Summary & Overview
HCPCS L3340: Heel Wedge (Sach)
HCPCS Level II code L3340 designates a heel wedge (sach) used as an orthopedic shoe modification to provide heel support and cushioning. This durable medical device component is relevant nationally for patients with foot and gait conditions requiring heel stabilization or shock absorption. The code matters because it governs coverage, billing, and appropriate supply of shoe modifications across major payers and Medicare, affecting access to needed footwear components for ambulatory patients.
Key payers covered in this review include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context for L3340, the typical sites of service and supply, and the payer landscape. The publication summarizes common billing practices, permissible service settings, and where data is available or not. It also outlines the types of benchmarks and policy considerations typically relevant to this code, including durable medical equipment coverage criteria and documentation expectations.
This summary is designed for billing professionals, clinicians overseeing orthotic care, and policy analysts seeking a national perspective on the use and administration of HCPCS Level II code L3340 in outpatient durable medical equipment and orthotics settings.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code L3340 describes a heel wedge, sach. This item is an orthopedic shoe modification designed to provide heel support and cushioning, commonly used to address conditions that benefit from a built-in wedge at the heel. The service type is a durable medical device component for footwear modification. The typical site of service is outpatient durable medical equipment suppliers, prosthetics and orthotics clinics, and specialty footwear providers.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A middle-aged patient presents to a podiatry clinic with posterior heel pain and evidence of a flexible hindfoot malalignment with localized calcaneal overload. The clinician assesses gait, performs a focused foot and ankle examination, and determines that a non-prescription shoe accessory will help redistribute heel pressure. A prefabricated heel wedge classified as L3340 (heel wedge, sach) is selected and fitted into the patient’s shoe. Documentation includes the diagnosis supporting use (for example, plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendinopathy), measurements of the wedge thickness and side (left or right), the dispensing date, and patient education about gradual wear and activity modification. The device is dispensed in clinic; when billing, the appropriate place of service is recorded (typically office or outpatient clinic) and a modifier is appended if required to indicate laterality or unusual circumstances such as bilateral fitting (RT/LT) or modifier 59-type distinct procedural circumstances when applicable to payer rules.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
LT | Left side |