No. Q9956 is a HCPCS Level II code, maintained by CMS, that identifies the drug supplied. CPT codes are five-digit numbers from the AMA that describe services. Giving the drug, for example an injection or infusion, is usually reported with a separate CPT administration code.

What NDCs are billed under Q9956?

CMS's ASP crosswalk for October 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026 lists 2 NDCs under Q9956, for Optison. The table on this page shows each one with its billing units per package.

What is the Medicare payment limit for Q9956?

$40.323 per 1 ml, effective October 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, from CMS's Part B drug payment limit file. Multiply by the units billed for the allowed amount before deductible and coinsurance. It is not a coverage decision.

Q9956 HCPCS Code: Optison (octafluoropropane microspheres)

In short

Q9956 is the HCPCS Level II code for injection, octafluoropropane microspheres, per ml. CMS assigns NDCs for Optison to it. The Medicare Part B payment limit is $40.323 per unit (October 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026).

Code

CMS HCPCS file

HCPCS codeQ9956

Billing unitSee descriptor

Descriptor: Injection, octafluoropropane microspheres, per ml
Short descriptor: Inj octafluoropropane mic,ml
Code set: HCPCS Level II, maintained by CMS
Effective: Apr 1, 2005

Medicare Part B payment limit

CMS ASP file

Payment limit per unit$40.323

Per1 ml

Coinsurance20%

Effective October 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026. Payment allowance limits subject to the ASP methodology are based on 2Q26 ASP data. A payment limit is not a coverage decision; the Medicare contractor decides coverage. CMS ASP pricing files

Units and claim line

Enter the dose to get the units and the NDC line for the CMS-1500 and the 837P.

HCPCS units

Modifier

NDC (11-digit)

NDC unit qualifier

NDC quantity

Enter the units to build the claim line.

NDCs billed under Q9956

CMS’s ASP NDC–HCPCS crosswalk (effective October 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026) assigns 2 NDCs to Q9956 for Optison. Billing units per package are CMS’s figures for this code’s unit.

NDCs assigned to Q9956 in the CMS ASP crosswalk
Drug	NDC (11-digit)	Labeler	Package	Billing units per package
Optison	00407-2707-03	GE Healthcare Inc.	5 × 3	15
Optison	00407-2707-18	GE Healthcare Inc.	18 × 3	54

Q9956: common questions

Is Q9956 a CPT code?: No. Q9956 is a HCPCS Level II code, maintained by CMS, that identifies the drug supplied. CPT codes are five-digit numbers from the AMA that describe services. Giving the drug, for example an injection or infusion, is usually reported with a separate CPT administration code. CPT codes for drug administration.
What NDCs are billed under Q9956?: CMS's ASP crosswalk for October 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026 lists 2 NDCs under Q9956, for Optison. The table on this page shows each one with its billing units per package.
What is the Medicare payment limit for Q9956?: $40.323 per 1 ml, effective October 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, from CMS's Part B drug payment limit file. Multiply by the units billed for the allowed amount before deductible and coinsurance. It is not a coverage decision.

Q9956 — Injection, octafluoropropane microspheres, per ml