Summary & Overview
HCPCS Level II E1022: Wheelchair Transportation Securement System
HCPCS Level II code E1022 designates a wheelchair transportation securement system and all included components and accessories. These systems are critical for safe patient mobility during transport, serving ambulances, non-emergency medical transportation, and other conveyances that move wheelchair users. Nationally, E1022 is relevant for providers, durable medical equipment suppliers, transportation services, and payers managing coverage for securement devices to meet safety and accessibility standards.
Key payers covered in this overview include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise explanation of what the code represents, the clinical and service contexts where it applies, and the typical sites of service. The publication outlines benchmark and coverage themes relevant to DME transportation accessories, summarizes common billing modifiers encountered with this service, and highlights areas where policy updates or payer-specific documentation requirements commonly arise. The content is intended to inform billing compliance, equipment procurement decisions, and payer communications at a national level. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code E1022 describes a wheelchair transportation securement system, any type, including all components and accessories. This code represents equipment designed to secure a wheelchair and its occupant during vehicle transport to reduce movement and risk of injury.
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Service type: Durable medical equipment accessory for transportation securement systems
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Typical site of service: Ambulance, non-emergency medical transportation vehicles, and other patient transport settings
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 72-year-old patient with advanced Parkinson disease and severe orthostatic hypotension requires safe transport in a clinic-based mobility van to attend an outpatient physical therapy program. The patient uses a manual wheelchair with a reclining back and removable leg rests. The medical transportation coordinator arranges a van equipped with a wheelchair transportation securement system to meet state and federal safety standards. At pickup, a trained attendant transfers the wheelchair into the vehicle, positions the wheelchair on the securement track, applies four-point tiedown straps to the wheelchair frame and anchor points on the vehicle floor, and attaches a lap and shoulder pelvic restraint to the occupant. The attendant documents wheelchair model, securement locations used, condition of straps and anchors, and any modifications required (e.g., additional adapter hardware for nonstandard frames). The patient is transported to the outpatient appointment; upon arrival the attendant releases the securement system and documents transport completion and any unusual events.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
22 | Increased procedural services | Use when substantially greater work, time, or complexity is required to install or adapt the securement system beyond typical effort. |
23 |