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HCPCS C9777 · Level II · C code

C9777: Esophageal mucosal integrity testing by electrical impedance, transoral, 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). Next CMS release: January 1, 2027 (quarterly update).

Key facts for C9777

Medicare payment
$3,938.98
OPPS rate, SI J1
Coverage code
D
special coverage instructions apply
Facility outpatient MUE
1
MAI 3
OPPS status
SI J1
Hospital Part B services paid through a comprehensive APC
NCCI PTP pairs
0
practitioner file
LCDs and articles
0 / 0

TL;DR

HCPCS Level II C9777 reads "Esophageal mucosal integrity testing by electrical impedance, transoral, includes esophagoscopy or esophagogastroduodenoscopy" in the October 2026 file; it dates from 2021. Hospital outpatient departments are paid $3,938.98 for C9777 under status indicator J1, APC 5303 (Level 3 Upper GI Procedures), minimum unadjusted copayment $787.80 (October 2026 Addendum B). MUE limits for C9777: practitioner 1 (MAI 3, Nature of Service/Procedure); hospital outpatient 1 (MAI 3, Nature of Service/Procedure). C9777 appears in no active LCD or billing and coding article, so coverage follows HCPCS coverage code D (special coverage instructions apply) and any NCD. HCPCS record: BETOS P8B (endoscopy - upper gastrointestinal); pricing indicator 53; type of service 2 (surgery), F (ambulatory surgical center). Nearby codes: C9779, C9781, C9785, C9766.

C9777 descriptor and code status

The October 2026 HCPCS Level II file describes C9777 as “Esophageal mucosal integrity testing by electrical impedance, transoral, includes esophagoscopy or esophagogastroduodenoscopy”. It sits in the C section (hospital outpatient prospective payment system, temporary codes), listed with the other C codes.

HCPCS file attributes of C9777
FieldValue
Short descriptorEsophag muc integ w/eso egd
Added to HCPCS2021-04-01
Last actionN (no maintenance), effective 2022-01-01
Coverage codeD: special coverage instructions apply
Pricing indicator53: statute
BETOS categoryP8B: endoscopy - upper gastrointestinal
Type of service2: surgery; F: ambulatory surgical center
Statute1833(t)

Medicare payment for C9777

Hospital outpatient departments are paid $3,938.98 for C9777 under status indicator J1, APC 5303 (Level 3 Upper GI Procedures), minimum unadjusted copayment $787.80 (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 J1 (Hospital Part B services paid through a comprehensive APC), APC 5303 (Level 3 Upper GI Procedures), national unadjusted payment $3,938.98 with a minimum unadjusted copayment of $787.80.

Ambulatory surgical center (Addendum AA)

Payment indicator J8 (Device-intensive procedure; paid at adjusted rate), national rate $2,775.35 at a payment weight of 49.2765. The multiple-procedure discount applies when it is billed with another ASC procedure.

Medically Unlikely Edits for C9777

MUE limits for C9777: practitioner 1 (MAI 3, Nature of Service/Procedure); hospital outpatient 1 (MAI 3, Nature of Service/Procedure). The facility outpatient MUE is a date-of-service clinical edit: units above the limit deny but can be paid on appeal with documentation.

MUE values for C9777 by setting
SettingMUE (units/DOS)MAICMS rationale
Practitioner services13 Date of Service Edit: ClinicalNature of Service/Procedure
Facility outpatient hospital13 Date of Service Edit: ClinicalNature of Service/Procedure

The MUE lookup for C9777 shows every setting next to any other code on the same claim.

NCCI edits and add-on rules

No active practitioner PTP pair lists C9777 in v323r0.

C9777 is neither an add-on code nor a designated primary code in the 2026 Q4 NCCI add-on edit file.

Pair counts show exposure, not the answer for one claim. Check C9777 against a second code to see whether the pair bundles and whether a modifier can separate the services.

Medicare coverage policies for C9777

No current LCD or billing and coding article lists C9777. The HCPCS coverage code D means special coverage instructions apply, and any National Coverage Determination for the service still applies.

Denials to expect on C9777

CARC 50 · N115

the service is not reasonable and necessary for the diagnosis on the claim

CARC 151 · N362

units of C9777 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 C9777 claims

QuickCode supports qualified coder review of units, modifiers and NCCI pairs for C9777 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 C9777

What does HCPCS code C9777 describe?

"Esophageal mucosal integrity testing by electrical impedance, transoral, includes esophagoscopy or esophagogastroduodenoscopy" (short descriptor "Esophag muc integ w/eso egd"), in the C section (hospital outpatient prospective payment system, temporary codes). Added 2021-04-01; last action N (no maintenance) effective 2022-01-01.

Is C9777 a CPT code?

No: CMS maintains C9777 in HCPCS Level II, while the AMA maintains CPT. It goes in the same procedure-code field.

What does Medicare pay for C9777?

Hospital outpatient departments are paid $3,938.98 for C9777 under status indicator J1, APC 5303 (Level 3 Upper GI Procedures), minimum unadjusted copayment $787.80 (October 2026 Addendum B).

How many units of C9777 can be billed per day?

MUE limits for C9777: practitioner 1 (MAI 3, Nature of Service/Procedure); hospital outpatient 1 (MAI 3, Nature of Service/Procedure). For the facility outpatient MUE (MAI 3), units above 1 deny for the day but can be paid on appeal with documentation; denials arrive as CARC 151.

Does Medicare cover C9777?

C9777 appears in no active LCD or billing and coding article, so coverage follows HCPCS coverage code D (special coverage instructions apply) and any NCD.

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.