E0966 HCPCS code: Manual wheelchair accessory, headrest extension, each
E0966 is the HCPCS Level II code for manual wheelchair accessory, headrest extension, each. The 2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule pays $80.73 to $135.94 (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 rose 12% from 2022 to 2024 (2,676 to 2,994 services). In 2024, 143 suppliers billed Medicare for E0966 (purchases), serving 1,299 beneficiaries; Massachusetts, California, Florida accounted for 53% of services. Its average fee ranks 17 of 30 E09 codes billed NU (family range $20.79–$817.33); rural fees run 1% higher.
Code details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Section | E codes — Durable medical equipment |
| Coverage code | C — Carrier judgment |
| Pricing indicator | 00 — Not separately priced by Medicare |
| BETOS category | D1D — Wheelchairs |
| Added | 1986-01-01 |
| Last action effective | 2004-01-01 |
2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule for E0966
| Modifier | Meaning | Lowest state fee | Highest state fee | Ceiling | Floor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NU | new equipment, purchased | $80.73 | $135.94 | — | — |
| NU | new equipment, purchased | $86.46 | $171.37 | $101.72 | $86.46 |
| RR | rental (monthly) | $8.07 | $13.60 | — | — |
| RR | rental (monthly) | $8.53 | $17.14 | $10.04 | $8.53 |
| UE | used equipment, purchased | $64.84 | $128.53 | $76.28 | $64.84 |
| UE | used equipment, purchased | $60.55 | $101.97 | — | — |
| State | Modifier | Fee | Rural fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| AK | NU | $171.37 | — |
| AL | NU | $89.80 | $89.80 |
| AR | NU | $96.02 | $95.71 |
| AZ | NU | $101.72 | $98.56 |
| CA | NU | $101.72 | $98.56 |
| CO | NU | $101.72 | $98.56 |
| CT | NU | $101.72 | $98.56 |
| DC | NU | $92.25 | $92.25 |
| DE | NU | $92.25 | $92.25 |
| FL | NU | $93.21 | $93.22 |
| GA | NU | $93.44 | $93.43 |
| HI | NU | $126.00 | — |
| IA | NU | $101.72 | $98.56 |
| ID | NU | $101.72 | $98.56 |
| IL | NU | $99.90 | $97.65 |
| IN | NU | $101.72 | $98.56 |
| KS | NU | $101.72 | $98.56 |
| KY | NU | $92.62 | $92.61 |
| LA | NU | $98.94 | $97.17 |
| MA | NU | $101.72 | $98.56 |
| MD | NU | $86.46 | $86.46 |
| ME | NU | $101.72 | $98.56 |
| MI | NU | $101.72 | $98.56 |
| MN | NU | $101.72 | $98.56 |
| MO | NU | $101.72 | $98.56 |
| MS | NU | $86.46 | $86.46 |
| MT | NU | $101.72 | $98.56 |
| NC | NU | $99.80 | $97.60 |
| ND | NU | $92.25 | $92.25 |
| NE | NU | $101.72 | $98.56 |
| NH | NU | $101.72 | $98.56 |
| NJ | NU | $92.25 | $92.25 |
| NM | NU | $101.72 | $98.56 |
| NV | NU | $101.72 | $98.56 |
| NY | NU | $101.72 | $98.56 |
| OH | NU | $92.28 | $92.29 |
| OK | NU | $101.72 | $98.56 |
| OR | NU | $101.72 | $98.56 |
| PA | NU | $92.25 | $92.25 |
| PR | NU | $122.80 | — |
| RI | NU | $101.72 | $98.56 |
| SC | NU | $93.95 | $93.95 |
| SD | NU | $92.25 | $92.25 |
| TN | NU | $100.44 | $97.92 |
| TX | NU | $101.72 | $98.56 |
| UT | NU | $96.80 | $96.10 |
| VA | NU | $86.46 | $86.46 |
| VI | NU | $101.72 | — |
| VT | NU | $101.72 | $98.56 |
| WA | NU | $101.72 | $98.56 |
| WI | NU | $94.15 | $94.17 |
| WV | NU | $88.27 | $88.27 |
| WY | NU | $92.25 | $92.25 |
| AK | RR | $17.14 | — |
| AL | RR | $10.04 | $9.79 |
| AR | RR | $10.04 | $9.79 |
| AZ | RR | $10.04 | $9.79 |
| CA | RR | $10.04 | $9.79 |
| CO | RR | $9.65 | $9.60 |
| CT | RR | $10.04 | $9.79 |
| DC | RR | $9.22 | $9.22 |
| DE | RR | $9.22 | $9.22 |
| FL | RR | $9.33 | $9.32 |
| GA | RR | $9.34 | $9.33 |
| HI | RR | $12.62 | — |
| IA | RR | $10.04 | $9.79 |
| ID | RR | $10.04 | $9.79 |
| IL | RR | $10.04 | $9.79 |
| IN | RR | $10.04 | $9.79 |
| KS | RR | $10.04 | $9.79 |
| KY | RR | $9.29 | $9.28 |
| LA | RR | $9.88 | $9.71 |
| MA | RR | $9.44 | $9.44 |
| MD | RR | $10.04 | $9.79 |
| ME | RR | $9.44 | $9.44 |
| MI | RR | $10.04 | $9.79 |
| MN | RR | $10.04 | $9.79 |
| MO | RR | $10.04 | $9.79 |
| MS | RR | $8.53 | $8.54 |
| MT | RR | $10.04 | $9.79 |
| NC | RR | $10.01 | $9.77 |
| ND | RR | $9.22 | $9.22 |
| NE | RR | $10.04 | $9.79 |
| NH | RR | $9.44 | $9.44 |
| NJ | RR | $9.22 | $9.22 |
| NM | RR | $10.04 | $9.79 |
| NV | RR | $10.04 | $9.79 |
| NY | RR | $10.04 | $9.79 |
| OH | RR | $9.25 | $9.24 |
| OK | RR | $10.04 | $9.79 |
| OR | RR | $10.04 | $9.79 |
| PA | RR | $9.22 | $9.22 |
| PR | RR | $15.37 | — |
| RI | RR | $9.29 | $9.28 |
| SC | RR | $9.39 | $9.39 |
| SD | RR | $9.22 | $9.22 |
| TN | RR | $10.04 | $9.79 |
| TX | RR | $10.04 | $9.79 |
| UT | RR | $9.65 | $9.60 |
| VA | RR | $8.53 | $8.54 |
| VI | RR | $10.04 | — |
| VT | RR | $10.04 | $9.79 |
| WA | RR | $10.04 | $9.79 |
| WI | RR | $8.65 | $8.65 |
| WV | RR | $8.83 | $8.85 |
| WY | RR | $9.22 | $9.22 |
| AK | UE | $128.53 | — |
| AL | UE | $67.40 | $67.39 |
| AR | UE | $72.01 | $71.78 |
| AZ | UE | $76.28 | $73.92 |
| CA | UE | $76.28 | $73.92 |
| CO | UE | $76.28 | $73.92 |
| CT | UE | $76.28 | $73.92 |
| DC | UE | $69.20 | $69.21 |
| DE | UE | $69.20 | $69.21 |
| FL | UE | $69.94 | $69.95 |
| GA | UE | $70.08 | $70.10 |
| HI | UE | $94.50 | — |
| IA | UE | $76.28 | $73.92 |
| ID | UE | $76.28 | $73.92 |
| IL | UE | $74.94 | $73.25 |
| IN | UE | $76.28 | $73.92 |
| KS | UE | $76.28 | $73.92 |
| KY | UE | $69.48 | $69.47 |
| LA | UE | $74.18 | $72.87 |
| MA | UE | $76.28 | $73.92 |
| MD | UE | $64.84 | $64.84 |
| ME | UE | $76.28 | $73.92 |
| MI | UE | $76.28 | $73.92 |
| MN | UE | $76.28 | $73.92 |
| MO | UE | $76.28 | $73.92 |
| MS | UE | $64.84 | $64.84 |
| MT | UE | $76.28 | $73.92 |
| NC | UE | $74.85 | $73.20 |
| ND | UE | $69.20 | $69.21 |
| NE | UE | $76.28 | $73.92 |
| NH | UE | $76.28 | $73.92 |
| NJ | UE | $69.20 | $69.21 |
| NM | UE | $76.28 | $73.92 |
| NV | UE | $76.28 | $73.92 |
| NY | UE | $76.28 | $73.92 |
| OH | UE | $69.22 | $69.23 |
| OK | UE | $76.28 | $73.92 |
| OR | UE | $76.28 | $73.92 |
| PA | UE | $69.20 | $69.21 |
| PR | UE | $92.10 | — |
| RI | UE | $76.28 | $73.92 |
| SC | UE | $70.44 | $70.45 |
| SD | UE | $69.20 | $69.21 |
| TN | UE | $75.35 | $73.44 |
| TX | UE | $76.28 | $73.92 |
| UT | UE | $72.58 | $72.07 |
| VA | UE | $64.84 | $64.84 |
| VI | UE | $76.28 | — |
| VT | UE | $76.28 | $73.92 |
| WA | UE | $76.28 | $73.92 |
| WI | UE | $70.64 | $70.64 |
| WV | UE | $66.20 | $66.20 |
| WY | UE | $69.20 | $69.21 |
How the E0966 fee compares
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Rank among 30 E09 codes billed NU (lowest = 1) | 17 |
| Family fee range (average of state fees) | $20.79–$817.33 |
| Rural fee uplift | 1.3% |
Who bills E0966 (2024)
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Suppliers billing rentals | 102 |
| Suppliers billing purchases | 143 |
| Referring clinicians | 556 |
| Medicare beneficiaries | 1,299 |
| States with claims | 27 |
| Share of services in top 3 states (Massachusetts, California, Florida) | 53% |
| Year | Suppliers | Beneficiaries |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 124 | 1,134 |
| 2023 | 146 | 1,183 |
| 2024 | 143 | 1,299 |
Counts only. Supplier and clinician names, contact lists and state-by-state detail are in Caduvo.
Medicare utilization for E0966, 2022–2024
| Year | Services | Beneficiaries | Avg. allowed | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2,676 | 1,134 | $22.09 | $17.00 |
| 2023 | 2,925 | 1,183 | $22.82 | $17.43 |
| 2024 | 2,994 | 1,299 | $26.45 | $20.24 |
States with the most E0966 services (2024)
| State | Services | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 792 | $8.48 |
| California | 456 | $25.36 |
| Florida | 257 | $35.24 |
| Ohio | 131 | $6.05 |
| Tennessee | 119 | $6.62 |
NCCI unit limits (MUE)
| Claim type | Max units per day | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| DME suppliers | 1 | Code Descriptor / CPT Instruction |
| outpatient hospital claims | 1 | Code Descriptor / CPT Instruction |
Medicare policy articles for this code
- A52505: Wheelchair Seating - Policy Article (CGS Administrators, LLC (DME MAC) Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC (DME MAC)) — mentions this code in its coding guidance
What changed for E0966
- 2026-01-01: Average state fee (NU) rose 2.3%: $92.31 to $94.45
- 2026-01-01: Average state fee (RR) rose 2.3%: $9.23 to $9.44
- 2026-01-01: Average state fee (UE) rose 2.3%: $69.23 to $70.84
- 1986-01-01: E0966 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 E0966?
E0966 is the HCPCS Level II code for manual wheelchair accessory, headrest extension, each. Short descriptor: "Wheelchair head rest extensi".
How much does Medicare pay for E0966?
Under the 2026 DMEPOS fee schedule, non-rural state fees are NU (new equipment, purchased): $80.73–$135.94; NU (new equipment, purchased): $86.46–$171.37; RR (rental (monthly)): $8.07–$13.60; RR (rental (monthly)): $8.53–$17.14; UE (used equipment, purchased): $64.84–$128.53; UE (used equipment, purchased): $60.55–$101.97. Rural fees can be higher.
Does Medicare cover E0966?
Coverage code C — Carrier judgment. Coverage is decided by the Medicare contractor (MAC) case by case.
Did the Medicare fee for E0966 change in 2026?
The average non-rural state fee for NU moved from $92.31 in 2025 to $94.45 in 2026 (+2.3%). CMS's next quarterly HCPCS and DMEPOS update takes effect January 1, 2027.
How many units of E0966 can be billed per day?
1 on DME suppliers; 1 on outpatient hospital claims (NCCI medically unlikely edits).
Related E09 codes
- E0900 — Traction stand, free standing, pelvic traction, (e.g., buck's) ($21.75–$233.96)
- E0910 — Trapeze bars, a/k/a patient helper, attached to bed, with grab bar ($13.20–$19.86)
- E0911 — Trapeze bar, heavy duty, for patient weight capacity greater than 250 pounds, attached to bed, with grab bar ($50.56–$65.54)
- E0912 — Trapeze bar, heavy duty, for patient weight capacity greater than 250 pounds, free standing, complete with grab bar ($94.71–$145.86)
- E0920 — Fracture frame, attached to bed, includes weights ($55.91–$90.91)
- E0930 — Fracture frame, free standing, includes weights ($55.34–$67.27)
- E0935 — Continuous passive motion exercise device for use on knee only ($27.56–$34.49)
- E0936 — Continuous passive motion exercise device for use other than knee
- E0940 — Trapeze bar, free standing, complete with grab bar ($24.33–$39.42)
- E0941 — Gravity assisted traction device, any type ($52.57–$94.48)
- E0942 — Cervical head harness/halter ($0.78–$39.21)
- E0944 — Pelvic belt/harness/boot ($4.82–$79.09)
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 E0966
- Watch E0966 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for E0966
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.