Summary & Overview
HCPCS B9998: Enteral Nutrition Supplies, Noc
HCPCS Level II code B9998 denotes a notice/non-covered entry related to enteral nutrition supplies. This code is used to identify items or supply transactions tied to enteral feeding where coverage may not apply or where a notice of coverage status is recorded. Nationally, clear identification of non-covered enteral supplies matters for billing transparency, patient communications, and claims adjudication across payer types.
Key payers in this overview include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise explanation of the code's clinical and billing context, what service and site of service it represents, and which major payers are relevant for coverage considerations. The publication summarizes typical use cases for enteral supply coding, common billing modifiers associated with these supply/service lines (listed separately), and notes where input data is not available.
The article provides benchmarks and policy context where available, outlines typical payer coverage patterns for enteral supplies, and highlights operational implications for provider billing workflows and claims processing. Data not available in the input will be explicitly noted.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code B9998 is described as Noc for enteral supplies, indicating a billing entry related to non-covered or notice-of-coverage items associated with enteral nutrition supplies. The service type is enteral nutrition supplies and associated non-covered/notice items. The typical site of service is settings that deliver enteral feeding supplies, such as home health or outpatient supply distribution locations.
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient receiving B9998 (NOC for enteral supplies) is an adult or pediatric patient with chronic inability to meet nutritional needs orally due to neurological impairment, head and neck cancer, severe dysphagia, or gastrointestinal dysfunction. The clinical workflow begins with the ordering clinician (often a gastroenterologist, primary care physician, or advanced practice clinician) documenting medical necessity for enteral nutrition and specifying required supplies (feeding tubes, extension sets, administration sets, feeding pumps, syringes, and dressings). A durable medical equipment (DME) supplier verifies the order, obtains necessary documentation (physician’s order, nutrition assessment, and face-to-face encounter when required), and coordinates delivery and education. Typical sites of service include outpatient clinics, home health settings, long-term care facilities, and inpatient discharges transitioning to home enteral nutrition. Common scenarios include initiation of tube feeding after placement of a gastrostomy tube, continued home supplies for a patient on long-term enteral nutrition, or replacement supplies after disruption of enteral access.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
22 | Increased procedural services | Use when documentation supports substantially greater work for supplying or coordinating complex enteral supply needs (rare for supply codes). |