Healthcare Insights
Most common wheelchair and mobility device durable medical equipment codes
For many patients, durable medical equipment (DME) helps them manage a variety of conditions. And DME codes track the specific types of devices patients use across dozens of DME categories from glucose monitors to walking aids.
Would you code DME wheelchairs with a CPT code or HCPCS code?
DME codes fall under medical supply and medical device categories in the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS), which is maintained by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). HCPCS is based on the American Medical Association’s Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code set, however, DME codes are considered HCPCS codes.
What DME codes are used for wheelchairs and mobility devices?
There are more than 100 HCPCS codes tracked in the wheelchairs and mobility devices DME category.
Wheelchair and mobility device HCPCS codes start with the following characters:
- E10
- E11
- E12
- E22
- E23
This Healthcare Insight reviews data from the Atlas All-Payor Claims Dataset to learn about the top DME codes in this DME code category. Calendar year 2023 procedures through the month of September were used for the analysis.
| Rank | HCPCS code | HCPCS description | Percent of wheelchair and mobility device DME procedures January-September 2023 | Explore dataset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | E1038 | Transport chair adult size weight capacity up to 300 pounds | 14.70% | Explore |
| 2 | E1161 | Manual adult size wheelchair | 8.20% | Explore |
| 3 | E2201 | Manual wheelchair accessory, nonstandard seat frame width 20-24 inches | 5.40% | Explore |
| 4 | E1140 | Wheelchair standard detachable arms, desk, or full length swing away detachable footrests | 5.20% | Explore |
| 5 | E2361 | Power wheelchair accessory, 22nf sealed lead acid battery | 4.30% | Explore |
| 6 | E2213 | Manual wheelchair accessory, insert for pneumatic propulsion tire | 3.90% | Explore |
| 7 | E2211 | Manual wheelchair accessory, pneumatic propulsion tire | 3.70% | Explore |
| 8 | E2365 | Power wheelchair accessory, u-1 sealed lead acid battery | 3.60% | Explore |
| 9 | E2311 | Power wheelchair accessory, electronic connection between controller and power seating motors | 3.20% | Explore |
| 10 | E1226 | Manual wheelchair accessory, manual fully reclining back | 2.80% | Explore |
| 11 | E2313 | Power wheelchair accessory, harness for expandable controller | 2.80% | Explore |
| 12 | E2377 | Power wheelchair accessory, expandable controller | 2.70% | Explore |
| 13 | E2231 | Manual wheelchair accessory, solid seat support base | 1.90% | Explore |
| 14 | E2363 | Power wheelchair accessory, group 24 sealed lead acid battery | 1.90% | Explore |
| 15 | E2392 | Power wheelchair accessory, solid caster tire, integrated wheel | 1.80% | Explore |
| 16 | E2366 | Power wheelchair accessory, battery charger, single mode | 1.80% | Explore |
| 17 | E2206 | Manual wheelchair accessory, wheel lock assembly | 1.80% | Explore |
| 18 | E2386 | Power wheelchair accessory, foam filled drive wheel tire | 1.70% | Explore |
| 19 | E1150 | Wheelchair standard detachable arms, desk, or full length swing away detachable elevating legrests | 1.70% | Explore |
| 20 | E2374 | Power wheelchair accessory, hand or chin control interface, standard remote joystick | 1.60% | Explore |
Fig. 1. Data from the Definitive Healthcare Atlas All-Payor Claims product for calendar year 2023 through September. Claims data is sourced from multiple medical claims clearinghouses in the United States and updated monthly. Accessed October 2023.
What is the most popular wheelchair DME code?
The most common wheelchair and mobility device HCPCS code is E1038 for transport chair adult size with a weight capacity of up to 300 pounds, representing nearly 15% of the wheelchair DME procedures.
HCPCS E1161 for manual adult size wheelchair makes up another 8% of wheelchair and mobility device procedures for January-September 2023. The third code on the list is for a wheelchair seat frame (HCPCS E2201) and the fourth captures other standard wheelchairs (HCPCS E1140).
The majority of the remaining wheelchair HCPCS codes on the list are for both manually and power wheelchair accessories, such as:
- Batteries
- Arm, foot, or head rests
- Frames
- Tires
- Electronic components
Learn more
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