E0444 HCPCS code: Portable oxygen contents, liquid, 1 month's supply = 1 unit
E0444 is the HCPCS Level II code for portable oxygen contents, liquid, 1 month's supply = 1 unit. The 2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule pays $56.56 to $72.51 depending on the state. Its Medicare coverage code is D (Special coverage instructions apply): Medicare covers it when its national or local coverage criteria are met. The NCCI unit limit is 1 per day on DME suppliers. Medicare volume fell 62% from 2022 to 2024 (12,260 to 4,649 services). In 2024, 224 suppliers billed Medicare for E0444 (purchases), serving 610 beneficiaries; Idaho, Massachusetts, Nebraska accounted for 31% of services. Its average fee ranks 1 of 6 E04 codes (family range $62.10–$105.37); rural fees run 17% higher.
Code details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Section | E codes — Durable medical equipment |
| Coverage code | D — Special coverage instructions apply |
| Pricing indicator | 33 — DMEPOS: oxygen and oxygen equipment |
| BETOS category | D1C — Oxygen and supplies |
| Added | 1993-01-01 |
| Last action effective | 2010-01-01 |
2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule for E0444
| Modifier | Meaning | Lowest state fee | Highest state fee | Ceiling | Floor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | base fee | $56.56 | $72.51 | — | — |
| State | Modifier | Fee | Rural fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| AK | — | $72.51 | — |
| AL | — | $61.86 | $72.41 |
| AR | — | $61.86 | $72.41 |
| AZ | — | $61.47 | $72.41 |
| CA | — | $59.65 | $72.41 |
| CO | — | $63.87 | $72.41 |
| CT | — | $61.18 | $72.41 |
| DC | — | $56.56 | $72.41 |
| DE | — | $56.56 | $72.41 |
| FL | — | $61.86 | $72.41 |
| GA | — | $61.86 | $72.41 |
| HI | — | $72.51 | — |
| IA | — | $63.60 | $72.41 |
| ID | — | $63.87 | $72.41 |
| IL | — | $60.65 | $72.41 |
| IN | — | $60.65 | $72.41 |
| KS | — | $63.60 | $72.41 |
| KY | — | $61.86 | $72.41 |
| LA | — | $61.86 | $72.41 |
| MA | — | $61.18 | $72.41 |
| MD | — | $56.56 | $72.41 |
| ME | — | $61.18 | $72.41 |
| MI | — | $60.65 | $72.41 |
| MN | — | $63.60 | $72.41 |
| MO | — | $63.60 | $72.41 |
| MS | — | $61.86 | $72.41 |
| MT | — | $63.87 | $72.41 |
| NC | — | $61.86 | $72.41 |
| ND | — | $63.60 | $72.41 |
| NE | — | $63.60 | $72.41 |
| NH | — | $61.18 | $72.41 |
| NJ | — | $56.56 | $72.41 |
| NM | — | $61.47 | $72.41 |
| NV | — | $59.65 | $72.41 |
| NY | — | $56.56 | $72.41 |
| OH | — | $60.65 | $72.41 |
| OK | — | $61.47 | $72.41 |
| OR | — | $59.65 | $72.41 |
| PA | — | $56.56 | $72.41 |
| PR | — | $72.51 | — |
| RI | — | $61.18 | $72.41 |
| SC | — | $61.86 | $72.41 |
| SD | — | $63.60 | $72.41 |
| TN | — | $61.86 | $72.41 |
| TX | — | $61.47 | $72.41 |
| UT | — | $63.87 | $72.41 |
| VA | — | $61.86 | $72.41 |
| VI | — | $72.51 | — |
| VT | — | $61.18 | $72.41 |
| WA | — | $59.65 | $72.41 |
| WI | — | $60.65 | $72.41 |
| WV | — | $61.86 | $72.41 |
| WY | — | $63.87 | $72.41 |
How the E0444 fee compares
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Rank among 6 E04 codes (lowest = 1) | 1 |
| Family fee range (average of state fees) | $62.10–$105.37 |
| Rural fee uplift | 16.6% |
Who bills E0444 (2024)
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Suppliers billing rentals | — |
| Suppliers billing purchases | 224 |
| Referring clinicians | 571 |
| Medicare beneficiaries | 610 |
| States with claims | 39 |
| Share of services in top 3 states (Idaho, Massachusetts, Nebraska) | 31% |
| Year | Suppliers | Beneficiaries |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 404 | 1,457 |
| 2023 | 314 | 958 |
| 2024 | 224 | 610 |
Counts only. Supplier and clinician names, contact lists and state-by-state detail are in Caduvo.
Medicare utilization for E0444, 2022–2024
| Year | Services | Beneficiaries | Avg. allowed | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 12,260 | 1,457 | $58.62 | $43.08 |
| 2023 | 7,694 | 958 | $62.26 | $45.89 |
| 2024 | 4,649 | 610 | $61.81 | $45.14 |
States with the most E0444 services (2024)
| State | Services | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 599 | $45.81 |
| Massachusetts | 486 | $44.89 |
| Nebraska | 329 | $47.02 |
| Colorado | 265 | $45.32 |
| Indiana | 229 | $44.26 |
NCCI unit limits (MUE)
| Claim type | Max units per day | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| DME suppliers | 1 | Code Descriptor / CPT Instruction |
Medicare policy articles for this code
- A52514: Oxygen and Oxygen Equipment - Policy Article (CGS Administrators, LLC (DME MAC) Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC (DME MAC)) — mentions this code in its coding guidance
What changed for E0444
- 2026-01-01: Average state fee rose 2.6%: $60.54 to $62.10
- 1993-01-01: E0444 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 E0444?
E0444 is the HCPCS Level II code for portable oxygen contents, liquid, 1 month's supply = 1 unit. Short descriptor: "Portable 02 contents, liquid".
How much does Medicare pay for E0444?
Under the 2026 DMEPOS fee schedule, non-rural state fees are base (base fee): $56.56–$72.51. Rural fees can be higher.
Does Medicare cover E0444?
Coverage code D — Special coverage instructions apply. Medicare covers it when its national or local coverage criteria are met.
Did the Medicare fee for E0444 change in 2026?
The average non-rural state fee moved from $60.54 in 2025 to $62.10 in 2026 (+2.6%). CMS's next quarterly HCPCS and DMEPOS update takes effect January 1, 2027.
How many units of E0444 can be billed per day?
1 on DME suppliers (NCCI medically unlikely edits).
Related E04 codes
- E0424 — Stationary compressed gaseous oxygen system, rental; includes container, contents, regulator, flowmeter, humidifier, nebulizer, cannula or mask, and tubing ($94.56–$177.16)
- E0425 — Stationary compressed gas system, purchase; includes regulator, flowmeter, humidifier, nebulizer, cannula or mask, and tubing
- E0430 — Portable gaseous oxygen system, purchase; includes regulator, flowmeter, humidifier, cannula or mask, and tubing
- E0431 — Portable gaseous oxygen system, rental; includes portable container, regulator, flowmeter, humidifier, cannula or mask, and tubing ($21.24–$88.58)
- E0433 — Portable liquid oxygen system, rental; home liquefier used to fill portable liquid oxygen containers, includes portable containers, regulator, flowmeter, humidifier, cannula or mask and tubing, with or without supply reservoir and contents gauge ($46.28–$88.58)
- E0434 — Portable liquid oxygen system, rental; includes portable container, supply reservoir, humidifier, flowmeter, refill adaptor, contents gauge, cannula or mask, and tubing ($46.28–$88.58)
- E0435 — Portable liquid oxygen system, purchase; includes portable container, supply reservoir, flowmeter, humidifier, contents gauge, cannula or mask, tubing and refill adaptor
- E0439 — Stationary liquid oxygen system, rental; includes container, contents, regulator, flowmeter, humidifier, nebulizer, cannula or mask, & tubing ($94.56–$177.16)
- E0440 — Stationary liquid oxygen system, purchase; includes use of reservoir, contents indicator, regulator, flowmeter, humidifier, nebulizer, cannula or mask, and tubing
- E0441 — Stationary oxygen contents, gaseous, 1 month's supply = 1 unit ($61.92–$75.90)
- E0442 — Stationary oxygen contents, liquid, 1 month's supply = 1 unit ($61.92–$75.90)
- E0443 — Portable oxygen contents, gaseous, 1 month's supply = 1 unit ($56.56–$72.51)
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 E0444
- Watch E0444 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for E0444
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.