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HCPCS C8928 · Level II · C code

C8928: Transthoracic echocardiography with contrast, HCPCS Level II C code

Compiled from CMS files by the QuickIntell RCM Editorial Team · Data effective · Method: reference methodology · Report a data correction

Data currency: HCPCS Level II file: October 2026 (effective October 1, 2026); NCCI MUE tables: 2026 Q4 (effective October 1, 2026); NCCI PTP edits: v323r0 (2026 Q4) (effective October 1, 2026); OPPS Addendum B: October 2026 (effective October 1, 2026); Medicare Coverage Database LCD export: MCD release October 8, 2026 (effective October 4, 2026). Next CMS release: January 1, 2027 (quarterly update) for the HCPCS Level II file and NCCI MUE tables and NCCI PTP edits and OPPS Addendum B; weekly, every Thursday for the Medicare Coverage Database LCD export.

Key facts for C8928

Medicare payment
$800.90
OPPS rate, SI S
Coverage code
D
special coverage instructions apply
Facility outpatient MUE
1
MAI 2
OPPS status
SI S
Procedure or service, not discounted when multiple
NCCI PTP pairs
36
33 hospital outpatient
LCDs and articles
2 / 2

TL;DR

CMS describes HCPCS C8928, added in 2008, as "Transthoracic echocardiography with contrast, or without contrast followed by with contrast, real-time with image documentation (2d), includes m-mode recording, when performed, during rest and cardiovascular stress test using treadmill, bicycle exercise and/or pharmacologically induced stress, with interpretation and report". Hospital outpatient departments are paid $800.90 for C8928 under status indicator S, APC 5573 (Level 3 Imaging with Contrast), minimum unadjusted copayment $160.18 (October 2026 Addendum B). MUE limits for C8928: practitioner 1 (MAI 2, Anatomic Consideration); hospital outpatient 1 (MAI 2, Anatomic Consideration). C8928 is a primary code for 4 add-on codes (93320, 93321, 93325, 93356). In the NCCI PTP files v323r0 C8928 appears in 1 practitioner pairs as column 2 and 35 as column 1 (most often with 93355), and in 1 hospital outpatient pairs as column 2 and 32 as column 1. 2 active LCDs and 2 billing and coding articles list C8928 across 7 states: L33577 (Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE)), L34338 (Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE)), A56781, A57306. HCPCS record: BETOS I3C (ultrasound - heart); pricing indicator 53; type of service 4 (diagnostic radiology). 5 other active codes open with "Transthoracic echocardiography with contrast"; related codes: C8929, C8924, C8923, C8922.

C8928 descriptor and code status

The October 2026 HCPCS Level II file describes C8928 as “Transthoracic echocardiography with contrast, or without contrast followed by with contrast, real-time with image documentation (2d), includes m-mode recording, when performed, during rest and cardiovascular stress test using treadmill, bicycle exercise and/or pharmacologically induced stress, with interpretation and report”. It sits in the C section (hospital outpatient prospective payment system, temporary codes), listed with the other C codes.

HCPCS file attributes of C8928
FieldValue
Short descriptorTte w or w/o fol w/con,stres
Added to HCPCS2008-01-01
Last actionN (no maintenance), effective 2009-01-01
Coverage codeD: special coverage instructions apply
Pricing indicator53: statute
BETOS categoryI3C: ultrasound - heart
Type of service4: diagnostic radiology
Statute1833(t)(2)

Medicare payment for C8928

Hospital outpatient departments are paid $800.90 for C8928 under status indicator S, APC 5573 (Level 3 Imaging with Contrast), minimum unadjusted copayment $160.18 (October 2026 Addendum B). The amounts below are national figures from the October 2026 CMS files; the contractor applies the locality, rural or state adjustment and the beneficiary's cost sharing.

Hospital outpatient (OPPS Addendum B)

Status indicator S (Procedure or service, not discounted when multiple), APC 5573 (Level 3 Imaging with Contrast), national unadjusted payment $800.90 with a minimum unadjusted copayment of $160.18.

Medically Unlikely Edits for C8928

MUE limits for C8928: practitioner 1 (MAI 2, Anatomic Consideration); hospital outpatient 1 (MAI 2, Anatomic Consideration). The facility outpatient MUE is a date-of-service policy edit: units above the limit deny even when split across lines, and appeals rarely succeed.

MUE values for C8928 by setting
SettingMUE (units/DOS)MAICMS rationale
Practitioner services12 Date of Service Edit: PolicyAnatomic Consideration
Facility outpatient hospital12 Date of Service Edit: PolicyAnatomic Consideration

The MUE lookup for C8928 shows every setting next to any other code on the same claim.

NCCI edits and add-on rules

In the practitioner PTP file v323r0, C8928 is the column-2 (bundled) code in 1 active pair, 0% of which allow a modifier and the column-1 code in 35 (74% modifier-allowed); 6 earlier pairs have been deleted. CMS's most frequent rationale for the bundled pairs: Mutually exclusive procedures.

Column-1 codes most often paired with C8928 (practitioner)
Column-1 codePairs
93355 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA)1
Column-2 codes bundled into C8928 (practitioner)
Column-2 codePairs
0708T (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA)1
0709T (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA)1
36000 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA)1
36005 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA)1
36410 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA)1
36591 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA)1
36592 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA)1
76998 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA)1

In the hospital outpatient PTP file v323r0, C8928 is the column-2 (bundled) code in 1 active pair, 0% of which allow a modifier and the column-1 code in 32 (81% modifier-allowed); 6 earlier pairs have been deleted. CMS's most frequent rationale for the bundled pairs: Mutually exclusive procedures.

Column-1 codes most often paired with C8928 (hospital outpatient)
Column-1 codePairs
93355 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA)1
Column-2 codes bundled into C8928 (hospital outpatient)
Column-2 codePairs
0708T (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA)1
0709T (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA)1
36000 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA)1
36005 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA)1
36410 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA)1
76998 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA)1
93040 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA)1
93041 (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA)1

C8928 is a designated primary code for 4 add-on codes (93320, 93321, 93325, 93356).

Pair counts show exposure, not the answer for one claim. Check C8928 against a second code to see whether the pair bundles and whether a modifier can separate the services.

Medicare coverage policies for C8928

2 active Local Coverage Determinations and 2 billing and coding articles list C8928. Each applies only in its contractor's jurisdiction, and the article carries the diagnosis codes that support the item or service.

Billing and Coding Articles listing C8928
ArticleTitleContractor(s)Related LCD
A56781Billing and Coding: Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE)Wellpoint FederalL33577
A57306Billing and Coding: Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE)CGS Administrators, LLCL34338

Denials to expect on C8928

CARC 50 · N115

the diagnosis or documentation does not meet the LCD or billing article that lists C8928

CARC 151 · N362

units of C8928 exceed the facility outpatient MUE of 1 per date of service

CARC 4

the modifier reported is inconsistent with the code

CARC 16

the claim lacks information needed to adjudicate the line, such as an order, NPI or required modifier

Where QuickIntell fits for C8928 claims

QuickCode supports qualified coder review of units, modifiers and NCCI pairs for C8928 before the claim leaves, and QuickRCM carries claim readiness and the denial follow-up when an edit or coverage policy is missed.

See QuickCode for coder reviewSee QuickRCM for denial follow-upBook a meeting

Frequently asked questions: HCPCS C8928

What does HCPCS code C8928 describe?

"Transthoracic echocardiography with contrast, or without contrast followed by with contrast, real-time with image documentation (2d), includes m-mode recording, when performed, during rest and cardiovascular stress test using treadmill, bicycle exercise and/or pharmacologically induced stress, with interpretation and report" (short descriptor "Tte w or w/o fol w/con,stres"), in the C section (hospital outpatient prospective payment system, temporary codes). Added 2008-01-01; last action N (no maintenance) effective 2009-01-01.

Is C8928 a CPT code?

No: CMS maintains C8928 in HCPCS Level II, while the AMA maintains CPT. It goes in the same procedure-code field.

What does Medicare pay for C8928?

Hospital outpatient departments are paid $800.90 for C8928 under status indicator S, APC 5573 (Level 3 Imaging with Contrast), minimum unadjusted copayment $160.18 (October 2026 Addendum B).

Is C8928 an add-on code?

C8928 is a primary code for 4 add-on codes (93320, 93321, 93325, 93356).

How many units of C8928 can be billed per day?

MUE limits for C8928: practitioner 1 (MAI 2, Anatomic Consideration); hospital outpatient 1 (MAI 2, Anatomic Consideration). For the facility outpatient MUE (MAI 2), units above 1 deny for the whole day as a policy limit; denials arrive as CARC 151.

Does Medicare cover C8928?

Coverage code D (special coverage instructions apply). 2 active LCDs and 2 billing and coding articles list C8928 across 7 states: L33577 (Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE)), L34338 (Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE)), A56781, A57306.

Sources

Every figure on this page is taken from the CMS publications below, as released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Projection built 2026-10-10. Verify against the primary file before billing or contracting decisions. The reference methodology explains how each figure is computed from these files.

Disclaimer

This page is an operational reference compiled from CMS publications: the HCPCS Level II file, the physician, DMEPOS and clinical laboratory fee schedules, OPPS and ASC addenda, NCCI MUE, PTP and add-on edit tables and the Medicare Coverage Database. Amounts are Medicare national figures before locality and state adjustment; Medicaid and commercial payers set their own. CPT codes are shown as numbers only; CPT descriptors are copyright AMA. Nothing here is legal, clinical or billing advice.

Found a figure that does not match the CMS file? Report a data correction with the CMS file and the value you expected; the request reaches the editorial team through the contact form.