E0191 HCPCS code: Heel or elbow protector, each
E0191 is the HCPCS Level II code for heel or elbow protector, each. The 2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule pays $12.10 to $18.08 (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. Its average fee ranks 1 of 34 E01 codes billed NU (family range $13.50–$517.31).
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 E0191
| Modifier | Meaning | Lowest state fee | Highest state fee | Ceiling | Floor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NU | new equipment, purchased | $12.10 | $18.08 | $14.24 | $12.10 |
| RR | rental (monthly) | $1.24 | $2.23 | $1.47 | $1.25 |
| UE | used equipment, purchased | $9.03 | $13.57 | $10.62 | $9.03 |
| State | Modifier | Fee | Rural fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| AK | NU | $12.48 | — |
| AL | NU | $14.24 | — |
| AR | NU | $13.35 | — |
| AZ | NU | $12.10 | — |
| CA | NU | $12.33 | — |
| CO | NU | $14.24 | — |
| CT | NU | $12.10 | — |
| DC | NU | $14.24 | — |
| DE | NU | $14.24 | — |
| FL | NU | $13.17 | — |
| GA | NU | $12.10 | — |
| HI | NU | $13.34 | — |
| IA | NU | $12.10 | — |
| ID | NU | $14.24 | — |
| IL | NU | $14.24 | — |
| IN | NU | $13.16 | — |
| KS | NU | $12.10 | — |
| KY | NU | $14.24 | — |
| LA | NU | $13.70 | — |
| MA | NU | $14.24 | — |
| MD | NU | $14.24 | — |
| ME | NU | $14.24 | — |
| MI | NU | $14.24 | — |
| MN | NU | $13.16 | — |
| MO | NU | $12.10 | — |
| MS | NU | $13.68 | — |
| MT | NU | $14.24 | — |
| NC | NU | $12.10 | — |
| ND | NU | $14.24 | — |
| NE | NU | $12.10 | — |
| NH | NU | $14.24 | — |
| NJ | NU | $14.24 | — |
| NM | NU | $14.24 | — |
| NV | NU | $12.10 | — |
| NY | NU | $12.10 | — |
| OH | NU | $14.17 | — |
| OK | NU | $14.24 | — |
| OR | NU | $12.10 | — |
| PA | NU | $14.24 | — |
| PR | NU | $18.08 | — |
| RI | NU | $14.24 | — |
| SC | NU | $12.10 | — |
| SD | NU | $14.24 | — |
| TN | NU | $12.10 | — |
| TX | NU | $13.34 | — |
| UT | NU | $14.24 | — |
| VA | NU | $14.24 | — |
| VI | NU | $12.10 | — |
| VT | NU | $14.24 | — |
| WA | NU | $12.10 | — |
| WI | NU | $14.24 | — |
| WV | NU | $14.17 | — |
| WY | NU | $14.24 | — |
| AK | RR | $1.24 | — |
| AL | RR | $1.47 | — |
| AR | RR | $1.34 | — |
| AZ | RR | $1.47 | — |
| CA | RR | $1.25 | — |
| CO | RR | $1.47 | — |
| CT | RR | $1.25 | — |
| DC | RR | $1.47 | — |
| DE | RR | $1.47 | — |
| FL | RR | $1.31 | — |
| GA | RR | $1.25 | — |
| HI | RR | $1.34 | — |
| IA | RR | $1.25 | — |
| ID | RR | $1.47 | — |
| IL | RR | $1.47 | — |
| IN | RR | $1.31 | — |
| KS | RR | $1.25 | — |
| KY | RR | $1.47 | — |
| LA | RR | $1.36 | — |
| MA | RR | $1.47 | — |
| MD | RR | $1.47 | — |
| ME | RR | $1.47 | — |
| MI | RR | $1.25 | — |
| MN | RR | $1.31 | — |
| MO | RR | $1.25 | — |
| MS | RR | $1.36 | — |
| MT | RR | $1.47 | — |
| NC | RR | $1.25 | — |
| ND | RR | $1.47 | — |
| NE | RR | $1.25 | — |
| NH | RR | $1.47 | — |
| NJ | RR | $1.47 | — |
| NM | RR | $1.47 | — |
| NV | RR | $1.47 | — |
| NY | RR | $1.25 | — |
| OH | RR | $1.47 | — |
| OK | RR | $1.47 | — |
| OR | RR | $1.25 | — |
| PA | RR | $1.47 | — |
| PR | RR | $2.23 | — |
| RI | RR | $1.47 | — |
| SC | RR | $1.25 | — |
| SD | RR | $1.47 | — |
| TN | RR | $1.25 | — |
| TX | RR | $1.34 | — |
| UT | RR | $1.47 | — |
| VA | RR | $1.47 | — |
| VI | RR | $1.25 | — |
| VT | RR | $1.47 | — |
| WA | RR | $1.25 | — |
| WI | RR | $1.31 | — |
| WV | RR | $1.47 | — |
| WY | RR | $1.47 | — |
| AK | UE | $9.37 | — |
| AL | UE | $10.62 | — |
| AR | UE | $10.03 | — |
| AZ | UE | $9.03 | — |
| CA | UE | $9.29 | — |
| CO | UE | $10.62 | — |
| CT | UE | $9.03 | — |
| DC | UE | $10.62 | — |
| DE | UE | $10.62 | — |
| FL | UE | $9.88 | — |
| GA | UE | $9.03 | — |
| HI | UE | $10.02 | — |
| IA | UE | $9.03 | — |
| ID | UE | $10.62 | — |
| IL | UE | $10.62 | — |
| IN | UE | $9.87 | — |
| KS | UE | $9.03 | — |
| KY | UE | $10.62 | — |
| LA | UE | $10.34 | — |
| MA | UE | $10.62 | — |
| MD | UE | $10.62 | — |
| ME | UE | $10.62 | — |
| MI | UE | $10.62 | — |
| MN | UE | $9.87 | — |
| MO | UE | $9.03 | — |
| MS | UE | $10.30 | — |
| MT | UE | $10.62 | — |
| NC | UE | $9.03 | — |
| ND | UE | $10.62 | — |
| NE | UE | $9.03 | — |
| NH | UE | $10.62 | — |
| NJ | UE | $10.62 | — |
| NM | UE | $10.62 | — |
| NV | UE | $9.03 | — |
| NY | UE | $9.03 | — |
| OH | UE | $10.60 | — |
| OK | UE | $10.62 | — |
| OR | UE | $9.03 | — |
| PA | UE | $10.62 | — |
| PR | UE | $13.57 | — |
| RI | UE | $10.62 | — |
| SC | UE | $9.03 | — |
| SD | UE | $10.62 | — |
| TN | UE | $9.03 | — |
| TX | UE | $10.02 | — |
| UT | UE | $10.62 | — |
| VA | UE | $10.62 | — |
| VI | UE | $9.03 | — |
| VT | UE | $10.62 | — |
| WA | UE | $9.03 | — |
| WI | UE | $10.62 | — |
| WV | UE | $10.60 | — |
| WY | UE | $10.62 | — |
How the E0191 fee compares
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Rank among 34 E01 codes billed NU (lowest = 1) | 1 |
| Family fee range (average of state fees) | $13.50–$517.31 |
| Rural fee uplift | — |
What changed for E0191
- 2026-01-01: Average state fee (NU) rose 2.0%: $13.24 to $13.50
- 2026-01-01: Average state fee (RR) rose 2.2%: $1.36 to $1.39
- 2026-01-01: Average state fee (UE) rose 2.0%: $9.89 to $10.09
- 1986-01-01: E0191 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 E0191?
E0191 is the HCPCS Level II code for heel or elbow protector, each. Short descriptor: "Protector heel or elbow".
How much does Medicare pay for E0191?
Under the 2026 DMEPOS fee schedule, non-rural state fees are NU (new equipment, purchased): $12.10–$18.08; RR (rental (monthly)): $1.24–$2.23; UE (used equipment, purchased): $9.03–$13.57. Rural fees can be higher.
Does Medicare cover E0191?
Coverage code C — Carrier judgment. Coverage is decided by the Medicare contractor (MAC) case by case.
Did the Medicare fee for E0191 change in 2026?
The average non-rural state fee for NU moved from $13.24 in 2025 to $13.50 in 2026 (+2.0%). CMS's next quarterly HCPCS and DMEPOS update takes effect January 1, 2027.
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)
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Next steps
- Run a reimbursement report for a device billed under E0191
- Watch E0191 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for E0191
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.