Summary & Overview
HCPCS S9992: Clinical Trial Participant Transportation
HCPCS Level II code S9992 covers transportation costs for clinical trial participants and one caregiver or companion, including fares for taxicab, bus, and local transit to and from trial locations. This code matters nationally as it facilitates participant access to clinical research by capturing nonmedical transportation expenses that can be a barrier to trial enrollment and retention. Recognizing and billing for these costs supports study participation equity and operational billing transparency.
Key payers discussed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of what S9992 represents, the typical service setting, and which major payers commonly address these charges. The publication outlines benchmarks and billing context where available, summarizes relevant policy considerations affecting coverage of clinical trial transportation, and highlights operational implications for sites and sponsors seeking reimbursement for participant travel. The analysis is national in scope and focuses on how S9992 is used to document transportation support for clinical research participants and an accompanying caregiver.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code S9992 represents transportation costs to and from trial location and local transportation costs (e.g., fares for taxicab or bus) for a clinical trial participant and one caregiver/companion. The service type is transportation support for clinical trial participants and an accompanying caregiver or companion. The typical site of service is non-clinical travel to and from a clinical trial location and local transit services used to reach the trial site.
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Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A patient enrolled in an oncology clinical trial requires regular protocol visits at a research center located 25 miles from their home. The participant, accompanied by one caregiver, uses local transportation (taxicab or rideshare) to attend baseline screening, scheduled study visits for investigational drug administration, imaging, and safety assessments. Clinical workflow includes scheduling transportation reimbursement at the time of visit coordination, documentation of mileage or fare receipts in the research chart, verification of eligibility for transportation support per the trial consent and sponsor policy, and submission of a claim using S9992 to cover round-trip local transportation costs for the participant and one companion. Typical interactions involve the research coordinator collecting a copy of the fare receipt or logging the trip in the participant record, obtaining a signature from the participant/caregiver certifying use, and billing the sponsor or payer according to contract terms. The site of service is typically an outpatient research clinic, clinical trials unit, or hospital outpatient department where study procedures (infusions, labs, imaging) are performed.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | No modifier | Use when no modifier applies; standard billing for S9992. |