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

IMPORTANT: THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS OUTDATED INFORMATION.

Content Provided on this page contains outdated information and instruction and should not be considered current. Noridian is providing this archived information for research purposes only. This archived article contains previously issued instructions that have since been updated or are no longer applicable for Medicare billing purposes.

DME MAC Joint Publication

There are an increasing number of L-coded items, both orthotic and prosthetic components, 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.

Payment 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
  • L3904
  • L5781
  • L5782
  • L5856
  • L5857
  • L5858
  • L5859
  • L5973
  • L6025
  • L6920 – L6975
  • L8500
  • L8510
 Batteries
  • L7360
  • L7364
  • L7367
  • L8505
Chargers
  • L7362
  • L7366
  • L7368

 

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.

Payment 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.

Column I Column II Column III
Add-on codes used with base codes
  • L5969
  • L6621
  • L6638
  • L6646
  • L6648
  • L6880 – L6885
  • L7007 – L7261
 Base codes with battery, charger and/or power included
  • L2005
  • L3904
  • L5781
  • L5782
  • L5856
  • L5857
  • L5858
  • L5859
  • L5973
  • L6025
  • L6920 – L6975
  • L8500
  • L8510
 Batteries
  • L7360
  • L7364
  • L7367
  • L8505
Chargers
  • L7362
  • L7366
  • L7368

 

These correct coding tables will be effective for claims with DOS on or after 05/01/2014.

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

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
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
L6025 ELBOW DISARTICULATION, MOLDED SOCKET WITH EXPANDABLE INTERFACE, OUTSIDE LOCKING HINGES, FOREARM
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
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
L6883 REPLACEMENT SOCKET, BELOW ELBOW/WRIST DISARTICULATION, MOLDED TO PATIENT MODEL, FOR USE WITH OR WITHOUT EXTERNAL POWER
L6884 REPLACEMENT SOCKET, ABOVE ELBOW/ELBOW DISARTICULATION, MOLDED TO PATIENT MODEL, FOR USE WITH OR WITHOUT EXTERNAL POWER
L6885 REPLACEMENT SOCKET, SHOULDER DISARTICULATION/INTERSCAPULAR THORACIC, MOLDED TO PATIENT MODEL, FOR USE WITH OR WITHOUT EXTERNAL POWER
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
L7010 ELECTRONIC HAND, OTTO BOCK, STEEPER OR EQUAL, SWITCH CONTROLLED
L7015 ELECTRONIC HAND, SYSTEM TEKNIK, VARIETY VILLAGE OR EQUAL, SWITCH CONTROLLED
L7020 ELECTRONIC GREIFER, OTTO BOCK OR EQUAL, SWITCH CONTROLLED
L7025 ELECTRONIC HAND, OTTO BOCK OR EQUAL, MYOELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED
L7030 ELECTRONIC HAND, SYSTEM TEKNIK, VARIETY VILLAGE OR EQUAL, MYOELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED
L7035 ELECTRONIC GREIFER, OTTO BOCK OR EQUAL, MYOELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED
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
L7260 ELECTRONIC WRIST ROTATOR, OTTO BOCK OR EQUAL
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

 

For questions about correct coding, contact the PDAC Contact Center at (877) 735-1326 during the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday, or e-mail 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

 

 

Last Updated $dateUtil.getDate( $modifieddate , "MMM dd , yyyy" , $locale , $tzone )