E0157 HCPCS code: Crutch attachment, walker, each
E0157 is the HCPCS Level II code for crutch attachment, walker, each. The 2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule pays $61.44 to $84.96 (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 2 per day on DME suppliers. In 2024, 9 suppliers billed Medicare for E0157 (purchases), serving 24 beneficiaries. Its average fee ranks 24 of 34 E01 codes billed NU (family range $13.50–$517.31); rural fees run 21% 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 E0157
| Modifier | Meaning | Lowest state fee | Highest state fee | Ceiling | Floor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NU | new equipment, purchased | $61.44 | $84.96 | — | — |
| RR | rental (monthly) | $6.14 | $9.67 | — | — |
| UE | used equipment, purchased | $46.08 | $63.72 | — | — |
| State | Modifier | Fee | Rural fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| AK | NU | $77.19 | — |
| AL | NU | $71.81 | $84.42 |
| AR | NU | $71.81 | $88.60 |
| AZ | NU | $63.03 | $88.60 |
| CA | NU | $64.94 | $81.05 |
| CO | NU | $75.22 | $88.60 |
| CT | NU | $68.31 | $88.60 |
| DC | NU | $61.44 | $81.05 |
| DE | NU | $61.44 | $81.05 |
| FL | NU | $71.81 | $81.05 |
| GA | NU | $71.81 | $82.72 |
| HI | NU | $79.89 | — |
| IA | NU | $72.20 | $81.05 |
| ID | NU | $75.22 | $88.60 |
| IL | NU | $75.34 | $88.60 |
| IN | NU | $75.34 | $88.60 |
| KS | NU | $72.20 | $81.05 |
| KY | NU | $71.81 | $81.05 |
| LA | NU | $71.81 | $88.60 |
| MA | NU | $68.31 | $88.60 |
| MD | NU | $61.44 | $81.05 |
| ME | NU | $68.31 | $88.60 |
| MI | NU | $75.34 | $88.60 |
| MN | NU | $72.20 | $86.11 |
| MO | NU | $72.20 | $81.05 |
| MS | NU | $71.81 | $81.05 |
| MT | NU | $75.22 | $88.60 |
| NC | NU | $71.81 | $88.60 |
| ND | NU | $72.20 | $88.60 |
| NE | NU | $72.20 | $81.05 |
| NH | NU | $68.31 | $88.60 |
| NJ | NU | $61.44 | $81.05 |
| NM | NU | $63.03 | $88.60 |
| NV | NU | $64.94 | $88.60 |
| NY | NU | $61.44 | $82.27 |
| OH | NU | $75.34 | $81.05 |
| OK | NU | $63.03 | $88.48 |
| OR | NU | $64.94 | $88.60 |
| PA | NU | $61.44 | $81.05 |
| PR | NU | $84.96 | — |
| RI | NU | $68.31 | $88.60 |
| SC | NU | $71.81 | $88.60 |
| SD | NU | $72.20 | $88.60 |
| TN | NU | $71.81 | $88.60 |
| TX | NU | $63.03 | $81.05 |
| UT | NU | $75.22 | $88.60 |
| VA | NU | $71.81 | $81.05 |
| VI | NU | $82.27 | — |
| VT | NU | $68.31 | $88.60 |
| WA | NU | $64.94 | $85.73 |
| WI | NU | $75.34 | $88.60 |
| WV | NU | $71.81 | $81.05 |
| WY | NU | $75.22 | $88.60 |
| AK | RR | $7.72 | — |
| AL | RR | $7.18 | $9.36 |
| AR | RR | $7.18 | $9.36 |
| AZ | RR | $6.30 | $9.36 |
| CA | RR | $6.50 | $8.53 |
| CO | RR | $7.52 | $9.36 |
| CT | RR | $6.83 | $9.25 |
| DC | RR | $6.14 | $9.36 |
| DE | RR | $6.14 | $9.36 |
| FL | RR | $7.18 | $8.53 |
| GA | RR | $7.18 | $8.53 |
| HI | RR | $7.99 | — |
| IA | RR | $7.22 | $8.53 |
| ID | RR | $7.52 | $9.36 |
| IL | RR | $7.53 | $9.36 |
| IN | RR | $7.53 | $9.36 |
| KS | RR | $7.22 | $8.53 |
| KY | RR | $7.18 | $8.53 |
| LA | RR | $7.18 | $9.36 |
| MA | RR | $6.83 | $9.36 |
| MD | RR | $6.14 | $9.36 |
| ME | RR | $6.83 | $9.36 |
| MI | RR | $7.53 | $9.02 |
| MN | RR | $7.22 | $8.60 |
| MO | RR | $7.22 | $8.53 |
| MS | RR | $7.18 | $8.53 |
| MT | RR | $7.52 | $9.36 |
| NC | RR | $7.18 | $9.27 |
| ND | RR | $7.22 | $8.86 |
| NE | RR | $7.22 | $8.53 |
| NH | RR | $6.83 | $9.36 |
| NJ | RR | $6.14 | $9.36 |
| NM | RR | $6.30 | $9.36 |
| NV | RR | $6.50 | $9.36 |
| NY | RR | $6.14 | $8.53 |
| OH | RR | $7.53 | $8.53 |
| OK | RR | $6.30 | $8.85 |
| OR | RR | $6.50 | $9.36 |
| PA | RR | $6.14 | $9.36 |
| PR | RR | $9.67 | — |
| RI | RR | $6.83 | $9.36 |
| SC | RR | $7.18 | $9.32 |
| SD | RR | $7.22 | $8.94 |
| TN | RR | $7.18 | $9.27 |
| TX | RR | $6.30 | $8.53 |
| UT | RR | $7.52 | $9.36 |
| VA | RR | $7.18 | $8.53 |
| VI | RR | $8.53 | — |
| VT | RR | $6.83 | $9.36 |
| WA | RR | $6.50 | $8.58 |
| WI | RR | $7.53 | $9.36 |
| WV | RR | $7.18 | $8.53 |
| WY | RR | $7.52 | $9.36 |
| AK | UE | $57.89 | — |
| AL | UE | $53.86 | $63.36 |
| AR | UE | $53.86 | $66.45 |
| AZ | UE | $47.27 | $66.45 |
| CA | UE | $48.71 | $60.78 |
| CO | UE | $56.42 | $66.45 |
| CT | UE | $51.24 | $66.45 |
| DC | UE | $46.08 | $60.78 |
| DE | UE | $46.08 | $60.78 |
| FL | UE | $53.86 | $60.78 |
| GA | UE | $53.86 | $62.04 |
| HI | UE | $59.91 | — |
| IA | UE | $54.15 | $60.78 |
| ID | UE | $56.42 | $66.45 |
| IL | UE | $56.50 | $66.45 |
| IN | UE | $56.50 | $66.45 |
| KS | UE | $54.15 | $60.78 |
| KY | UE | $53.86 | $60.78 |
| LA | UE | $53.86 | $66.45 |
| MA | UE | $51.24 | $66.45 |
| MD | UE | $46.08 | $60.78 |
| ME | UE | $51.24 | $66.45 |
| MI | UE | $56.50 | $66.45 |
| MN | UE | $54.15 | $64.58 |
| MO | UE | $54.15 | $60.78 |
| MS | UE | $53.86 | $60.78 |
| MT | UE | $56.42 | $66.45 |
| NC | UE | $53.86 | $66.45 |
| ND | UE | $54.15 | $66.45 |
| NE | UE | $54.15 | $60.78 |
| NH | UE | $51.24 | $66.45 |
| NJ | UE | $46.08 | $60.78 |
| NM | UE | $47.27 | $66.45 |
| NV | UE | $48.71 | $66.45 |
| NY | UE | $46.08 | $61.71 |
| OH | UE | $56.50 | $60.78 |
| OK | UE | $47.27 | $66.36 |
| OR | UE | $48.71 | $66.45 |
| PA | UE | $46.08 | $60.78 |
| PR | UE | $63.72 | — |
| RI | UE | $51.24 | $66.45 |
| SC | UE | $53.86 | $66.45 |
| SD | UE | $54.15 | $66.45 |
| TN | UE | $53.86 | $66.45 |
| TX | UE | $47.27 | $60.78 |
| UT | UE | $56.42 | $66.45 |
| VA | UE | $53.86 | $60.78 |
| VI | UE | $61.71 | — |
| VT | UE | $51.24 | $66.45 |
| WA | UE | $48.71 | $64.31 |
| WI | UE | $56.50 | $66.45 |
| WV | UE | $53.86 | $60.78 |
| WY | UE | $56.42 | $66.45 |
How the E0157 fee compares
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Rank among 34 E01 codes billed NU (lowest = 1) | 24 |
| Family fee range (average of state fees) | $13.50–$517.31 |
| Rural fee uplift | 21.4% |
Who bills E0157 (2024)
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Suppliers billing rentals | — |
| Suppliers billing purchases | 9 |
| Referring clinicians | 23 |
| Medicare beneficiaries | 24 |
| States with claims | 0 |
| Year | Suppliers | Beneficiaries |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 12 | 25 |
| 2023 | 10 | 15 |
| 2024 | 9 | 24 |
Counts only. Supplier and clinician names, contact lists and state-by-state detail are in Caduvo.
Medicare utilization for E0157, 2022–2024
| Year | Services | Beneficiaries | Avg. allowed | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 34 | 25 | $65.17 | $49.93 |
| 2023 | 28 | 15 | $38.83 | $27.72 |
| 2024 | 34 | 24 | $59.87 | $46.94 |
NCCI unit limits (MUE)
| Claim type | Max units per day | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| DME suppliers | 2 | 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 E0157
- 2026-01-01: Average state fee (NU) rose 2.7%: $68.63 to $70.46
- 2026-01-01: Average state fee (RR) rose 2.7%: $6.89 to $7.07
- 2026-01-01: Average state fee (UE) rose 2.7%: $51.48 to $52.85
- 1986-01-01: E0157 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 E0157?
E0157 is the HCPCS Level II code for crutch attachment, walker, each. Short descriptor: "Walker crutch attachment".
How much does Medicare pay for E0157?
Under the 2026 DMEPOS fee schedule, non-rural state fees are NU (new equipment, purchased): $61.44–$84.96; RR (rental (monthly)): $6.14–$9.67; UE (used equipment, purchased): $46.08–$63.72. Rural fees can be higher.
Does Medicare cover E0157?
Coverage code C — Carrier judgment. Coverage is decided by the Medicare contractor (MAC) case by case.
Did the Medicare fee for E0157 change in 2026?
The average non-rural state fee for NU moved from $68.63 in 2025 to $70.46 in 2026 (+2.7%). CMS's next quarterly HCPCS and DMEPOS update takes effect January 1, 2027.
How many units of E0157 can be billed per day?
2 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 E0157
- Watch E0157 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for E0157
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.