A8001 HCPCS code: Helmet, protective, hard, prefabricated, includes all components and accessories
A8001 is the HCPCS Level II code for helmet, protective, hard, prefabricated, includes all components and accessories. The 2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule pays $218.57 to $262.20 (NU, new equipment, purchased) depending on the state. Its Medicare coverage code is C (Carrier judgment): Coverage is decided by the Medicare contractor (MAC) case by case.
Code details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Section | A codes — Transportation, medical/surgical supplies and miscellaneous |
| Coverage code | C — Carrier judgment |
| Pricing indicator | 32 — DMEPOS: inexpensive or routinely purchased item |
| BETOS category | D1E — Other durable medical equipment |
| Added | 2007-01-01 |
| Last action effective | 2007-01-01 |
2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule for A8001
| Modifier | Meaning | Lowest state fee | Highest state fee | Ceiling | Floor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NU | new equipment, purchased | $218.57 | $262.20 | $218.57 | $185.78 |
| RR | rental (monthly) | $21.86 | $26.21 | $21.86 | $18.58 |
| UE | used equipment, purchased | $163.97 | $196.69 | $163.97 | $139.37 |
| State | Modifier | Fee | Rural fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| AK | NU | $218.57 | — |
| AL | NU | $218.57 | — |
| AR | NU | $218.57 | — |
| AZ | NU | $218.57 | — |
| CA | NU | $218.57 | — |
| CO | NU | $218.57 | — |
| CT | NU | $218.57 | — |
| DC | NU | $218.57 | — |
| DE | NU | $218.57 | — |
| FL | NU | $218.57 | — |
| GA | NU | $218.57 | — |
| HI | NU | $218.57 | — |
| IA | NU | $218.57 | — |
| ID | NU | $218.57 | — |
| IL | NU | $218.57 | — |
| IN | NU | $218.57 | — |
| KS | NU | $218.57 | — |
| KY | NU | $218.57 | — |
| LA | NU | $218.57 | — |
| MA | NU | $218.57 | — |
| MD | NU | $218.57 | — |
| ME | NU | $218.57 | — |
| MI | NU | $218.57 | — |
| MN | NU | $218.57 | — |
| MO | NU | $218.57 | — |
| MS | NU | $218.57 | — |
| MT | NU | $218.57 | — |
| NC | NU | $218.57 | — |
| ND | NU | $218.57 | — |
| NE | NU | $218.57 | — |
| NH | NU | $218.57 | — |
| NJ | NU | $218.57 | — |
| NM | NU | $218.57 | — |
| NV | NU | $218.57 | — |
| NY | NU | $218.57 | — |
| OH | NU | $218.57 | — |
| OK | NU | $218.57 | — |
| OR | NU | $218.57 | — |
| PA | NU | $218.57 | — |
| PR | NU | $262.20 | — |
| RI | NU | $218.57 | — |
| SC | NU | $218.57 | — |
| SD | NU | $218.57 | — |
| TN | NU | $218.57 | — |
| TX | NU | $218.57 | — |
| UT | NU | $218.57 | — |
| VA | NU | $218.57 | — |
| VI | NU | $218.57 | — |
| VT | NU | $218.57 | — |
| WA | NU | $218.57 | — |
| WI | NU | $218.57 | — |
| WV | NU | $218.57 | — |
| WY | NU | $218.57 | — |
| AK | RR | $21.86 | — |
| AL | RR | $21.86 | — |
| AR | RR | $21.86 | — |
| AZ | RR | $21.86 | — |
| CA | RR | $21.86 | — |
| CO | RR | $21.86 | — |
| CT | RR | $21.86 | — |
| DC | RR | $21.86 | — |
| DE | RR | $21.86 | — |
| FL | RR | $21.86 | — |
| GA | RR | $21.86 | — |
| HI | RR | $21.86 | — |
| IA | RR | $21.86 | — |
| ID | RR | $21.86 | — |
| IL | RR | $21.86 | — |
| IN | RR | $21.86 | — |
| KS | RR | $21.86 | — |
| KY | RR | $21.86 | — |
| LA | RR | $21.86 | — |
| MA | RR | $21.86 | — |
| MD | RR | $21.86 | — |
| ME | RR | $21.86 | — |
| MI | RR | $21.86 | — |
| MN | RR | $21.86 | — |
| MO | RR | $21.86 | — |
| MS | RR | $21.86 | — |
| MT | RR | $21.86 | — |
| NC | RR | $21.86 | — |
| ND | RR | $21.86 | — |
| NE | RR | $21.86 | — |
| NH | RR | $21.86 | — |
| NJ | RR | $21.86 | — |
| NM | RR | $21.86 | — |
| NV | RR | $21.86 | — |
| NY | RR | $21.86 | — |
| OH | RR | $21.86 | — |
| OK | RR | $21.86 | — |
| OR | RR | $21.86 | — |
| PA | RR | $21.86 | — |
| PR | RR | $26.21 | — |
| RI | RR | $21.86 | — |
| SC | RR | $21.86 | — |
| SD | RR | $21.86 | — |
| TN | RR | $21.86 | — |
| TX | RR | $21.86 | — |
| UT | RR | $21.86 | — |
| VA | RR | $21.86 | — |
| VI | RR | $21.86 | — |
| VT | RR | $21.86 | — |
| WA | RR | $21.86 | — |
| WI | RR | $21.86 | — |
| WV | RR | $21.86 | — |
| WY | RR | $21.86 | — |
| AK | UE | $163.97 | — |
| AL | UE | $163.97 | — |
| AR | UE | $163.97 | — |
| AZ | UE | $163.97 | — |
| CA | UE | $163.97 | — |
| CO | UE | $163.97 | — |
| CT | UE | $163.97 | — |
| DC | UE | $163.97 | — |
| DE | UE | $163.97 | — |
| FL | UE | $163.97 | — |
| GA | UE | $163.97 | — |
| HI | UE | $163.97 | — |
| IA | UE | $163.97 | — |
| ID | UE | $163.97 | — |
| IL | UE | $163.97 | — |
| IN | UE | $163.97 | — |
| KS | UE | $163.97 | — |
| KY | UE | $163.97 | — |
| LA | UE | $163.97 | — |
| MA | UE | $163.97 | — |
| MD | UE | $163.97 | — |
| ME | UE | $163.97 | — |
| MI | UE | $163.97 | — |
| MN | UE | $163.97 | — |
| MO | UE | $163.97 | — |
| MS | UE | $163.97 | — |
| MT | UE | $163.97 | — |
| NC | UE | $163.97 | — |
| ND | UE | $163.97 | — |
| NE | UE | $163.97 | — |
| NH | UE | $163.97 | — |
| NJ | UE | $163.97 | — |
| NM | UE | $163.97 | — |
| NV | UE | $163.97 | — |
| NY | UE | $163.97 | — |
| OH | UE | $163.97 | — |
| OK | UE | $163.97 | — |
| OR | UE | $163.97 | — |
| PA | UE | $163.97 | — |
| PR | UE | $196.69 | — |
| RI | UE | $163.97 | — |
| SC | UE | $163.97 | — |
| SD | UE | $163.97 | — |
| TN | UE | $163.97 | — |
| TX | UE | $163.97 | — |
| UT | UE | $163.97 | — |
| VA | UE | $163.97 | — |
| VI | UE | $163.97 | — |
| VT | UE | $163.97 | — |
| WA | UE | $163.97 | — |
| WI | UE | $163.97 | — |
| WV | UE | $163.97 | — |
| WY | UE | $163.97 | — |
How the A8001 fee compares
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Rank among 2 A80 codes billed NU (lowest = 1) | 1 |
| Family fee range (average of state fees) | $219.39–$219.39 |
| Rural fee uplift | — |
What changed for A8001
- 2026-01-01: Average state fee (NU) rose 2.0%: $215.09 to $219.39
- 2026-01-01: Average state fee (RR) rose 2.0%: $21.51 to $21.94
- 2026-01-01: Average state fee (UE) rose 2.0%: $161.36 to $164.59
- 2007-01-01: A8001 added to HCPCS Level II
- Next scheduled CMS quarterly update (HCPCS and DMEPOS fee schedule): 2027-01-01
Frequently asked questions
What is HCPCS code A8001?
A8001 is the HCPCS Level II code for helmet, protective, hard, prefabricated, includes all components and accessories. Short descriptor: "Hard protect helmet prefab".
How much does Medicare pay for A8001?
Under the 2026 DMEPOS fee schedule, non-rural state fees are NU (new equipment, purchased): $218.57–$262.20; RR (rental (monthly)): $21.86–$26.21; UE (used equipment, purchased): $163.97–$196.69. Rural fees can be higher.
Does Medicare cover A8001?
Coverage code C — Carrier judgment. Coverage is decided by the Medicare contractor (MAC) case by case.
Did the Medicare fee for A8001 change in 2026?
The average non-rural state fee for NU moved from $215.09 in 2025 to $219.39 in 2026 (+2.0%). CMS's next quarterly HCPCS and DMEPOS update takes effect January 1, 2027.
Related A80 codes
- A8000 — Helmet, protective, soft, prefabricated, includes all components and accessories ($21.86–$262.20)
- A8002 — Helmet, protective, soft, custom fabricated, includes all components and accessories
- A8003 — Helmet, protective, hard, custom fabricated, includes all components and accessories
- A8004 — Soft interface for helmet, replacement only
- A8005 — Powered, cable driven grip assist glove, hand, finger, includes microprocessor, pressure sensors, all components and accessories, custom fitted
- A8006 — Powered, cable driven grip assist glove, hand, finger, includes pressure sensors, glove replacement only
Building a device that would bill under a code like this? Caduvo matches a device description to HCPCS/CPT codes, Medicare coverage and payment, and the FDA pathway in one report.
Next steps
- Run a reimbursement report for a device billed under A8001
- Watch A8001 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for A8001
Sources: CMS HCPCS Level II release October 2026; CMS DMEPOS fee schedule 2026; CMS NCCI MUE tables; CMS Medicare utilization (physician and DME supplier files); CMS Medicare Coverage Database articles. Fees are Medicare allowables, not commercial rates. Not billing or legal advice.