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    v1.0.31
    OpenPayerBilling CodesOrthotic Procedures and servicesHCPCS hcpcs-l2020-knee-ankle-foot-orthosis-double-upright-custom
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    HCPCS L2020: Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthosis, Double Upright, Custom Fabricated

    HCPCS Level II code L2020 describes a custom-fabricated knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO) with double uprights, free ankle, solid stirrup, and thigh and calf bands/cuffs (double bar 'ak' orthosis); the service is the fabrication and provision of a custom KAFO used primarily for lower-extremity immobilization, support, or ambulation assistance, typically supplied in an outpatient prosthetics/orthotics clinic, orthotics specialty practice, or hospital inpatient/rehabilitation setting.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Hospital Beds Corporate Medical Policy, Continuous Passive Motion Devices with Remote Monitoring or Adaptive Capabilities, Bone Growth Stimulators.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is an adult with knee instability or deformity and lower-extremity weakness following neurologic injury (for example post-stroke hemiparesis), peripheral nerve injury, or complex post-traumatic knee/ankle pathology. The patient has persistent knee buckling or foot clearance problems that impair gait and safety despite conservative measures (physical therapy, bracing with prefabricated devices, or orthotic footwear). A certified orthotist performs an initial evaluation in an outpatient orthotics clinic or hospital-based rehabilitation setting. The evaluation includes medical history review, gait assessment, range-of-motion and muscle strength testing, and weight-bearing limb measurements. After documentation of functional deficits and a physician order, the orthotist fabricates a custom L2020 knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO) with double upright, free ankle, solid stirrup, and thigh and calf bands/cuffs tailored to the patient’s anatomy. Follow-up visits include fitting, alignment adjustments, and gait training with a physical therapist. Typical sites of service are outpatient orthotics clinics, hospital-based rehabilitation departments, and skilled nursing or inpatient rehabilitation facilities when provided as part of post-acute mobility restoration.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    97760Orthotic management and training, upper extremity, lower extremity and/or trunk, initial orthotic fit; includes assessment and demonstration of useUsed during initial fitting session and patient training for the L2020 KAFO
    97761Orthotic management and training, subsequent orthotic management and training, lower extremityUsed for follow-up visits to adjust fit and progress gait training after initial fitting of the L2020
    97530Therapeutic activities, direct (one-on-one) patient contact by the provider, use of dynamic activities to improve functional performanceUsed by physical therapy to address gait and functional mobility after KAFO fitting
    99203Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of a new patient, typically 30 minutesMay be used by the prescribing physician for initial evaluation and order for the orthosis
    99214Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient, typically 25 minutesMay be used for follow-up medical management and documentation of continued medical necessity

    Related Modifiers

    5 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    58Modifier 58 (Staged or related procedure/service by the same physician during the postoperative period) indicates that a subsequent procedure performed by the same provider during the…- Use modifier 58 when the same physician/QHP performs a procedure during the postoperative/global period of an earlier procedure and the subsequent procedure is either planned or anticipated…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    261QP2400X
    207Q00000X
    193200000X
    2085P0229X
    225XG0600X
    207RI0200X
    207ZP0102X
    163WX1500X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    25 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    G81.91Hemiplegia, unspecified affecting right dominant side
    G81.92Hemiplegia, unspecified affecting left dominant side
    G82.20Paraplegia, unspecified
    G82.21Paraplegia, complete
    M16.11Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, right hip
    M16.12Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, left hip
    M17.11Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, right knee
    M17.12Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, left knee
    M20.11Hallux valgus (acquired), right foot
    M20.12Hallux valgus (acquired), left foot

    Showing 1–10 of 25

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Durable Medical Equipment (DME)1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Hospital Beds Corporate Medical Policybcbsvermont2027-01-01
    Continuous Passive Motion Devices with Remote Monitoring or Adaptive CapabilitiesBlue Cross Blue Shield - Rhode Island2026-12-01
    Bone Growth StimulatorsMass General Brigham Health Plan2026-12-01
    Prior Authorization for Durable Medical Equipment (DME)Blue Cross Blue Shield - Rhode Island2026-12-01
    Patient Liftsuniverahealthcare2026-11-16
    Medical Car SeatsCareSource2026-11-01
    Non-Invasive Home Mechanical Ventilation (E0466)CareSource2026-11-01
    Digestive Enzyme Cartridgeshusky_health2026-11-01
    Hearing Aids and Assistive Listening Devices for Children Enrolled in Birth-to-Threehusky_health2026-11-01
    Home Non-Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV) Devices for Respiratory Insufficiency and Failureexcellus_health_plan_inc2026-10-15

    Related Codes

    HCPCS-L0112-CRANIAL-CERVICAL-ORTHOSIS-CONGENITAL-TORTICOLLIS-CUSTOM

    HCPCS L0112: Cranial Cervical Orthosis, Congenital Torticollis Type

    HCPCS-L0113-CRANIAL-CERVICAL-ORTHOSIS-TORTICOLLIS

    HCPCS Level II L0113: Prefabricated Cranial Cervical Orthosis for Torticollis

    HCPCS-L0130-CERVICAL-FLEXIBLE-THERMOPLASTIC-COLLAR-MOLDED-TO-PATIENT

    HCPCS Level II L0130: Cervical Flexible Thermoplastic Collar, Molded to Patient

    HCPCS-L0140-CERVICAL-SEMI-RIGID-ADJUSTABLE-PLASTIC-COLLAR

    HCPCS Level II L0140: Cervical Semi-Rigid Adjustable Plastic Collar

    HCPCS-L0150-CERVICAL-SEMI-RIGID-ADJUSTABLE-CHIN-CUP

    HCPCS Level II L0150: Cervical Semi-Rigid Adjustable Chin Cup

    HCPCS-L0160-CERVICAL-SEMI-RIGID-OCCIPITAL-MANDIBULAR-SUPPORT

    HCPCS Level II L0160: Cervical Semi-Rigid Occipital/Mandibular Support

    HCPCS-L0170-CERVICAL-COLLAR-MOLDED-TO-PATIENT-MODEL

    HCPCS Level II L0170: Cervical Collar, Custom-Molded

    HCPCS-L0172-CERVICAL-COLLAR-SEMI-RIGID-THERMOPLASTIC-FOAM

    HCPCS L0172: Cervical Collar, Semi-Rigid Prefabricated

    HCPCS-L0174-CERVICAL-COLLAR-SEMI-RIGID-THORACIC-EXTENSION

    HCPCS L0174: Cervical Collar, Semi-Rigid Thermoplastic with Thoracic Extension

    HCPCS-L0180-CERVICAL-MULTIPLE-POST-COLLAR-OCCIPITAL-MANDIBULAR-ADJUSTABLE

    HCPCS Level II L0180: Cervical Orthosis with Occipital/Mandibular Supports

    Showing 1–10 of 466

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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