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Reimbursement Guide What's Reimbursable in 2026

What's Reimbursable in 2026.

A plain-English breakdown of every Medicare Part B supply category a skilled nursing facility can bill under its own institutional NPI — with the governing LCD, the revenue code, the documentation that has to be on file, and representative HCPCS codes with current 2026 national rates.

Built for Directors of Nursing CFOs Compliance Officers Billers & Coders
Who this applies to. These categories are billable to traditional Medicare Part B under a facility's institutional NPI only for residents who are not in a covered Part A stay. During a covered Part A stay, the same supplies are bundled into consolidated billing. Durable Medical Equipment (DME) is excluded throughout — it cannot be billed under the institutional NPI.
1

Surgical Dressings

Primary and secondary dressings for a wound caused or treated by a surgical procedure, or following debridement.

LCD L33831Policy Article A54563Revenue Code 623
Documentation that must be on file
Representative codes & 2026 national rates
HCPCSDescriptionCeilingFloor
A6196Alginate dressing, ≤ 16 sq in$10.49$8.92
A6209Foam dressing, ≤ 16 sq in, without border$10.65$9.05
A6234Hydrocolloid dressing, ≤ 16 sq in, without border$9.33$7.93
A6021Collagen dressing, ≤ 16 sq in$29.97$25.47
A6402Sterile gauze, ≤ 16 sq in$0.15$0.13
A6457Tubular dressing$1.62$1.38
2

Ostomy Supplies

Covered as prosthetic devices — pouches, barriers, and supplies directly related to ostomy care.

LCD L33828Revenue Code 274
Documentation that must be on file
Representative codes & 2026 national rates
HCPCSDescriptionCeilingFloor
A4416Closed ostomy pouch, with barrier & filter$3.93$3.34
A5051Closed pouch, with barrier attached$2.94$2.50
A4362Solid skin barrier$4.95$4.21
A4369Skin barrier, liquid, per oz$3.46$2.94
A4367Ostomy belt$10.49$8.92
3

Urological Supplies

A urinary collection and retention system, covered as a prosthetic device for permanent urinary incontinence.

LCD L33803Policy Article A52521Revenue Code 274
Documentation that must be on file
Representative codes & 2026 national rates
HCPCSDescriptionCeilingFloor
A4349Disposable male external catheter$2.87$2.44
A4351Straight-tip intermittent catheter$2.58$2.19
A4353Intermittent catheter, with insertion kit$9.99$8.49
A4338Indwelling Foley catheter, two-way latex$17.48$14.86
A4357Bedside drainage bag$13.84$11.76
A4358Urinary leg or abdomen bag$9.46$8.04
4

Tracheostomy Supplies

Covered under the prosthetic device benefit following an open surgical tracheostomy.

LCD L33832Policy Article A52492Revenue Code 274
Documentation that must be on file
Representative codes & 2026 national rates
HCPCSDescriptionCeilingFloor
A4623Tracheostomy inner cannula$9.34$7.94
A4625Tracheostomy care kit, for new tracheostomy$9.87$8.39
A4629Tracheostomy care kit$6.63$5.64
A7525Tracheostomy mask$2.94$2.50
5

Enteral Nutrition

Formula, tubing, and supplies for residents who require tube feeding.

LCD L38955Medicare Advantage only
A deliberate scope distinction. Under traditional Medicare, enteral nutrition must be billed to the DME MAC on the professional claim format and requires a National Supplier Clearinghouse supplier number — it is not billed to the A/B MAC on the UB-04 like the categories above. Burst does not maintain that enrollment and does not bill enteral nutrition to traditional Medicare. Where residents carry Medicare Advantage coverage, Burst bills enteral nutrition under the applicable plan's contracted arrangements, which are governed by the plan contract rather than the traditional Medicare fee schedule. Rates are therefore plan-specific and not listed here.
What Burst confirms before submitting

Not billable under the institutional NPI

Durable Medical Equipment — wound VACs, enteral pumps, wheelchairs, hospital beds, IV poles, and similar equipment — may not be billed to Medicare Part B under a facility's institutional NPI, regardless of Part A status. DME must be billed to the DME MAC by a separately enrolled supplier. Burst identifies and excludes DME at intake.

About these rates. Figures shown are the national ceiling and floor allowable amounts from the CMS DMEPOS fee schedule, April 2026 (Q2). Actual payment is set by CMS, varies by state and jurisdiction, and is updated quarterly — these figures are for planning reference, not a payment quote. Codes shown are representative of each category, not a complete list. Verify the current LCD and fee schedule for your jurisdiction before billing.
See the Compliance Triple-Check → Read the full compliance brief →

This guide is provided by Burst Medical Billing for general educational purposes for skilled nursing facility billing teams. It summarizes federal statute, CMS manual guidance, and Local Coverage Determinations, with rates drawn from the CMS DMEPOS fee schedule for April 2026, and is not legal advice or a guarantee of payment. Coverage rules and rates change; verify current CMS guidance for your jurisdiction before submitting claims. LCD references verified against the CMS Medicare Coverage Database; rates and descriptions sourced directly from the CMS DMEPOS fee schedule.