C9803 — Hospital outpatient clinic visit specimen collection for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (sars-cov-2) (coronavirus disease [covid-19]), any specimen source
C9803 is a HCPCS Level II code for hospital outpatient clinic visit specimen collection for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (sars-cov-2) (coronavirus disease [covid-19]), any specimen source. 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 C9803 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 C9803
- Long descriptor
- Hospital outpatient clinic visit specimen collection for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (sars-cov-2) (coronavirus disease [covid-19]), any specimen source
- Short descriptor
- Hopd covid-19 spec collect
- Added
- March 1, 2020
- Terminated
- December 31, 2023
- BETOS
- T1G
- Pricing indicator
- 53 — Other
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.
When CMS retired it.
Berenson-Eggers Type of Service — CMS's own analytic grouping.
Statute.
Codes adjacent to C9803
HCPCS has no hierarchy — related items simply sit next to each other in the numbering. If C9803 is not quite right, the correct code is very often within a few positions of it.
- 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])
- C9797Vascular embolization or occlusion procedure with use of a pressure-generating catheter (e.g., one-way valve, intermittently occluding), inclusive of all radiological supervision and interpretation, intraprocedural roadmapping, and imaging guidance necessary to complete the intervention; for tumors, organ ischemia, or infarction
- C9800Dermal injection procedure(s) for facial lipodystrophy syndrome (lds) and provision of radiesse or sculptra dermal filler, including all items and suppliesterminated
- C9804Elastomeric infusion pump (e.g., on-q* pump with bolus), including catheter and all disposable system components, non-opioid medical device (must be a qualifying medicare non-opioid medical device for post-surgical pain relief in accordance with section 4135 of the caa, 2023)
- C9806Rotary peristaltic infusion pump (e.g., ambit pump), including catheter and all disposable system components, non-opioid medical device (must be a qualifying medicare non-opioid medical device for post-surgical pain relief in accordance with section 4135 of the caa, 2023)
- C9807Nerve stimulator, percutaneous, peripheral (e.g., sprint peripheral nerve stimulation system), including electrode and all disposable system components, non-opioid medical device (must be a qualifying medicare non-opioid medical device for post-surgical pain relief in accordance with section 4135 of the caa, 2023)
- C9808Nerve cryoablation probe (e.g., cryoice, cryosphere, cryosphere max, cryoice cryosphere, cryoice cryo2), including probe and all disposable system components, non-opioid medical device (must be a qualifying medicare non-opioid medical device for post-surgical pain relief in accordance with section 4135 of the caa, 2023)
- C9809Cryoneurolysis needle (e.g., iovera system), including needle/tip and all disposable system components, non-opioid medical device (must be a qualifying medicare non-opioid medical device for post-surgical pain relief in accordance with section 4135 of the caa, 2023)
- C9810Water circulating motorized cold therapy device (e.g., iceman) including all system components (e.g. pads, console, disposable parts), non-opioid medical device (must be a qualifying medicare non-opioid medical device for post-surgical pain relief in accordance with section 4135 of the caa, 2023)
- C9811Electronic ambulatory infusion pump (e.g. sapphire pump), including all pump components, including disposable components , non-opioid medical device (must be a qualifying medicare non-opioid medical device for post-surgical pain relief in accordance with section 4135 of the caa, 2023)
- C9812Echogenic nerve block needles (e.g. sonoplex, sonoblock, sonotap), non-opioid medical device (must be a qualifying medicare non-opioid medical device for post-surgical pain relief in accordance with section 4135 of the caa, 2023)
Questions about C9803
What is HCPCS code C9803?
C9803 is a HCPCS Level II code for hospital outpatient clinic visit specimen collection for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (sars-cov-2) (coronavirus disease [covid-19]), any specimen source. It sits in the Outpatient Prospective Payment System section.
Does Medicare cover C9803?
The CMS HCPCS file marks C9803 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 C9803 still valid?
No. C9803 was terminated on December 31, 2023 and should not be used on new claims.