# HCPCS Level II Code Key: `identity.medical.hcpcs` Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System Level II code for non-physician services, supplies, and equipment. Format: letter (A-V) followed by 4 digits. Page: Samples: `J1234`, `E0114`, `A4253`, `L3000`, `G0008` ## Background ### Origin HCPCS was established in 1978 to provide a standardised coding system for describing the items and services provided in the delivery of health care.[[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healthcare_Common_Procedure_Coding_System) The acronym originally stood for HCFA Common Procedure Coding System, after the Health Care Financing Administration, as CMS was known before 2001.[[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healthcare_Common_Procedure_Coding_System) Use of the codes was initially voluntary, and became mandatory for transactions involving health care information with the implementation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).[[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healthcare_Common_Procedure_Coding_System) HCPCS is divided into two main subsystems, Level I and Level II.[[2]](https://www.cms.gov/medicare/coding-billing/healthcare-common-procedure-system) CMS maintains the Level II codes, including decisions about additions, revisions and deletions.[[2]](https://www.cms.gov/medicare/coding-billing/healthcare-common-procedure-system) CMS says the HCPCS Level II coding system began in the 1980s.[[2]](https://www.cms.gov/medicare/coding-billing/healthcare-common-procedure-system) A third level of local codes, developed by state Medicaid agencies, Medicare contractors and private insurers, was discontinued on December 31, 2003.[[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healthcare_Common_Procedure_Coding_System) ### Use A Level II code consists of a single alphabetical letter followed by four numeric digits.[[2]](https://www.cms.gov/medicare/coding-billing/healthcare-common-procedure-system) The leading letter falls in the range A to V.[[3]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HCPCS_Level_2) The letter names a section: A codes cover transportation, medical and surgical supplies, E codes durable medical equipment, J codes drugs administered other than by mouth, and L codes orthotic and prosthetic procedures.[[3]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HCPCS_Level_2) C, G, K and Q are listed as temporary code sections.[[3]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HCPCS_Level_2) S codes are listed as private payer codes, and T codes as state Medicaid agency codes.[[3]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HCPCS_Level_2) CMS publishes the official code set as an Alpha-Numeric HCPCS File in a quarterly update.[[4]](https://www.cms.gov/medicare/coding-billing/healthcare-common-procedure-system/quarterly-update) Validate codes against the release that matches the date of service, not just the shape, since a well-formed code can be one that was added or retired between releases. (Meridian's view) Keep the column as text: the letter prefix is part of the code, and treating it as a number or trimming it loses the section. (Meridian's view) Upper-case and trim values before matching the letter-and-four-digits shape, so that a stray space or a lower-case letter does not hide a valid code. (Meridian's view) ### Where you'll meet it CMS's Medicare Physician \& Other Practitioners by Provider and Service data has an HCPCS\_Cd field identifying the specific medical service furnished by the provider.[[5]](https://data.cms.gov/sites/default/files/2025-03/bbb1e50e-5ba8-42ed-b072-18368b6f37f9/MUP_PHY_RY25_20250312_DD_PRV_SVC_508.pdf) Its data dictionary says that field holds both Level I CPT codes and the Level II codes created by CMS.[[5]](https://data.cms.gov/sites/default/files/2025-03/bbb1e50e-5ba8-42ed-b072-18368b6f37f9/MUP_PHY_RY25_20250312_DD_PRV_SVC_508.pdf) The same dictionary notes that CMS Level II descriptions in the file are truncated to 256 bytes, so one description can be associated with more than one code.[[5]](https://data.cms.gov/sites/default/files/2025-03/bbb1e50e-5ba8-42ed-b072-18368b6f37f9/MUP_PHY_RY25_20250312_DD_PRV_SVC_508.pdf) ## Sources 1. [Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healthcare_Common_Procedure_Coding_System) — secondary source 2. [Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS)](https://www.cms.gov/medicare/coding-billing/healthcare-common-procedure-system) — documentation 3. [HCPCS Level 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HCPCS_Level_2) — secondary source 4. [HCPCS Quarterly Update \| CMS](https://www.cms.gov/medicare/coding-billing/healthcare-common-procedure-system/quarterly-update) — documentation 5. [Medicare Physician \& Other Practitioners - by Provider and Service Data Dictionary](https://data.cms.gov/sites/default/files/2025-03/bbb1e50e-5ba8-42ed-b072-18368b6f37f9/MUP_PHY_RY25_20250312_DD_PRV_SVC_508.pdf) — dataset