A4556 — Electrodes, (e.g., apnea monitor), per pair
A4556 is a HCPCS Level II code for electrodes, (e.g., apnea monitor), per pair. It belongs to the Transportation, Medical & Surgical Supplies, Administrative section. Whether Medicare pays it depends on the coverage rule below.
Medicare coverage: Carrier judgment
Coverage is decided by your Medicare contractor, not by national policy. Whether this is paid depends on the LCD for your jurisdiction and on what the documentation supports.
From the coverage field of the CMS Alpha-Numeric HCPCS File, release 2026Q3-Jul. This states Medicare’s position on the code, not on your particular claim.
Physician fee schedule statusP
Bundled or excluded. No RVUs and no payment: either bundled into another service or paid under a different provision of the Act.
Global period: XXX
Want the dollar amount for your locality? The fee calculator applies your GPCI and the current conversion factor.
Medically Unlikely Edits — units per day
The most units of A4556 Medicare will pay on one date of service. Bill more on a single line and it is denied. The limit is not the same in every setting, so the row that matters is the one matching the claim you are building.
- practitioner
- 0 — never payable MAI 3 — Date of Service Edit: Clinical · CMS Policy
- outpatient
- 2 units MAI 3 — Date of Service Edit: Clinical · Clinical: Data
- DME supplier
- 0 — never payable MAI 3 — Date of Service Edit: Clinical · Published Contractor Policy
The adjudication indicator decides whether exceeding the limit is worth appealing at all: MAI 1 is a line edit you can support with documentation, MAI 3 is a date-of-service edit that is also appealable, and MAI 2 is absolute — no documentation overrides it. CMS MUE 2026Q3.
The CMS record for A4556
- Long descriptor
- Electrodes, (e.g., apnea monitor), per pair
- Short descriptor
- Electrodes, pair
- Added
- January 1, 1984
- BETOS
- D1E
- Pricing indicator
- 34 — DMEPOS
The official wording. This is what the code means.
CMS's 28-character form, which is what shows up on a remittance advice.
When CMS introduced the code.
Berenson-Eggers Type of Service — CMS's own analytic grouping.
DME supplies. Price subject to floors and ceilings.
Codes adjacent to A4556
HCPCS has no hierarchy — related items simply sit next to each other in the numbering. If A4556 is not quite right, the correct code is very often within a few positions of it.
- A4542Supplies and accessories for external upper limb tremor stimulator of the peripheral nerves of the wrist
- A4543Supplies for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator, for nerves in the auricular region, per month
- A4544Electrode for external lower extremity nerve stimulator for restless legs syndrome
- A4545Supplies and accessories for external tibial nerve stimulator (e.g., socks, gel pads, electrodes, etc.), needed for one month
- A4550Surgical trays
- A4553Non-disposable underpads, all sizes
- A4554Disposable underpads, all sizes
- A4555Electrode/transducer for use with electrical stimulation device used for cancer treatment, replacement only
- A4557Lead wires, (e.g., apnea monitor), per pair
- A4558Conductive gel or paste, for use with electrical device (e.g., tens, nmes), per oz
- A4559Coupling gel or paste, for use with ultrasound device, per oz
- A4560Neuromuscular electrical stimulator (nmes), disposable, replacement only
- A4561Pessary, reusable, rubber, any type
- A4562Pessary, reusable, non rubber, any type
- A4563Rectal control system for vaginal insertion, for long term use, includes pump and all supplies and accessories, any type each
- A4564Pessary, disposable, any type
Questions about A4556
What is HCPCS code A4556?
A4556 is a HCPCS Level II code for electrodes, (e.g., apnea monitor), per pair. It sits in the Transportation, Medical & Surgical Supplies, Administrative section.
Does Medicare cover A4556?
The CMS HCPCS file marks A4556 as "Carrier judgment". Coverage is decided by your Medicare contractor, not by national policy. Whether this is paid depends on the LCD for your jurisdiction and on what the documentation supports.
How is A4556 paid under the physician fee schedule?
A4556 carries PFS status code P. Bundled or excluded. No RVUs and no payment: either bundled into another service or paid under a different provision of the Act.