Summary & Overview
HCPCS K0073: Caster Pin Lock, Each
HCPCS Level II code K0073 represents a single caster pin lock, an orthopedic accessory used to secure caster pins on mobility and support devices. Nationally, supply-level HCPCS codes like K0073 are important for standardized billing of durable medical equipment (DME) components, supporting consistent claims processing for hospitals, DME suppliers, outpatient clinics, and long-term care settings. This code affects procurement, inventory management, and device maintenance workflows across care settings.
Key payers considered in this overview include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise review of the code’s clinical role, typical sites of service, and the payer landscape covered. The publication provides benchmarks where available, notes on common billing practices, and a summary of policy or coverage considerations relevant to DME components nationally. Where payer-specific coverage details are not provided in the input, the section will indicate that data are not available.
This summary arms billing managers, revenue cycle staff, and clinical procurement teams with a clear understanding of what K0073 represents, who reimburses for it nationally, and what types of operational and policy information follow in the full publication.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code K0073 denotes a caster pin lock, each. This item is a single-component orthopedic supply used to secure caster pins on mobility or support devices such as wheelchairs, walkers, or hospital beds.
Service type: Durable medical equipment / orthopedic accessory
Typical site of service: Durable medical equipment suppliers, outpatient clinics, hospitals, and long-term care facilities
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A patient in an orthopedic clinic presents after external fixation of a distal tibia fracture. During the fixation procedure or a subsequent outpatient dressing change, the surgical team secures or replaces a single caster pin lock that maintains alignment of the external fixator’s wheel/caster assembly. Typical workflow: the orthopedic surgeon or delegated licensed provider assesses the external fixator during a follow-up visit; identifies a worn, missing, or malfunctioning caster pin lock; cleans the pin/wheel area using sterile technique; removes the defective caster pin lock; and installs a new K0073 caster pin lock. The item is billed to cover the single device component. Usual site of service is an outpatient orthopedic clinic, ambulatory surgery center, or hospital outpatient department when done during postoperative care or device maintenance. Typical patients include adults and children with long bone fractures or complex trauma managed with external fixation requiring periodic hardware maintenance or replacement of small fixation components.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | No modifier | Standard billing when no special circumstances apply |
22 |