Summary & Overview
HCPCS E2371: Power Wheelchair Group 27 Sealed Lead Acid Battery
HCPCS Level II code E2371 represents a replacement or accessory sealed lead acid battery (group 27, such as gel cell or absorbed glassmat) for power wheelchairs, billed per battery. This code matters nationally because batteries are a routine, recurring component of power mobility device maintenance and replacement, with implications for durable medical equipment (DME) coverage, beneficiary mobility, and durable goods cost management.
Key payers included in this analysis are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of typical coverage contexts for mobility device batteries, national-level reimbursement and coverage considerations, common billing practices, and areas where policy updates or payer guidance can affect access. The summary outlines how E2371 is used across DME supply settings — including DME suppliers, outpatient clinics, and home delivery — and highlights operational topics such as billing frequency, documentation drivers, and replacement cycles.
The publication provides benchmarks for billing patterns, payer policy highlights, and clinical context about battery types and expected lifespans relevant to durable medical equipment provisioning. Data not available in the input will be explicitly noted in detailed sections.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code E2371 describes a power wheelchair accessory: group 27 sealed lead acid battery (for example, gel cell or absorbed glassmat), billed each. The service type is durable medical equipment accessory specifically for power mobility devices. The typical site of service is durable medical equipment suppliers, outpatient clinics, and patient residences where power wheelchairs are used or serviced.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 72-year-old patient with advanced Parkinson disease and progressive mobility impairment uses a power wheelchair as durable medical equipment. The wheelchair requires replacement sealed lead acid batteries (group 27, gel cell/AGM) to maintain safe operation. The clinical workflow begins when the patient or caregiver reports reduced run time or failure to start the power chair. A qualified clinician or certified supplier assesses the device, documents decreased battery capacity or failure, and verifies medical necessity tied to the mobility-limiting diagnosis. The supplier obtains a valid prescription or order referencing the device and the need for a replacement E2371 sealed lead acid battery, quotes delivery and installation services if required, and coordinates billing. The battery is delivered and installed by trained personnel; the encounter includes documentation of device model, serial number, battery type (group 27 sealed lead acid, gel cell/AGM), quantity (each), and date of service. Typical payors involved include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, BUCA, and Medicare; prior authorization or supplier documentation may be required per payor policy.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
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