NCDActive
Diagnostic Breath Analyses
NCD264
Effective: June 12, 1984
Updated: December 31, 2025
Policy Summary
Medicare covers only the lactose hydrogen breath test when used to detect lactose malabsorption. Breath tests using lactulose hydrogen (for SIBO diagnosis or small bowel transit time) and CO2-based breath analyses for bile acid or fat malabsorption are specifically excluded from coverage.
Coverage Criteria Preview
Key requirements from the full policy
"Lactose hydrogen breath test is covered to detect lactose malabsorption."
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Covered Medical Codes