E0159 HCPCS code: Brake attachment for wheeled walker, replacement, each
E0159 is the HCPCS Level II code for brake attachment for wheeled walker, replacement, each. The 2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule pays $16.72 to $22.09 (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. Medicare volume fell 31% from 2022 to 2024 (5,146 to 3,556 services). In 2024, 150 suppliers billed Medicare for E0159 (purchases), serving 2,098 beneficiaries; Florida, Indiana, California accounted for 80% of services. Its average fee ranks 3 of 34 E01 codes billed NU (family range $13.50–$517.31); rural fees run 14% 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 | 1997-01-01 |
| Last action effective | 1998-01-01 |
2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule for E0159
| Modifier | Meaning | Lowest state fee | Highest state fee | Ceiling | Floor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NU | new equipment, purchased | $16.72 | $22.09 | — | — |
| RR | rental (monthly) | $1.67 | $2.21 | — | — |
| UE | used equipment, purchased | $12.54 | $16.58 | — | — |
| State | Modifier | Fee | Rural fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| AK | NU | $21.10 | — |
| AL | NU | $18.71 | $20.99 |
| AR | NU | $18.71 | $20.99 |
| AZ | NU | $17.46 | $20.99 |
| CA | NU | $16.72 | $20.99 |
| CO | NU | $18.04 | $20.99 |
| CT | NU | $18.02 | $20.96 |
| DC | NU | $17.93 | $20.99 |
| DE | NU | $17.93 | $20.96 |
| FL | NU | $18.71 | $20.99 |
| GA | NU | $18.71 | $20.99 |
| HI | NU | $21.87 | — |
| IA | NU | $18.20 | $20.99 |
| ID | NU | $18.04 | $20.99 |
| IL | NU | $19.57 | $20.99 |
| IN | NU | $19.57 | $20.99 |
| KS | NU | $18.20 | $20.99 |
| KY | NU | $18.71 | $20.99 |
| LA | NU | $18.71 | $20.99 |
| MA | NU | $18.02 | $20.96 |
| MD | NU | $17.93 | $20.99 |
| ME | NU | $18.02 | $20.96 |
| MI | NU | $19.57 | $20.99 |
| MN | NU | $18.20 | $20.99 |
| MO | NU | $18.20 | $20.99 |
| MS | NU | $18.71 | $20.99 |
| MT | NU | $18.04 | $20.99 |
| NC | NU | $18.71 | $20.99 |
| ND | NU | $18.20 | $20.99 |
| NE | NU | $18.20 | $20.99 |
| NH | NU | $18.02 | $20.96 |
| NJ | NU | $17.93 | $20.96 |
| NM | NU | $17.46 | $20.99 |
| NV | NU | $16.72 | $20.99 |
| NY | NU | $17.93 | $20.96 |
| OH | NU | $19.57 | $20.99 |
| OK | NU | $17.46 | $20.99 |
| OR | NU | $16.72 | $20.99 |
| PA | NU | $17.93 | $20.96 |
| PR | NU | $22.09 | — |
| RI | NU | $18.02 | $20.96 |
| SC | NU | $18.71 | $20.99 |
| SD | NU | $18.20 | $20.99 |
| TN | NU | $18.71 | $20.99 |
| TX | NU | $17.46 | $20.99 |
| UT | NU | $18.04 | $20.99 |
| VA | NU | $18.71 | $20.99 |
| VI | NU | $20.99 | — |
| VT | NU | $18.02 | $20.96 |
| WA | NU | $16.72 | $20.99 |
| WI | NU | $19.57 | $20.99 |
| WV | NU | $18.71 | $20.99 |
| WY | NU | $18.04 | $20.99 |
| AK | RR | $2.12 | — |
| AL | RR | $1.87 | $2.14 |
| AR | RR | $1.87 | $2.14 |
| AZ | RR | $1.75 | $2.11 |
| CA | RR | $1.67 | $2.11 |
| CO | RR | $1.81 | $2.14 |
| CT | RR | $1.81 | $2.11 |
| DC | RR | $1.79 | $2.14 |
| DE | RR | $1.79 | $2.11 |
| FL | RR | $1.87 | $2.11 |
| GA | RR | $1.87 | $2.14 |
| HI | RR | $2.20 | — |
| IA | RR | $1.82 | $2.11 |
| ID | RR | $1.81 | $2.11 |
| IL | RR | $1.96 | $2.14 |
| IN | RR | $1.96 | $2.14 |
| KS | RR | $1.82 | $2.11 |
| KY | RR | $1.87 | $2.14 |
| LA | RR | $1.87 | $2.14 |
| MA | RR | $1.81 | $2.11 |
| MD | RR | $1.79 | $2.14 |
| ME | RR | $1.81 | $2.11 |
| MI | RR | $1.96 | $2.14 |
| MN | RR | $1.82 | $2.14 |
| MO | RR | $1.82 | $2.14 |
| MS | RR | $1.87 | $2.14 |
| MT | RR | $1.81 | $2.11 |
| NC | RR | $1.87 | $2.14 |
| ND | RR | $1.82 | $2.11 |
| NE | RR | $1.82 | $2.11 |
| NH | RR | $1.81 | $2.11 |
| NJ | RR | $1.79 | $2.11 |
| NM | RR | $1.75 | $2.14 |
| NV | RR | $1.67 | $2.11 |
| NY | RR | $1.79 | $2.11 |
| OH | RR | $1.96 | $2.14 |
| OK | RR | $1.75 | $2.14 |
| OR | RR | $1.67 | $2.11 |
| PA | RR | $1.79 | $2.11 |
| PR | RR | $2.21 | — |
| RI | RR | $1.81 | $2.11 |
| SC | RR | $1.87 | $2.14 |
| SD | RR | $1.82 | $2.11 |
| TN | RR | $1.87 | $2.14 |
| TX | RR | $1.75 | $2.11 |
| UT | RR | $1.81 | $2.14 |
| VA | RR | $1.87 | $2.14 |
| VI | RR | $2.14 | — |
| VT | RR | $1.81 | $2.11 |
| WA | RR | $1.67 | $2.14 |
| WI | RR | $1.96 | $2.14 |
| WV | RR | $1.87 | $2.14 |
| WY | RR | $1.81 | $2.11 |
| AK | UE | $15.84 | — |
| AL | UE | $14.04 | $15.75 |
| AR | UE | $14.04 | $15.75 |
| AZ | UE | $13.10 | $15.75 |
| CA | UE | $12.54 | $15.75 |
| CO | UE | $13.53 | $15.75 |
| CT | UE | $13.52 | $15.73 |
| DC | UE | $13.45 | $15.75 |
| DE | UE | $13.45 | $15.73 |
| FL | UE | $14.04 | $15.75 |
| GA | UE | $14.04 | $15.75 |
| HI | UE | $16.41 | — |
| IA | UE | $13.65 | $15.75 |
| ID | UE | $13.53 | $15.75 |
| IL | UE | $14.68 | $15.75 |
| IN | UE | $14.68 | $15.75 |
| KS | UE | $13.65 | $15.75 |
| KY | UE | $14.04 | $15.75 |
| LA | UE | $14.04 | $15.75 |
| MA | UE | $13.52 | $15.73 |
| MD | UE | $13.45 | $15.75 |
| ME | UE | $13.52 | $15.73 |
| MI | UE | $14.68 | $15.75 |
| MN | UE | $13.65 | $15.75 |
| MO | UE | $13.65 | $15.75 |
| MS | UE | $14.04 | $15.75 |
| MT | UE | $13.53 | $15.75 |
| NC | UE | $14.04 | $15.75 |
| ND | UE | $13.65 | $15.75 |
| NE | UE | $13.65 | $15.75 |
| NH | UE | $13.52 | $15.73 |
| NJ | UE | $13.45 | $15.73 |
| NM | UE | $13.10 | $15.75 |
| NV | UE | $12.54 | $15.75 |
| NY | UE | $13.45 | $15.73 |
| OH | UE | $14.68 | $15.75 |
| OK | UE | $13.10 | $15.75 |
| OR | UE | $12.54 | $15.75 |
| PA | UE | $13.45 | $15.73 |
| PR | UE | $16.58 | — |
| RI | UE | $13.52 | $15.73 |
| SC | UE | $14.04 | $15.75 |
| SD | UE | $13.65 | $15.75 |
| TN | UE | $14.04 | $15.75 |
| TX | UE | $13.10 | $15.75 |
| UT | UE | $13.53 | $15.75 |
| VA | UE | $14.04 | $15.75 |
| VI | UE | $15.75 | — |
| VT | UE | $13.52 | $15.73 |
| WA | UE | $12.54 | $15.75 |
| WI | UE | $14.68 | $15.75 |
| WV | UE | $14.04 | $15.75 |
| WY | UE | $13.53 | $15.75 |
How the E0159 fee compares
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Rank among 34 E01 codes billed NU (lowest = 1) | 3 |
| Family fee range (average of state fees) | $13.50–$517.31 |
| Rural fee uplift | 13.7% |
Who bills E0159 (2024)
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Suppliers billing rentals | 8 |
| Suppliers billing purchases | 150 |
| Referring clinicians | 1,409 |
| Medicare beneficiaries | 2,098 |
| States with claims | 19 |
| Share of services in top 3 states (Florida, Indiana, California) | 80% |
| Year | Suppliers | Beneficiaries |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 196 | 2,967 |
| 2023 | 173 | 3,174 |
| 2024 | 150 | 2,098 |
Counts only. Supplier and clinician names, contact lists and state-by-state detail are in Caduvo.
Medicare utilization for E0159, 2022–2024
| Year | Services | Beneficiaries | Avg. allowed | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 5,146 | 2,967 | $14.80 | $11.18 |
| 2023 | 5,699 | 3,174 | $15.88 | $11.95 |
| 2024 | 3,556 | 2,098 | $16.32 | $12.30 |
States with the most E0159 services (2024)
| State | Services | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | 1,449 | $11.97 |
| Indiana | 663 | $14.21 |
| California | 624 | $11.50 |
| Nevada | 128 | $12.47 |
| Texas | 84 | $12.05 |
NCCI unit limits (MUE)
| Claim type | Max units per day | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| DME suppliers | 2 | Code Descriptor / CPT Instruction |
| outpatient hospital claims | 1 | CMS Policy |
| practitioner claims | 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 E0159
- 2026-01-01: Average state fee (NU) rose 2.7%: $17.98 to $18.46
- 2026-01-01: Average state fee (RR) rose 2.7%: $1.80 to $1.85
- 2026-01-01: Average state fee (UE) rose 2.7%: $13.49 to $13.85
- 1997-01-01: E0159 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 E0159?
E0159 is the HCPCS Level II code for brake attachment for wheeled walker, replacement, each. Short descriptor: "Brake for wheeled walker".
How much does Medicare pay for E0159?
Under the 2026 DMEPOS fee schedule, non-rural state fees are NU (new equipment, purchased): $16.72–$22.09; RR (rental (monthly)): $1.67–$2.21; UE (used equipment, purchased): $12.54–$16.58. Rural fees can be higher.
Does Medicare cover E0159?
Coverage code C — Carrier judgment. Coverage is decided by the Medicare contractor (MAC) case by case.
Did the Medicare fee for E0159 change in 2026?
The average non-rural state fee for NU moved from $17.98 in 2025 to $18.46 in 2026 (+2.7%). CMS's next quarterly HCPCS and DMEPOS update takes effect January 1, 2027.
How many units of E0159 can be billed per day?
2 on DME suppliers; 1 on outpatient hospital claims; 2 on practitioner claims (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 E0159
- Watch E0159 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for E0159
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.