Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…
    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…
    80CPT® Modifier 80 (Assistant Surgeon) is appended to a surgical CPT code when a physician (MD or DO) provides full, continuous assistance throughout the operative procedure. It is intended only for…- Use CPT Modifier -80 when a physician (MD or DO) serves as an assistant surgeon and provides full, continuous assistance throughout the entire operative procedure; append -80 to the surgical CPT…
    62Modifier 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…
    22Modifier –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…
    23Modifier -23 (Unusual Anesthesia) is used on anesthesia service CPT codes when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia…- Use modifier -23 only on anesthesia CPT codes (00100–01999) when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia because of…
    56Modifier ‑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…

    Showing 1–10 of 11

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy CodeSpecialtyNotes
    2084P0800XPsychiatry PhysicianA Psychiatrist specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders, emotional disorders, psychotic disorders, mood disorders, …
    207RC0000XCardiovascular Disease PhysicianAn internist who specializes in diseases of the heart and blood vessels and manages complex cardiac conditions such as heart attacks and life-threaten…
    363L00000XNurse Practitioner(1) A registered nurse provider with a graduate degree in nursing prepared for advanced practice involving independent and interdependent decision mak…
    152WS0006XSports Vision OptometristAn optometrist who offers services designed to care for unique vision care needs of athletes, which may include one of more of the following services:…
    173000000XLegal MedicineThe specialty areas of medicine concerned with matters of, and relations with, substantive law and legal institutions; such as the conduct of medical …
    2471C3402XRadiography Radiologic TechnologistA radiologic technologist who specializes in radiography (also known as x-rays) and is appropriately educated and trained, consistent with nationally …
    207ZC0500XCytopathology PhysicianA cytopathologist is an anatomic pathologist trained in the diagnosis of human disease by means of the study of cells obtained from body secretions an…
    103G00000XClinical NeuropsychologistA clinical psychologist who applies principles of assessment and intervention based upon the scientific study of human behavior as it relates to norma…

    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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