C-codes — Hospital Outpatient PPS (OPPS)
380 codes — C-codes: Outpatient PPS
Temporary codes used exclusively under the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) for new technologies, drugs, devices, and procedures.
C-codes (C1000-C9999) are CMS-issued temporary codes used only by hospital outpatient departments under OPPS. They identify items and services that don't yet have a permanent HCPCS code — typically pass-through drugs, devices, or new technology procedures. Each quarter, CMS adds new C-codes for newly-approved drugs and devices and retires C-codes once a permanent code is assigned.
C-codes are almost always paid under OPPS with a Status Indicator of G (pass-through drug), H (pass-through device), or K (non-pass-through drug). They generally cannot be billed by physician offices, ASCs, or non-hospital outpatient settings.
Frequently-referenced C-codes:
- C9399 — Unclassified drugs or biologicals