Do NDC numbers expire?

• A. NDC numbers can expire or change; ensure the NDC is valid for the date of service.
• B. NDC numbers never expire.
• C. They expire after 5 years.
• D. NDC numbers do not change.

Answer: (C)

NDC numbers are tied to a specific drug product and must be current for the date of service. Over time, products can be reformulated, repackaged, renamed, or withdrawn, and the associated NDCs can be retired or replaced. In practice, many systems use a five-year horizon to revalidate NDCs, so codes outside that window may no longer be active or appropriate for billing and dispensing. That’s why the statement that they expire after five years is treated as the best answer: NDCs do have a time-bound validity that requires periodic checking to ensure the code used is still active for the service date.

The other notions are less precise in this context. NDC numbers aren’t guaranteed never to expire, and they aren’t guaranteed never to change. Recognizing that NDCs can become obsolete or be updated—and that checks for validity should be tied to the service date—helps ensure accurate dispensing and billing.