Q4438 — Pretect, per square centimeter (add-on, list separately in addition to primary procedure)
Q4438 is a HCPCS Level II code for pretect, per square centimeter (add-on, list separately in addition to primary procedure). It belongs to the Temporary Codes 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 statusA
Active code. Paid separately under the physician fee schedule.
- Work RVU
- 0.00
- PE (non-facility)
- 3.81
- PE (facility)
- 3.81
- Malpractice RVU
- 0.00
Global period: ZZZ
Want the dollar amount for your locality? The fee calculator applies your GPCI and the current conversion factor.
The CMS record for Q4438
- Long descriptor
- Pretect, per square centimeter (add-on, list separately in addition to primary procedure)
- Short descriptor
- Pretect per sq cm
- Added
- April 1, 2026
- BETOS
- O1E
- Pricing indicator
- 11 — Physician fee schedule
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.
Price established using national RVUs.
Codes adjacent to Q4438
HCPCS has no hierarchy — related items simply sit next to each other in the numbering. If Q4438 is not quite right, the correct code is very often within a few positions of it.
- Q4428Dermabind sl n or dermabind sl + or dermabind sl x, per square centimeter (add-on, list separately in addition to primary procedure)
- Q4429Dermabind ch n or dermabind ch x, per square centimeter (add-on, list separately in addition to primary procedure)
- Q4431Pma skin substitute product, not otherwise specified (list in addition to primary procedure)
- Q4432510(k) skin substitute product, not otherwise specified (list in addition to primary procedure)
- Q4433361 hct/p skin substitute product, not otherwise specified (list in addition to primary procedure)
- Q4435Renati membrane, per square centimeter (add-on, list separately in addition to primary procedure)
- Q4436Renati ac membrane, per square centimeter (add-on, list separately in addition to primary procedure)
- Q4437Revival ac, per square centimeter (add-on, list separately in addition to primary procedure)
- Q4439Instagraft, per square centimeter (add-on, list separately in addition to primary procedure)
- Q4440Curamatrix, per square centimeter (add-on, list separately in addition to primary procedure)
- Q5001Hospice or home health care provided in patient's home/residence
- Q5002Hospice or home health care provided in assisted living facility
- Q5003Hospice care provided in nursing long term care facility (ltc) or non-skilled nursing facility (nf)
- Q5004Hospice care provided in skilled nursing facility (snf)
- Q5005Hospice care provided in inpatient hospital
- Q5006Hospice care provided in inpatient hospice facility
Questions about Q4438
What is HCPCS code Q4438?
Q4438 is a HCPCS Level II code for pretect, per square centimeter (add-on, list separately in addition to primary procedure). It sits in the Temporary Codes section.
Does Medicare cover Q4438?
The CMS HCPCS file marks Q4438 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 Q4438 paid under the physician fee schedule?
Q4438 carries PFS status code A. Active code. Paid separately under the physician fee schedule.