Healthcare Insights
Top durable medical equipment procedure codes
What is durable medical equipment (DME)?
Durable medical equipment refers to medical equipment and supplies ordered by a healthcare provider for a patient’s routine, long-term use. The coverage for DME may include oxygen systems and accessories, canes, wheelchairs, crutches, infusion pumps, and glucose monitors. As instances of chronic disease increase, there is a growing need for devices to support patients in managing their conditions.
What HCPCS codes are used for DME?
HCPCS codes come from a code set developed by CMS for reporting medical procedures and services. These codes are grouped by a leading letter, and each letter represents a different group of healthcare-related supplies. Durable medical equipment is represented by the letter “E” code group.
There are over 500 Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes for Durable Medical Equipment (DME) for patients’ everyday use.
Using data from the Definitive Healthcare Atlas All-Payor Claims dataset, we identified the top 20 most fulfilled durable medical equipment orders in 2024. This data represents the percentage of fulfilled DME orders in the U.S. and is based on physician ordering activity.
Because the list below was built using claims data, it only includes orders by physicians that were billed through insurance. Some patients may opt to buy some equipment without submitting through insurance.
| Rank | HCPCS/CPT code | HCPCS/CPT description | % Total DME procedures | Explore dataset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | E0601 | Cont airway pressure device | 23.20% | Explore |
| 2 | E0114 | Crutch underarm pair no wood | 16.60% | Explore |
| 3 | E0562 | Humidifier heated used w PAP | 12.60% | Explore |
| 4 | E1390 | Oxygen concentrator | 4.30% | Explore |
| 5 | E1399 | Durable medical equipment mi | 4.00% | Explore |
| 6 | E0143 | Walker folding wheeled w/o s | 2.90% | Explore |
| 7 | E1392 | Portable oxygen concentrator | 2.70% | Explore |
| 8 | E0486 | Oral device/appliance cusfab | 2.50% | Explore |
| 9 | E0466 | Home vent non-invasive inter | 2.10% | Explore |
| 10 | E0470 | RAD w/o backup non-inv intfc | 1.90% | Explore |
| 11 | E0445 | Oximeter non-invasive | 1.90% | Explore |
| 12 | E0776 | Iv pole | 1.60% | Explore |
| 13 | E0570 | Nebulizer with compression | 1.60% | Explore |
| 14 | E0730 | Tens four lead | 1.20% | Explore |
| 15 | E0603 | Electric breast pump | 1.20% | Explore |
| 16 | E0431 | Portable gaseous 02 | 1.00% | Explore |
| 17 | E0100 | Cane adjust/fixed with tip | 1.00% | Explore |
| 18 | E0600 | Suction pump portab hom modl | 1.00% | Explore |
| 19 | E0190 | Positioning cushion | 0.80% | Explore |
| 20 | E0971 | Wheelchair anti-tipping devi | 0.60% | Explore |
Fig. 1 Data is from the Definitive Healthcare Atlas All-Payor Claims dataset and refers to calendar year 2024. Data accessed February 2025.
Which DME procedure codes have the highest volume of claims?
The top DME procedure code by the percentage of fulfilled DME orders in 2024 was E0601, which refers to a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device. The device is commonly prescribed by healthcare providers for patients diagnosed with sleep apnea or other respiratory conditions, as it provides a constant stream of air pressure to help patients keep their airways open during sleep. This DME code accounts for 23.20% of all fulfilled DME orders in 2024.
In second place is DME code E0114, at 16.60%. This code refers to underarm crutches made from a material other than wood and are used to assist patients with mobility impairments due to injury, surgery, or other medical conditions affecting the lower limbs.
In third place is DME code E0562, which refers to a humidifier typically used in conjunction with a CPAP or BiPAP machine to add moisture to the airflow, helping to prevent dryness and irritation in the nasal passages and throat. Heated humidifiers can improve patient comfort and adherence to positive airway pressure therapy, especially in dry or cold environments. E0562 accounted for 12.60% of all fulfilled DME orders in 2024.
What types of DME does insurance cover?
Insurance coverage of durable medical equipment may vary based on payors, including Medicare/Medicaid DME coverage. Medicare requires that DME meet four criteria points: durability, utilized for medical needs, acceptable for in-home use, and generally not useful to someone uninjured or in good health.
Despite varying coverage, generally, the main types of covered DME include:
- Oxygen devices and accessories
- Humidifier equipment
- Walking aids
- Hospital beds and related supplies
- Orthotics
- Infusion supplies
- Breast pumps
Learn more
Healthcare Insights are developed with healthcare commercial intelligence from the Definitive Healthcare platform. Want even more insights? Start a free trial now and get access to the latest healthcare commercial intelligence on hospitals, physicians, and other healthcare providers.
You might also be interested in...
