Summary & Overview
HCPCS E0114: Underarm Crutches, Non-Wood, Pair, Adjustable or Fixed
HCPCS Level II code E0114 designates a pair of underarm crutches made of non-wood materials, either adjustable or fixed, supplied with pads, tips and handgrips. As a Durable Medical Equipment (DME) item commonly used to support patient mobility after injury, surgery, or for chronic ambulatory limitations, this code matters nationally because it governs coverage decisions, billing compliance, and patient access to basic mobility aids across payers. Key payers discussed in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of what E0114 represents clinically and operationally, typical sites of service, and which payers commonly cover such DME items. The publication summarizes benchmarking contexts and policy considerations affecting DME billing — including prior authorization trends, documentation expectations, and common reimbursement structures — and provides practical reference points for coding and claims submission. Where specific payer policy details or utilization data are not provided in the input, the text notes that data is not available. This national-level summary is intended to help billing managers, DME suppliers, and compliance teams quickly understand the role of E0114 in ambulatory mobility equipment billing and payer interactions.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code E0114 describes a pair of underarm crutches made of materials other than wood, either adjustable or fixed, supplied with pads, tips and handgrips. The service type is durable medical equipment (DME) — ambulation/orthotic device, and the typical site of service is outpatient DME suppliers, orthotics/prosthetics shops, inpatient hospital discharge supply, or home medical equipment delivery. Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is a middle-aged adult who sustained a lower-extremity injury (e.g., ankle fracture, tibia fracture, sprain) requiring temporary partial or non–weight-bearing ambulation. The provider prescribes a pair of adjustable underarm crutches described by E0114 to provide stable gait assistance while protecting the affected limb. The clinical workflow begins with an evaluation by an orthopedist, emergency physician, or primary care provider who documents the diagnosis, weight-bearing status, and medical necessity for crutches. A durable medical equipment (DME) supplier verifies the prescription, obtains patient demographics and insurance information, and checks prior authorization requirements from payors such as Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, BUCA, or Medicare. The supplier delivers the crutches, provides patient education on height adjustment, pad and grip positioning, safe ambulation techniques, and documents delivery and training in the patient record. Follow-up occurs at the orthopedic clinic to reassess mobility needs and modify or discontinue the device when the patient progresses to full weight bearing or uses alternative mobility aids.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
LT | Left side | Use when the device is provided specifically for predominant left-side impairment or when payor requires laterality reporting for bilateral services. |