Summary & Overview
HCPCS E0900: Traction Stand, Free Standing, Pelvic Traction (Buck's)
HCPCS Level II code E0900 designates a free-standing pelvic traction stand (commonly referred to as a Buck's traction stand). Nationally, this code identifies a specific durable medical equipment item used in clinical settings to apply pelvic or lower-back traction for stabilization and symptomatic relief. The code matters because accurate coding ensures appropriate DME identification, claims processing, and consistent clinical documentation for traction therapies across care settings.
Key payers commonly involved in coverage decisions include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of the clinical use and service settings for E0900, plus operational considerations relevant to billing and coding for traction devices. The publication outlines expected benchmarks where available, summarizes relevant policy topics affecting DME claims, and provides clinical context for when a pelvic traction stand is used.
This summary serves clinicians, billing professionals, and policy analysts seeking a concise reference for HCPCS Level II code E0900, including what the code represents, typical sites of service, and the types of payer policies that commonly affect coverage and reimbursement. Data not available in the input will be noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code E0900 describes a traction stand, free standing, pelvic traction (e.g., Buck's). This device is a durable medical equipment item used to apply pelvic traction, typically for short-term stabilization, pain relief, or preparatory positioning related to lower back or pelvic conditions.
Service Type: Durable Medical Equipment (DME) — traction device
Typical Site of Service: Outpatient clinics, physical therapy departments, inpatient hospital units, and other clinical settings where traction therapy or immobilization is administered
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Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult with acute or subacute pelvic or low lumbar pain requiring intermittent pelvic traction, for example, a patient presenting to a hospital outpatient physical therapy department or an orthopedic clinic after a fall with exacerbation of chronic lumbar radiculopathy. The patient has been evaluated by a clinician who prescribes pelvic traction using a free-standing traction stand (e.g., Buck's traction) to reduce muscle spasm, decompress nerve roots, or assist in immobilization prior to definitive management. The clinical workflow: initial evaluation and imaging by the ordering provider; consent and device setup by a licensed physical therapist or orthotist; application of the traction harness or pelvic sling on the traction stand; titration of traction force and duration per the treatment order; monitoring during treatment; documentation of pre- and post-treatment pain scores, vital signs as indicated, and device parameters; and device removal and patient discharge from the therapy area. Typical sites of service include hospital outpatient departments, ambulatory surgery centers for preoperative stabilization, inpatient units for short-term immobilization, and outpatient physical therapy clinics. Service type: durable medical equipment / traction device provided and applied for therapeutic pelvic traction.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Use when billing only the professional component associated with device application or technician services separate from technical equipment supply. |