Correct Coding - Partial Hand Prostheses - Revised

Joint DME MAC Publication
Posted September 25, 2025

In the First Biannual (B1), 2025 HCPCS Coding Cycle, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published its final coding decision on August 19, 2025, in which it was noted that the below partial hand HCPCS codes will remain effective.

L6000 (PARTIAL HAND, THUMB REMAINING)
L6010 (PARTIAL HAND, LITTLE AND/OR RING FINGER REMAINING)
L6020 (PARTIAL HAND, NO FINGER REMAINING)

In the B1, 2025 HCPCS Coding Cycle, CMS also announced that it will revise the long description of HCPCS code L6028 and make L6028 invalid for billing to Medicare for dates of service on or after October 1, 2025. CMS specified it plans to reintroduce, in the Second Biannual (B2), 2025 HCPCS Coding Cycle, L6028 ([revised description] PARTIAL HAND, FINGER, AND THUMB PROSTHESIS WITHOUT PROSTHETIC DIGIT(S)/THUMB, AMPUTATION AT METACARPAL LEVEL, INCLUDING FLEXIBLE OR NON-FLEXIBLE INTERFACE, MOLDED TO PATIENT MODEL, INCLUDING PALM, FOR USE WITHOUT EXTERNAL POWER AND/OR PASSIVE PROSTHETIC DIGIT/THUMB, NOT INCLUDING INSERTS DESCRIBED BY L6692). HCPCS codes L6000, L6010, and L6020 will remain effective until L6028 is reintroduced as a valid code for Medicare.

L6000, L6010, and L6020 describe products that are used for three distinct types of amputations including the digit(s) and metacarpal-phalangeal (MCP) joint of missing digit(s).

Body-powered partial hand prostheses are correctly coded when the amputation matches one of the partial hand prosthetic body-powered codes (L6000, L6010, or L6020). Per CMS guidance, these codes are equivalent to L6028 as a partial hand base code and can utilize applicable additions. The base code alone may not fully describe the delivered prosthesis. L-codes referred to as "addition" codes can be used to describe features and functions not found in the base L-code. The available L-codes are either specific to partial hand amputations (e.g. L6030, L6035, L6038) or to non-specific levels of upper extremity amputations (e.g. L6692, L6698). The use of L-codes with specific amputation levels proximal to partial hand level would be considered incorrect coding.

HCPCS code L7499 (UPPER EXTREMITY PROSTHESIS, NOT OTHERWISE SPECIFIED) must not be used to bill for any features or functions included in the base L-code nor should it be used when a specific L-code exists.

For questions about correct coding, contact the Pricing, Data Analysis and Coding (PDAC) HCPCS Helpline at (877) 735-1326 during the hours of 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday. You may also visit the PDAC website to chat with a representative or select the Contact Us button at the top of the PDAC website for email, FAX, or postal mail information.

Publication History

Date of Change Description
08/22/19 Originally Published
09/25/25 Revised to clarify that L6000, L6010, and L6020 are valid to use as partial hand base codes until L6028 is reintroduced as payable by Medicare.
Last Updated Sep 25 , 2025