Summary & Overview
HCPCS E1170: Amputee Wheelchair with Full-Length Arms and Elevating Legrests
HCPCS Level II code E1170 denotes an amputee wheelchair with fixed full-length arms and swing-away detachable elevating legrests. This DME category item addresses mobility needs for patients with lower-limb amputation, providing stability, accommodation for prosthetic devices, and leg elevation to manage edema or wound care. Nationally, access to appropriate mobility equipment influences functional outcomes, discharge planning, and post-acute care needs for amputee populations.
Key payers included in this analysis are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of coverage considerations, common billing modifiers, and how this equipment fits into durable medical equipment and rehabilitation care pathways. The publication summarizes typical service settings, coding context, and payer inclusion to support billing clarity.
The content covers benchmarks where available, highlights relevant policy updates affecting DME coverage and documentation expectations, and situates the device within clinical workflows for prosthetic and post-amputation care. Data not available in the input are noted where applicable; the primary focus is a clear, national-level description of what HCPCS Level II code E1170 represents and where it is commonly used.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code E1170 describes an amputee wheelchair with fixed full-length arms and swing-away detachable elevating legrests. This is a durable medical equipment item designed specifically for patients with limb loss who require seating, mobility, and limb support features that accommodate prostheses and residual limbs.
Service type: Durable Medical Equipment (DME), Mobility/Seating Device
Typical site of service: Outpatient durable medical equipment suppliers, home use, long-term care facilities, and rehabilitation settings
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 62-year-old male transtibial amputee presents to durable medical equipment (DME) services for procurement of a mobility device to support activities of daily living and community ambulation. The patient has stable residual limb healing, reports decreased endurance and balance when using a standard wheelchair, and requires a wheelchair configured for unilateral lower-limb amputation with elevated leg support. A physical medicine and rehabilitation physician documents medical necessity and orders an amputee wheelchair with fixed full-length armrests and swing-away, detachable elevating legrests (E1170). The DME supplier performs wheelchair fitting, measurements, and adjustment of elevating legrests to accommodate residual limb protection and anticipated transfers. Follow-up includes training by a physical therapist on safe transfers, positioning, and legrest adjustment for edema management. Billing uses the HCPCS E1170 code with any applicable modifier to indicate circumstances such as furnished as ordered, bilateral/amputation status, or provider-specific billing nuances. Typical site of service is a DME supplier setting with home delivery and in-home fitting; initial evaluation and order originate from an outpatient rehabilitation clinic or inpatient acute care discharge planning team.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 |