Summary & Overview
HCPCS E0292: Hospital Bed, Variable Height Hi‑Lo Without Side Rails
HCPCS Level II code E0292 denotes a variable-height, hi-lo hospital bed without side rails and including a mattress. This durable medical equipment (DME) item supports safe patient handling, height-adjustable positioning for caregiving, and basic pressure redistribution in a range of care settings from inpatient wards to home use when prescribed. Nationally, hospital beds like those described by E0292 are important for patient mobility, fall risk mitigation, and facilitating nursing tasks, and they factor into DME supply and utilization patterns across payers.
Key payers commonly considered for coverage and reimbursement of HCPCS DME codes include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find benchmarking context on typical site-of-service use, payer coverage considerations, and clinical context for when a variable-height hi-lo bed is employed. The publication summarizes common billing considerations, outlines expected clinical use cases, and highlights where policy updates or payer-specific coverage rules may affect claims processing. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code E0292 describes a hospital bed, variable height, hi-lo, without side rails, with mattress. This item represents a medically necessary durable medical equipment (DME) bed designed to adjust vertically to assist with patient transfers, caregiving tasks, and pressure redistribution when used with an appropriate mattress.
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Service type: Durable Medical Equipment (hospital bed)
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Typical site of service: Inpatient hospital wards, long-term care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and patient residences when prescribed for home use
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult hospitalized for acute medical or surgical conditions requiring an adjustable hospital bed with integrated mattress to support care, turning, and safe transfers. Example: a 68-year-old patient admitted after hip fracture repair who is non-ambulatory postoperatively, requires frequent repositioning to prevent pressure injuries, and needs bed height adjustments for safe transfers and procedures. The clinical workflow begins with a physician or physical therapist documenting medical necessity for a hospital bed; the hospital's supply or durable medical equipment (DME) team provides and places the E0292 bed in the patient room with mattress. Nursing staff use the hi-lo functionality for safe patient handling, bedside procedures, and transfer to mobility devices. Respiratory therapists may adjust bed height for airway management, and wound care clinicians rely on bed positioning to offload pressure areas. The bed remains in place while the patient meets criteria for continued need, and discharge planning addresses return, rental, or replacement arrangements per payer policies.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
52 | Reduced services | Use if the supplied bed lacks normally provided features or is partial vs. standard setup |
53 | Discontinued procedure | Use if delivery or setup was begun but not completed for clinical reasons |
62 | Two surgeons (co-surgeon) | Not typically applicable; rarely used if two providers documented for equipment setup during complex surgical care |
78 | Unplanned return to OR | Not typically applicable; may be used in hospital billing scenarios when related surgical events occur |
80 | Assistant surgeon | Rare for DME; used in surgical claims when an assistant is documented |
82 | Assistant not fully qualified | Rare; similar limited applicability in hospital context |
QK | Medical direction of two, three, or four CRNAs | Use when anesthesia services for procedures associated with bed use are billed and medical direction applies |
QX | CRNA service with modifier QK | Use paired with QK where appropriate for anesthesia services |
RB | Replacement of DME under repair warranty | Use when bed is provided as a replacement item under warranty or vendor agreement |
RR | Rental (DME) | Use when the hospital bills the bed as a rental item per payer rules |
NU | New equipment | Use when the bed is furnished as new, not rebuilt or refurbished |
RE | Repaired equipment | Use when billing indicates a repaired/refurbished bed (if applicable) |
| Taxonomy Code | Specialty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 215000000X | Hospitalist | Inpatient ordering and documentation of bed necessity |
| 207LH0000X | Physical Therapist | Evaluates mobility needs and documents requirement for a hi-lo bed |
| 207K00000X | Occupational Therapist | Assesses safe transfer needs and documents bed features |
| 363L00000X | Respiratory Therapist | Adjusts bed for airway management and respiratory care needs |
| 103T00000X | Nurse Practitioner | Orders and documents DME necessity in inpatient settings |
Related Diagnoses
| ICD-10 Code | Description | Clinical Relevance |
|---|---|---|
S72.001A | Fracture of unspecified part of neck of right femur, initial encounter for closed fracture | Hip fracture patients often require a hi-lo bed postoperatively for safe transfers and mobilization |
M48.06 | Spinal stenosis, lumbar region | Patients with reduced mobility from spinal conditions may need adjustable beds for positioning and pressure relief |
I50.9 | Heart failure, unspecified | Acute or chronic heart failure patients with limited functional status may require adjustable beds for care and monitoring |
R26.2 | Difficulty in walking, not elsewhere classified | Mobility impairment that justifies use of a hospital hi-lo bed for safety and transfer assistance |
L89.153 | Pressure ulcer of sacral region, stage 3 | Patients with pressure injuries require specialized positioning and frequent turning supported by a hi-lo bed |
Related CPT Codes
| CPT Code | Description | Relationship to This Procedure |
|---|---|---|
31500 | Intubation, endotracheal, emergency procedure | May occur at bedside where hi-lo bed facilitates airway management and provider ergonomics |
11042 | Debridement, subcutaneous tissue; first 20 sq cm or less | Wound care performed at bedside where adjustable bed positioning supports access |
99501 | Home visit for provision of durable medical equipment (DME) | Administrative/coordination code used when arranging DME at discharge (contextual relationship) |
97039 | Unlisted modality (e.g., specialized therapeutic procedure), per payer | Physical or occupational therapy sessions that require bed adjustments for treatment |
99499 | Unlisted evaluation and management service | Used for unlisted inpatient coordination or complex DME management when no specific code applies |