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C9788

C9788Opto-acoustic imaging, breast (including axilla when performed), unilateral, with image documentation, analysis and report, obtained with ultrasound examination

HCPCSTerminatedBETOS I4B

C9788 is a HCPCS Level II code for opto-acoustic imaging, breast (including axilla when performed), unilateral, with image documentation, analysis and report, obtained with ultrasound examination. It belongs to the Outpatient Prospective Payment System section. It was terminated on December 31, 2023 and is not valid on new claims.

This code has been terminated

CMS terminated C9788 on December 31, 2023. It stays in the file as history — a claim you are auditing from before that date may legitimately carry it — but it must not appear on a new claim. The adjacent codes below are the usual place to look for its replacement.

Medicare coverage: Special coverage instructions apply

There are published conditions attached to this code. Check the applicable coverage policy before billing it: the code being valid is not the same as the service being covered.

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.

The CMS record for C9788

Long descriptor
Opto-acoustic imaging, breast (including axilla when performed), unilateral, with image documentation, analysis and report, obtained with ultrasound examination

The official wording. This is what the code means.

Short descriptor
Uni breas optoacoustic imag

CMS's 28-character form, which is what shows up on a remittance advice.

Added
October 1, 2023

When CMS introduced the code.

Terminated
December 31, 2023

When CMS retired it.

BETOS
I4B

Berenson-Eggers Type of Service — CMS's own analytic grouping.

Pricing indicator
53 — Other

Statute.

Codes adjacent to C9788

HCPCS has no hierarchy — related items simply sit next to each other in the numbering. If C9788 is not quite right, the correct code is very often within a few positions of it.

  • C9780Insertion of central venous catheter through central venous occlusion via inferior and superior approaches (e.g., inside-out technique), including imaging guidance
  • C9781Arthroscopy, shoulder, surgical; with implantation of subacromial spacer (e.g., balloon), includes debridement (e.g., limited or extensive), subacromial decompression, acromioplasty, and biceps tenodesis when performed
  • C9782Blinded procedure for new york heart association (nyha) class ii or iii heart failure, or canadian cardiovascular society (ccs) class iii or iv chronic refractory angina; transcatheter intramyocardial transplantation of autologous bone marrow cells (e.g., mononuclear) or placebo control, autologous bone marrow harvesting and preparation for transplantation, left heart catheterization including ventriculography, all laboratory services, and all imaging with or without guidance (e.g., transthoracic echocardiography, ultrasound, fluoroscopy), performed in an approved investigational device exemption (ide) study
  • C9783Blinded procedure for transcatheter implantation of coronary sinus reduction device or placebo control, including vascular access and closure, right heart catheterization, venous and coronary sinus angiography, imaging guidance and supervision and interpretation when performed in an approved investigational device exemption (ide) study
  • C9784Gastric restrictive procedure, endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty, with esophagogastroduodenoscopy and intraluminal tube insertion, if performed, including all system and tissue anchoring componentsterminated
  • C9785Endoscopic outlet reduction, gastric pouch application, with endoscopy and intraluminal tube insertion, if performed, including all system and tissue anchoring components
  • C9786Echocardiography image post processing for computer aided detection of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, including interpretation and reportterminated
  • C9787Gastric electrophysiology mapping with simultaneous patient symptom profilingterminated
  • C9789Instillation of anti-neoplastic pharmacologic/biologic agent into renal pelvis, any method, including all imaging guidance, including volumetric measurement if performed
  • C9790Histotripsy (i.e., non-thermal ablation via acoustic energy delivery) of malignant renal tissue, including image guidanceterminated
  • C9791Magnetic resonance imaging with inhaled hyperpolarized xenon-129 contrast agent, chest, including preparation and administration of agent
  • C9792Blinded or nonblinded procedure for symptomatic new york heart association (nyha) class ii, iii, iva heart failure; transcatheter implantation of left atrial to coronary sinus shunt using jugular vein access, including all imaging necessary to intra procedurally map the coronary sinus for optimal shunt placement (e.g., tee or ice ultrasound, fluoroscopy), performed under general anesthesia in an approved investigational device exemption (ide) study)
  • C97933d predictive model generation for pre-planning of a cardiac procedure, using data from cardiac computed tomographic angiography and/or magnetic resonance imaging with report
  • C9794Therapeutic radiology simulation-aided field setting; complex, including acquisition of pet and ct imaging data required for radiopharmaceutical-directed radiation therapy treatment planning (i.e., modeling)terminated
  • C9795Stereotactic body radiation therapy, treatment delivery, per fraction to 1 or more lesions, including image guidance and real-time positron emissions-based delivery adjustments to 1 or more lesions, entire course not to exceed 5 fractionsterminated
  • C9796Repair of enterocutaneous fistula small intestine or colon (excluding anorectal fistula) with plug (e.g., porcine small intestine submucosa [sis])

Questions about C9788

What is HCPCS code C9788?

C9788 is a HCPCS Level II code for opto-acoustic imaging, breast (including axilla when performed), unilateral, with image documentation, analysis and report, obtained with ultrasound examination. It sits in the Outpatient Prospective Payment System section.

Does Medicare cover C9788?

The CMS HCPCS file marks C9788 as "Special coverage instructions apply". There are published conditions attached to this code. Check the applicable coverage policy before billing it: the code being valid is not the same as the service being covered.

Is C9788 still valid?

No. C9788 was terminated on December 31, 2023 and should not be used on new claims.

HCPCS Level II2026Q3-Jul· effective July 1, 2026