Billing of Powered L-Coded Items - Correct Coding - Revised

Joint DME MAC Publication
Posted November 12, 2020

There are an increasing number of L-coded items which are electrically powered. Errors associated with correct coding these items have been identified in recent reviews.

Billing of Batteries and Chargers Concurrently With a Powered Base Item

Powered base items are those that contain the power source (battery). At the time that a base item is billed, all necessary batteries and/or battery chargers are considered as included in the payment for the powered base item. There is no separate payment for batteries (L7360, L7364, L7367, and L8505) and/or battery chargers (L7362, L7366, L7368) billed concurrently with a powered base item.

Payments for items listed in Column II are included in the payment for each Column I code. Claims for Column II items billed with the provision of a Column I item will be denied as unbundling.

Column I Column II
Base codes with battery, charger and/or power included
L2005
L2006
L3904
L5781
L5782
L5856
L5857
L5858
L5859
L5973
L6026
L6920
L6925
L6930
L6935
L6940
L6945
L6950
L6955
L6960
L6965
L6970
L6975
L8701
L8702
Batteries
L7360
L7364
L7367

Chargers
L7362
L7366
L7368
L8500
L8510
L8505

 

Billing of Powered Add-Ons

Many powered base items are used concurrently with add-on items that derive power from the power source contained in the base item. At the time that an add-on to a base item is billed, all necessary batteries and/or battery chargers are considered as included in the payment for the powered base item. There is no separate payment for batteries (L7360, L7364, L7367, and L8505) and/or battery chargers (L7362, L7366, L7368) billed concurrently with a powered base item or associated add-ons.

Payments for items listed in Column III are included in the payment for each Column II code. Claims for Column III items billed with the provision of a Column I item will be denied as unbundling.

UPPER LIMB PROSTHETICS

Column I Column II Column III
Add-on codes used with base codes
L6621
L6638
L6646
L6648
L6715
L6880
L6881
L6882
L7007
L7008
L7009
L7040
L7045
L7170
L7180
L7181
L7185
L7186
L7190
L7191
L7259
Base codes with battery, charger and/or power included
L6026
L6920
L6925
L6930
L6935
L6940
L6945
L6950
L6955
L6960
L6965
L6970
L6975
Batteries
L7360
L7364
L7367

Chargers
L7362
L7366
L7368

 

LOWER LIMB PROSTHETIC

Column I Column II Column III
Add-on codes used with base codes
L5969
Base codes with battery, charger and/or power included
L5781
L5782
L5856
L5857
L5858
L5859
L5973
Batteries
L7360
L7364
L7367

Chargers
L7362
L7366
L7368

 

Codes addressed in this article

HCPCS Narrative Description
L2005 KNEE ANKLE FOOT ORTHOSIS, ANY MATERIAL, SINGLE OR DOUBLE UPRIGHT, STANCE CONTROL, AUTOMATIC LOCK AND SWING PHASE RELEASE, ANY TYPE ACTIVATION, INCLUDES ANKLE JOINT, ANY TYPE, CUSTOM FABRICATED
 L2006  KNEE ANKLE FOOT DEVICE, ANY MATERIAL, SINGLE OR DOUBLE UPRIGHT, SWING AND STANCE PHASE MICROPROCESSOR CONTROL WITH ADJUSTABILITY, INCLUDES ALL COMPONENTS (E.G., SENSORS, BATTERIES, CHARGER), ANY TYPE ACTIVATION, WITH OR WITHOUT ANKLE JOINT(S), CUSTOM FABRICATED
L3904 WRIST HAND FINGER ORTHOSIS, EXTERNAL POWERED, ELECTRIC, CUSTOM-FABRICATED
L5781 ADDITION TO LOWER LIMB PROSTHESIS, VACUUM PUMP, RESIDUAL LIMB VOLUME MANAGEMENT AND MOISTURE EVACUATION SYSTEM
L5782 ADDITION TO LOWER LIMB PROSTHESIS, VACUUM PUMP, RESIDUAL LIMB VOLUME MANAGEMENT AND MOISTURE EVACUATION SYSTEM, HEAVY DUTY
L5856 ADDITION TO LOWER EXTREMITY PROSTHESIS, ENDOSKELETAL KNEE-SHIN SYSTEM, MICROPROCESSOR CONTROL FEATURE, SWING AND STANCE PHASE, INCLUDES ELECTRONIC SENSOR(S), ANY TYPE
L5857 ADDITION TO LOWER EXTREMITY PROSTHESIS, ENDOSKELETAL KNEE-SHIN SYSTEM, MICROPROCESSORCONTROL FEATURE, SWING PHASE ONLY, INCLUDES ELECTRONIC SENSOR(S), ANY TYPE
L5858 ADDITION TO LOWER EXTREMITY PROSTHESIS, ENDOSKELETAL KNEE SHIN SYSTEM, MICROPROCESSOR CONTROL FEATURE, STANCE PHASE ONLY, INCLUDES ELECTRONIC SENSOR(S), ANY TYPE
L5859 ADDITION TO LOWER EXTREMITY PROSTHESIS, ENDOSKELETAL KNEE-SHIN SYSTEM, POWERED AND PROGRAMMABLE FLEXION/EXTENSION ASSIST CONTROL, INCLUDES ANY TYPE MOTOR(S)
L5969 ADDITION, ENDOSKELETAL ANKLE-FOOT OR ANKLE SYSTEM, POWER ASSIST, INCLUDES ANY TYPE MOTOR(S)
L5973 ENDOSKELETAL ANKLE FOOT SYSTEM, MICROPROCESSOR CONTROLLED FEATURE, DORSIFLEXION AND/OR PLANTAR FLEXION CONTROL, INCLUDES POWER SOURCE
L6026 TRANSCARPAL/METACARPAL OR PARTIAL HAND DISARTICULATION PROSTHESIS, EXTERNAL POWER, SELF-SUSPENDED, INNER SOCKET WITH REMOVABLE FOREARM SECTION, ELECTRODES AND CABLES, TWO BATTERIES, CHARGER, MYOELECTRIC CONTROL OF TERMINAL DEVICE, EXCLUDES TERMINAL DEVICE(S)
L6621 UPPER EXTREMITY PROSTHESIS ADDITION, FLEXION/EXTENSION WRIST WITH OR WITHOUT FRICTION, FOR USE WITH EXTERNAL POWERED TERMINAL DEVICE
L6638 EXTREMITY ADDITION TO PROSTHESIS, ELECTRIC LOCKING FEATURE, ONLY FOR USE WITH MANUALLY POWERED ELBOW
L6646 UPPER EXTREMITY ADDITION, SHOULDER JOINT, MULTIPOSITIONAL LOCKING, FLEXION, ADJUSTABLE ABDUCTION FRICTION CONTROL, FOR USE WITH BODY POWERED OR EXTERNAL POWERED SYSTEM
L6648 UPPER EXTREMITY ADDITION, SHOULDER LOCK MECHANISM, EXTERNAL POWERED ACTUATOR
L6715 TERMINAL DEVICE, MULTIPLE ARTICULATING DIGIT, INCLUDES MOTOR(S), INITIAL ISSUE OR REPLACEMENT
L6880 ELECTRIC HAND, SWITCH OR MYOLELECTRIC CONTROLLED, INDEPENDENTLY ARTICULATING DIGITS, ANY GRASP PATTERN OR COMBINATION OF GRASP PATTERNS, INCLUDES MOTOR(S)
L6881 AUTOMATIC GRASP FEATURE, ADDITION TO UPPER LIMB ELECTRIC PROSTHETIC TERMINAL DEVICE
L6882 MICROPROCESSOR CONTROL FEATURE, ADDITION TO UPPER LIMB PROSTHETIC TERMINAL DEVICE
L6920 WRIST DISARTICULATION, EXTERNAL POWER, SELF-SUSPENDED INNER SOCKET, REMOVABLE FOREARM SHELL, OTTO BOCK OR EQUAL, SWITCH, CABLES, TWO BATTERIES AND ONE CHARGER, SWITCH CONTROL OF TERMINAL DEVICE
L6925 WRIST DISARTICULATION, EXTERNAL POWER, SELF-SUSPENDED INNER SOCKET, REMOVABLE FOREARM SHELL, OTTO BOCK OR EQUAL ELECTRODES, CABLES, TWO BATTERIES AND ONE CHARGER, MYOELECTRONIC CONTROL OF TERMINAL DEVICE
L6930 BELOW ELBOW, EXTERNAL POWER, SELF-SUSPENDED INNER SOCKET, REMOVABLE FOREARM SHELL, OTTO BOCK OR EQUAL SWITCH, CABLES, TWO BATTERIES AND ONE CHARGER, SWITCH CONTROL OF TERMINAL DEVICE
L6935 BELOW ELBOW, EXTERNAL POWER, SELF-SUSPENDED INNER SOCKET, REMOVABLE FOREARM SHELL, OTTO BOCK OR EQUAL ELECTRODES, CABLES, TWO BATTERIES AND ONE CHARGER, MYOELECTRONIC CONTROL OF TERMINAL DEVICE
L6940 ELBOW DISARTICULATION, EXTERNAL POWER, MOLDED INNER SOCKET, REMOVABLE HUMERAL SHELL, OUTSIDE LOCKING HINGES, FOREARM, OTTO BOCK OR EQUAL SWITCH, CABLES, TWO BATTERIES AND ONE CHARGER, SWITCH CONTROL OF TERMINAL DEVICE
L6945 ELBOW DISARTICULATION, EXTERNAL POWER, MOLDED INNER SOCKET, REMOVABLE HUMERAL SHELL, OUTSIDE LOCKING HINGES, FOREARM, OTTO BOCK OR EQUAL ELECTRODES, CABLES, TWO BATTERIES AND ONE CHARGER, MYOELECTRONIC CONTROL OF TERMINAL DEVICE

L6950
ABOVE ELBOW, EXTERNAL POWER, MOLDED INNER SOCKET, REMOVABLE HUMERAL SHELL, INTERNAL LOCKING ELBOW, FOREARM, OTTO BOCK OR EQUAL SWITCH, CABLES, TWO BATTERIES AND ONE CHARGER, SWITCH CONTROL OF TERMINAL DEVICE
L6955 ABOVE ELBOW, EXTERNAL POWER, MOLDED INNER SOCKET, REMOVABLE HUMERAL SHELL, INTERNAL LOCKING ELBOW, FOREARM, OTTO BOCK OR EQUAL ELECTRODES, CABLES, TWO BATTERIES AND ONE CHARGER, MYOELECTRONIC CONTROL OF TERMINAL DEVICE
L6960 SHOULDER DISARTICULATION, EXTERNAL POWER, MOLDED INNER SOCKET, REMOVABLE SHOULDER SHELL, SHOULDER BULKHEAD, HUMERAL SECTION, MECHANICAL ELBOW, FOREARM, OTTO BOCK OR EQUAL SWITCH, CABLES, TWO BATTERIES AND ONE CHARGER, SWITCH CONTROL OF TERMINAL DEVICE
L6965 SHOULDER DISARTICULATION, EXTERNAL POWER, MOLDED INNER SOCKET, REMOVABLE SHOULDER SHELL, SHOULDER BULKHEAD, HUMERAL SECTION, MECHANICAL ELBOW, FOREARM, OTTO BOCK OR EQUAL ELECTRODES, CABLES, TWO BATTERIES AND ONE CHARGER, MYOELECTRONIC CONTROL OF TERMINAL DEVICE
L6970 INTERSCAPULAR-THORACIC, EXTERNAL POWER, MOLDED INNER SOCKET, REMOVABLE SHOULDER SHELL, SHOULDER BULKHEAD, HUMERAL SECTION, MECHANICAL ELBOW, FOREARM, OTTO BOCK OR EQUAL SWITCH, CABLES, TWO BATTERIES AND ONE CHARGER, SWITCH CONTROL OF TERMINAL DEVICE
L6975 INTERSCAPULAR-THORACIC, EXTERNAL POWER, MOLDED INNER SOCKET, REMOVABLE SHOULDER SHELL, SHOULDER BULKHEAD, HUMERAL SECTION, MECHANICAL ELBOW, FOREARM, OTTO BOCK OR EQUAL ELECTRODES, CABLES, TWO BATTERIES AND ONE CHARGER, MYOELECTRONIC CONTROL OF TERMINAL DEVICE
L7007 ELECTRIC HAND, SWITCH OR MYOELECTRIC CONTROLLED, ADULT
L7008 ELECTRIC HAND, SWITCH OR MYOELECTRIC CONTROLLED, PEDIATRIC
L7009 ELECTRIC HOOK, SWITCH OR MYOELECTRIC CONTROLLED, ADULT
L7040 PREHENSILE ACTUATOR, SWITCH CONTROLLED
L7045 ELECTRONIC HOOK, SWITCH OR MYOELECTRIC CONTROLLED, PEDIATRIC
L7170 ELECTRONIC ELBOW, HOSMER OR EQUAL, SWITCH CONTROLLED
L7180 ELECTRONIC ELBOW, MICROPROCESSOR SEQUENTIAL CONTROL OF ELBOW AND TERMINAL DEVICE
L7181 ELECTRONIC ELBOW, MICROPROCESSOR SIMULTANEOUS CONTROL OF ELBOW AND TERMINAL DEVICE
L7185 ELECTRONIC ELBOW, ADOLESCENT, VARIETY VILLAGE OR EQUAL, SWITCH CONTROLLED
L7186 ELECTRONIC ELBOW, CHILD, VARIETY VILLAGE OR EQUAL, SWITCH CONTROLLED
L7190 ELECTRONIC ELBOW, ADOLESCENT, VARIETY VILLAGE OR EQUAL, MYOELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED
L7191 ELECTRONIC ELBOW, CHILD, VARIETY VILLAGE OR EQUAL, MYOELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED
L7259 ELECTRONIC WRIST ROTATOR, ANY TYPE
L7261 ELECTRONIC WRIST ROTATOR, FOR UTAH ARM
L7360 SIX VOLT BATTERY, EACH
L7362 BATTERY CHARGER, SIX VOLT, EACH
L7364 TWELVE VOLT BATTERY, EACH
L7366 BATTERY CHARGER, TWELVE VOLT, EACH
L7367 LITHIUM ION BATTERY, REPLACEMENT
L7368 LITHIUM ION BATTERY CHARGER, REPLACEMENT ONLY
L8500 ARTIFICIAL LARYNX, ANY TYPE
L8505 ARTIFICIAL LARYNX REPLACEMENT BATTERY / ACCESSORY, ANY TYPE
L8510 VOICE AMPLIFIER
L8701 ELBOW, WRIST, HAND DEVICE, POWERED, WITH SINGLE OR DOUBLE UPRIGHT(S), ANY TYPE JOINT(S), INCLUDES MICROPROCESSOR, SENSORS, ALL COMPONENTS AND ACCESSORIES
L8702 ELBOW, WRIST, HAND, FINGER DEVICE, POWERED, WITH SINGLE OR DOUBLE UPRIGHT(S), ANY TYPE JOINT(S), INCLUDES MICROPROCESSOR, SENSORS, ALL COMPONENTS AND ACCESSORIES

 

Refer to the applicable Local Coverage Determination, related Policy Article and Supplier Manual for additional information.

For questions about correct coding, contact the PDAC Contact Center at 877-735-1326 during the hours of 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, or email the PDAC by completing the DME PDAC Contact Form located on the PDAC website.

Publication History

Date of Change Description
03/20/14 Originally Published
07/23/20 Retired article due to content incorporation into the applicable LCD and related Policy Article
11/12/20 Revised and Republished

 

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