E0156 HCPCS code: Seat attachment, walker
E0156 is the HCPCS Level II code for seat attachment, walker. The 2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule pays $18.52 to $87.45 (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. The NCCI unit limit is 1 per day on DME suppliers. Medicare volume fell 6% from 2022 to 2024 (156,572 to 146,461 services). In 2024, 4,876 suppliers billed Medicare for E0156 (purchases), serving 141,311 beneficiaries; California, New York, Florida accounted for 28% of services. Its average fee ranks 4 of 34 E01 codes billed NU (family range $13.50–$517.31); rural fees run 22% higher.
Code details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Section | E codes — Durable medical equipment |
| Coverage code | C — Carrier judgment |
| Pricing indicator | 32 — DMEPOS: inexpensive or routinely purchased item |
| BETOS category | D1E — Other durable medical equipment |
| Added | 1986-01-01 |
| Last action effective | 1996-01-01 |
2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule for E0156
| Modifier | Meaning | Lowest state fee | Highest state fee | Ceiling | Floor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NU | new equipment, purchased | $18.52 | $87.45 | — | — |
| RR | rental (monthly) | $1.85 | $10.67 | — | — |
| UE | used equipment, purchased | $13.89 | $65.58 | — | — |
| State | Modifier | Fee | Rural fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| AK | NU | $28.67 | — |
| AL | NU | $20.08 | $26.97 |
| AR | NU | $20.08 | $26.97 |
| AZ | NU | $18.59 | $26.96 |
| CA | NU | $20.09 | $26.97 |
| CO | NU | $19.32 | $24.54 |
| CT | NU | $19.48 | $25.93 |
| DC | NU | $18.52 | $26.97 |
| DE | NU | $18.52 | $26.97 |
| FL | NU | $20.08 | $24.54 |
| GA | NU | $20.08 | $26.97 |
| HI | NU | $29.91 | — |
| IA | NU | $19.70 | $24.54 |
| ID | NU | $19.32 | $26.97 |
| IL | NU | $19.68 | $24.54 |
| IN | NU | $19.68 | $24.98 |
| KS | NU | $19.70 | $26.97 |
| KY | NU | $20.08 | $26.85 |
| LA | NU | $20.08 | $26.97 |
| MA | NU | $19.48 | $26.97 |
| MD | NU | $18.52 | $26.97 |
| ME | NU | $19.48 | $26.97 |
| MI | NU | $19.68 | $26.97 |
| MN | NU | $19.70 | $24.54 |
| MO | NU | $19.70 | $24.54 |
| MS | NU | $20.08 | $26.97 |
| MT | NU | $19.32 | $24.54 |
| NC | NU | $20.08 | $25.26 |
| ND | NU | $19.70 | $24.54 |
| NE | NU | $19.70 | $26.97 |
| NH | NU | $19.48 | $26.97 |
| NJ | NU | $18.52 | $26.97 |
| NM | NU | $18.59 | $26.97 |
| NV | NU | $20.09 | $26.96 |
| NY | NU | $18.52 | $26.97 |
| OH | NU | $19.68 | $24.54 |
| OK | NU | $18.59 | $26.97 |
| OR | NU | $20.09 | $26.97 |
| PA | NU | $18.52 | $26.97 |
| PR | NU | $87.45 | — |
| RI | NU | $19.48 | $25.86 |
| SC | NU | $20.08 | $26.85 |
| SD | NU | $19.70 | $24.54 |
| TN | NU | $20.08 | $25.26 |
| TX | NU | $18.59 | $24.54 |
| UT | NU | $19.32 | $24.54 |
| VA | NU | $20.08 | $26.12 |
| VI | NU | $26.97 | — |
| VT | NU | $19.48 | $26.97 |
| WA | NU | $20.09 | $26.97 |
| WI | NU | $19.68 | $26.97 |
| WV | NU | $20.08 | $24.54 |
| WY | NU | $19.32 | $24.54 |
| AK | RR | $2.87 | — |
| AL | RR | $2.01 | $3.15 |
| AR | RR | $2.01 | $3.15 |
| AZ | RR | $1.86 | $3.15 |
| CA | RR | $2.01 | $2.85 |
| CO | RR | $1.93 | $2.84 |
| CT | RR | $1.95 | $2.84 |
| DC | RR | $1.85 | $3.15 |
| DE | RR | $1.85 | $3.15 |
| FL | RR | $2.01 | $2.84 |
| GA | RR | $2.01 | $3.15 |
| HI | RR | $2.99 | — |
| IA | RR | $1.97 | $2.84 |
| ID | RR | $1.93 | $3.15 |
| IL | RR | $1.97 | $2.84 |
| IN | RR | $1.97 | $2.84 |
| KS | RR | $1.97 | $2.98 |
| KY | RR | $2.01 | $2.84 |
| LA | RR | $2.01 | $3.15 |
| MA | RR | $1.95 | $3.15 |
| MD | RR | $1.85 | $3.15 |
| ME | RR | $1.95 | $3.15 |
| MI | RR | $1.97 | $3.15 |
| MN | RR | $1.97 | $2.84 |
| MO | RR | $1.97 | $2.84 |
| MS | RR | $2.01 | $3.15 |
| MT | RR | $1.93 | $2.84 |
| NC | RR | $2.01 | $2.84 |
| ND | RR | $1.97 | $2.84 |
| NE | RR | $1.97 | $3.15 |
| NH | RR | $1.95 | $3.15 |
| NJ | RR | $1.85 | $3.15 |
| NM | RR | $1.86 | $2.90 |
| NV | RR | $2.01 | $3.15 |
| NY | RR | $1.85 | $3.15 |
| OH | RR | $1.97 | $2.84 |
| OK | RR | $1.86 | $3.15 |
| OR | RR | $2.01 | $2.99 |
| PA | RR | $1.85 | $3.15 |
| PR | RR | $10.67 | — |
| RI | RR | $1.95 | $3.15 |
| SC | RR | $2.01 | $2.84 |
| SD | RR | $1.97 | $2.84 |
| TN | RR | $2.01 | $2.84 |
| TX | RR | $1.86 | $2.84 |
| UT | RR | $1.93 | $2.84 |
| VA | RR | $2.01 | $3.15 |
| VI | RR | $3.15 | — |
| VT | RR | $1.95 | $3.15 |
| WA | RR | $2.01 | $3.15 |
| WI | RR | $1.97 | $3.15 |
| WV | RR | $2.01 | $2.84 |
| WY | RR | $1.93 | $2.84 |
| AK | UE | $21.50 | — |
| AL | UE | $15.06 | $20.24 |
| AR | UE | $15.06 | $20.24 |
| AZ | UE | $13.94 | $20.22 |
| CA | UE | $15.07 | $20.24 |
| CO | UE | $14.49 | $18.41 |
| CT | UE | $14.61 | $19.45 |
| DC | UE | $13.89 | $20.24 |
| DE | UE | $13.89 | $20.24 |
| FL | UE | $15.06 | $18.41 |
| GA | UE | $15.06 | $20.24 |
| HI | UE | $22.44 | — |
| IA | UE | $14.77 | $18.41 |
| ID | UE | $14.49 | $20.24 |
| IL | UE | $14.76 | $18.41 |
| IN | UE | $14.76 | $18.74 |
| KS | UE | $14.77 | $20.24 |
| KY | UE | $15.06 | $20.12 |
| LA | UE | $15.06 | $20.24 |
| MA | UE | $14.61 | $20.24 |
| MD | UE | $13.89 | $20.24 |
| ME | UE | $14.61 | $20.24 |
| MI | UE | $14.76 | $20.24 |
| MN | UE | $14.77 | $18.41 |
| MO | UE | $14.77 | $18.41 |
| MS | UE | $15.06 | $20.24 |
| MT | UE | $14.49 | $18.41 |
| NC | UE | $15.06 | $18.94 |
| ND | UE | $14.77 | $18.41 |
| NE | UE | $14.77 | $20.24 |
| NH | UE | $14.61 | $20.24 |
| NJ | UE | $13.89 | $20.24 |
| NM | UE | $13.94 | $20.24 |
| NV | UE | $15.07 | $20.22 |
| NY | UE | $13.89 | $20.24 |
| OH | UE | $14.76 | $18.41 |
| OK | UE | $13.94 | $20.24 |
| OR | UE | $15.07 | $20.24 |
| PA | UE | $13.89 | $20.24 |
| PR | UE | $65.58 | — |
| RI | UE | $14.61 | $19.40 |
| SC | UE | $15.06 | $20.12 |
| SD | UE | $14.77 | $18.41 |
| TN | UE | $15.06 | $18.94 |
| TX | UE | $13.94 | $18.41 |
| UT | UE | $14.49 | $18.41 |
| VA | UE | $15.06 | $19.60 |
| VI | UE | $20.24 | — |
| VT | UE | $14.61 | $20.24 |
| WA | UE | $15.07 | $20.24 |
| WI | UE | $14.76 | $20.24 |
| WV | UE | $15.06 | $18.41 |
| WY | UE | $14.49 | $18.41 |
How the E0156 fee compares
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Rank among 34 E01 codes billed NU (lowest = 1) | 4 |
| Family fee range (average of state fees) | $13.50–$517.31 |
| Rural fee uplift | 22.5% |
Who bills E0156 (2024)
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Suppliers billing rentals | 480 |
| Suppliers billing purchases | 4,876 |
| Referring clinicians | 84,162 |
| Medicare beneficiaries | 141,311 |
| States with claims | 52 |
| Share of services in top 3 states (California, New York, Florida) | 28% |
| Year | Suppliers | Beneficiaries |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 5,413 | 151,757 |
| 2023 | 5,156 | 148,760 |
| 2024 | 4,876 | 141,311 |
Counts only. Supplier and clinician names, contact lists and state-by-state detail are in Caduvo.
Medicare utilization for E0156, 2022–2024
| Year | Services | Beneficiaries | Avg. allowed | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 156,572 | 151,757 | $18.96 | $14.20 |
| 2023 | 154,120 | 148,760 | $20.52 | $15.28 |
| 2024 | 146,461 | 141,311 | $19.22 | $14.32 |
States with the most E0156 services (2024)
| State | Services | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|
| California | 18,087 | $13.60 |
| New York | 12,327 | $13.35 |
| Florida | 10,264 | $14.39 |
| Texas | 8,419 | $13.66 |
| Michigan | 7,361 | $13.69 |
NCCI unit limits (MUE)
| Claim type | Max units per day | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| DME suppliers | 1 | Code Descriptor / CPT Instruction |
Medicare policy articles for this code
- A52503: Walkers - Policy Article (CGS Administrators, LLC (DME MAC) Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC (DME MAC)) — mentions this code in its coding guidance
What changed for E0156
- 2026-01-01: Average state fee (NU) rose 2.6%: $20.77 to $21.31
- 2026-01-01: Average state fee (RR) rose 2.5%: $2.12 to $2.18
- 2026-01-01: Average state fee (UE) rose 2.6%: $15.58 to $15.98
- 1986-01-01: E0156 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 E0156?
E0156 is the HCPCS Level II code for seat attachment, walker. Short descriptor: "Walker seat attachment".
How much does Medicare pay for E0156?
Under the 2026 DMEPOS fee schedule, non-rural state fees are NU (new equipment, purchased): $18.52–$87.45; RR (rental (monthly)): $1.85–$10.67; UE (used equipment, purchased): $13.89–$65.58. Rural fees can be higher.
Does Medicare cover E0156?
Coverage code C — Carrier judgment. Coverage is decided by the Medicare contractor (MAC) case by case.
Did the Medicare fee for E0156 change in 2026?
The average non-rural state fee for NU moved from $20.77 in 2025 to $21.31 in 2026 (+2.6%). CMS's next quarterly HCPCS and DMEPOS update takes effect January 1, 2027.
How many units of E0156 can be billed per day?
1 on DME suppliers (NCCI medically unlikely edits).
Related E01 codes
- E0100 — Cane, includes canes of all materials, adjustable or fixed, with tip ($6.11–$48.89)
- E0105 — Cane, quad or three prong, includes canes of all materials, adjustable or fixed, with tips ($10.74–$86.55)
- E0110 — Crutches, forearm, includes crutches of various materials, adjustable or fixed, pair, complete with tips and handgrips ($17.71–$141.62)
- E0111 — Crutch forearm, includes crutches of various materials, adjustable or fixed, each, with tip and handgrips ($8.81–$80.49)
- E0112 — Crutches underarm, wood, adjustable or fixed, pair, with pads, tips and handgrips ($7.97–$63.92)
- E0113 — Crutch underarm, wood, adjustable or fixed, each, with pad, tip and handgrip ($4.00–$55.77)
- E0114 — Crutches underarm, other than wood, adjustable or fixed, pair, with pads, tips and handgrips ($10.38–$88.73)
- E0116 — Crutch, underarm, other than wood, adjustable or fixed, with pad, tip, handgrip, with or without shock absorber, each ($5.58–$44.38)
- E0117 — Crutch, underarm, articulating, spring assisted, each ($27.45–$32.96)
- E0118 — Crutch substitute, lower leg platform, with or without wheels, each
- E0130 — Walker, rigid (pickup), adjustable or fixed height ($5.35–$86.89)
- E0135 — Walker, folding (pickup), adjustable or fixed height ($5.35–$105.44)
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 E0156
- Watch E0156 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for E0156
Sources: CMS HCPCS Level II release October 2025; 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.