E0978 HCPCS code: Wheelchair accessory, positioning belt/safety belt/pelvic strap, each
E0978 is the HCPCS Level II code for wheelchair accessory, positioning belt/safety belt/pelvic strap, each. The 2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule pays $44.58 to $68.39 (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. Its average fee ranks 7 of 30 E09 codes billed NU (family range $20.79–$817.33); rural fees run 5% 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 | D1D — Wheelchairs |
| Added | 1986-01-01 |
| Last action effective | 2005-01-01 |
2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule for E0978
| Modifier | Meaning | Lowest state fee | Highest state fee | Ceiling | Floor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NU | new equipment, purchased | $44.58 | $68.39 | $52.45 | $44.58 |
| NU | new equipment, purchased | $27.72 | $55.61 | — | — |
| RR | rental (monthly) | $2.77 | $6.51 | — | — |
| RR | rental (monthly) | $4.47 | $8.48 | $5.26 | $4.47 |
| UE | used equipment, purchased | $20.79 | $41.70 | — | — |
| UE | used equipment, purchased | $33.04 | $51.27 | $38.87 | $33.04 |
| State | Modifier | Fee | Rural fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| AK | NU | $55.28 | — |
| AL | NU | $44.58 | $41.98 |
| AR | NU | $44.58 | $41.98 |
| AZ | NU | $47.91 | $43.88 |
| CA | NU | $44.58 | $41.98 |
| CO | NU | $47.94 | $43.90 |
| CT | NU | $52.45 | $46.48 |
| DC | NU | $52.45 | $46.48 |
| DE | NU | $52.45 | $46.48 |
| FL | NU | $44.58 | $41.98 |
| GA | NU | $52.45 | $46.48 |
| HI | NU | $64.62 | — |
| IA | NU | $44.58 | $41.98 |
| ID | NU | $50.46 | $45.35 |
| IL | NU | $52.45 | $46.48 |
| IN | NU | $52.45 | $46.48 |
| KS | NU | $52.45 | $46.48 |
| KY | NU | $52.45 | $46.48 |
| LA | NU | $44.58 | $41.98 |
| MA | NU | $52.45 | $46.48 |
| MD | NU | $52.45 | $46.48 |
| ME | NU | $52.45 | $46.48 |
| MI | NU | $50.54 | $45.40 |
| MN | NU | $49.92 | $45.04 |
| MO | NU | $44.58 | $41.98 |
| MS | NU | $52.45 | $46.48 |
| MT | NU | $44.58 | $41.98 |
| NC | NU | $50.94 | $45.62 |
| ND | NU | $52.45 | $46.48 |
| NE | NU | $52.45 | $46.48 |
| NH | NU | $52.45 | $46.48 |
| NJ | NU | $52.45 | $46.48 |
| NM | NU | $44.58 | $41.98 |
| NV | NU | $50.81 | $45.54 |
| NY | NU | $52.45 | $46.48 |
| OH | NU | $51.54 | $45.97 |
| OK | NU | $46.17 | $42.88 |
| OR | NU | $44.58 | $41.98 |
| PA | NU | $52.45 | $46.48 |
| PR | NU | $68.39 | — |
| RI | NU | $52.45 | $46.48 |
| SC | NU | $51.86 | $46.15 |
| SD | NU | $52.45 | $46.48 |
| TN | NU | $46.75 | $43.23 |
| TX | NU | $50.91 | $45.60 |
| UT | NU | $52.45 | $46.48 |
| VA | NU | $47.39 | $43.59 |
| VI | NU | $52.45 | — |
| VT | NU | $52.45 | $46.48 |
| WA | NU | $52.45 | $46.48 |
| WI | NU | $52.45 | $46.48 |
| WV | NU | $51.54 | $45.97 |
| WY | NU | $52.45 | $46.48 |
| AK | RR | $5.53 | — |
| AL | RR | $4.47 | $4.20 |
| AR | RR | $4.47 | $4.20 |
| AZ | RR | $5.26 | $4.65 |
| CA | RR | $4.47 | $4.20 |
| CO | RR | $4.83 | $4.40 |
| CT | RR | $5.26 | $4.65 |
| DC | RR | $5.26 | $4.65 |
| DE | RR | $5.26 | $4.65 |
| FL | RR | $4.47 | $4.20 |
| GA | RR | $5.26 | $4.65 |
| HI | RR | $6.52 | — |
| IA | RR | $4.47 | $4.20 |
| ID | RR | $5.06 | $4.54 |
| IL | RR | $5.26 | $4.65 |
| IN | RR | $5.26 | $4.65 |
| KS | RR | $5.26 | $4.65 |
| KY | RR | $5.26 | $4.65 |
| LA | RR | $4.47 | $4.20 |
| MA | RR | $5.26 | $4.65 |
| MD | RR | $5.26 | $4.65 |
| ME | RR | $5.26 | $4.65 |
| MI | RR | $4.47 | $4.20 |
| MN | RR | $4.99 | $4.51 |
| MO | RR | $4.47 | $4.20 |
| MS | RR | $5.26 | $4.65 |
| MT | RR | $4.47 | $4.20 |
| NC | RR | $5.10 | $4.57 |
| ND | RR | $5.26 | $4.65 |
| NE | RR | $5.26 | $4.65 |
| NH | RR | $5.26 | $4.65 |
| NJ | RR | $5.26 | $4.65 |
| NM | RR | $4.47 | $4.20 |
| NV | RR | $5.26 | $4.65 |
| NY | RR | $5.26 | $4.65 |
| OH | RR | $5.13 | $4.59 |
| OK | RR | $4.61 | $4.28 |
| OR | RR | $4.47 | $4.20 |
| PA | RR | $5.26 | $4.65 |
| PR | RR | $8.48 | — |
| RI | RR | $5.26 | $4.65 |
| SC | RR | $5.18 | $4.61 |
| SD | RR | $5.26 | $4.65 |
| TN | RR | $4.66 | $4.31 |
| TX | RR | $5.10 | $4.57 |
| UT | RR | $5.26 | $4.65 |
| VA | RR | $4.72 | $4.34 |
| VI | RR | $5.26 | — |
| VT | RR | $5.26 | $4.65 |
| WA | RR | $4.47 | $4.20 |
| WI | RR | $5.06 | $4.54 |
| WV | RR | $5.13 | $4.59 |
| WY | RR | $5.26 | $4.65 |
| AK | UE | $41.48 | — |
| AL | UE | $33.04 | $31.27 |
| AR | UE | $33.04 | $31.27 |
| AZ | UE | $35.92 | $32.90 |
| CA | UE | $33.04 | $31.27 |
| CO | UE | $36.93 | $33.48 |
| CT | UE | $38.87 | $34.61 |
| DC | UE | $38.87 | $34.61 |
| DE | UE | $38.87 | $34.61 |
| FL | UE | $33.04 | $31.27 |
| GA | UE | $38.87 | $34.61 |
| HI | UE | $48.45 | — |
| IA | UE | $33.04 | $31.27 |
| ID | UE | $37.90 | $34.04 |
| IL | UE | $38.87 | $34.61 |
| IN | UE | $38.87 | $34.61 |
| KS | UE | $38.87 | $34.61 |
| KY | UE | $38.87 | $34.61 |
| LA | UE | $33.04 | $31.27 |
| MA | UE | $38.87 | $34.61 |
| MD | UE | $38.87 | $34.61 |
| ME | UE | $38.87 | $34.61 |
| MI | UE | $37.94 | $34.07 |
| MN | UE | $37.43 | $33.78 |
| MO | UE | $33.04 | $31.27 |
| MS | UE | $38.87 | $34.61 |
| MT | UE | $33.04 | $31.27 |
| NC | UE | $38.22 | $34.23 |
| ND | UE | $38.87 | $34.61 |
| NE | UE | $38.87 | $34.61 |
| NH | UE | $38.87 | $34.61 |
| NJ | UE | $38.87 | $34.61 |
| NM | UE | $33.04 | $31.27 |
| NV | UE | $38.11 | $34.15 |
| NY | UE | $38.87 | $34.61 |
| OH | UE | $38.67 | $34.48 |
| OK | UE | $34.58 | $32.14 |
| OR | UE | $33.04 | $31.27 |
| PA | UE | $38.87 | $34.61 |
| PR | UE | $51.27 | — |
| RI | UE | $38.87 | $34.61 |
| SC | UE | $38.87 | $34.61 |
| SD | UE | $38.87 | $34.61 |
| TN | UE | $34.91 | $32.34 |
| TX | UE | $38.20 | $34.21 |
| UT | UE | $38.87 | $34.61 |
| VA | UE | $35.97 | $32.93 |
| VI | UE | $38.87 | — |
| VT | UE | $38.87 | $34.61 |
| WA | UE | $38.59 | $34.43 |
| WI | UE | $38.87 | $34.61 |
| WV | UE | $38.67 | $34.48 |
| WY | UE | $38.87 | $34.61 |
How the E0978 fee compares
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Rank among 30 E09 codes billed NU (lowest = 1) | 7 |
| Family fee range (average of state fees) | $20.79–$817.33 |
| Rural fee uplift | 4.7% |
NCCI unit limits (MUE)
| Claim type | Max units per day | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| DME suppliers | 1 | Nature of Equipment |
| outpatient hospital claims | 1 | Nature of Equipment |
What changed for E0978
- 2026-01-01: Average state fee (NU) rose 2.2%: $40.44 to $41.35
- 2026-01-01: Average state fee (RR) rose 2.2%: $4.07 to $4.16
- 2026-01-01: Average state fee (UE) rose 2.2%: $30.19 to $30.87
- 1986-01-01: E0978 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 E0978?
E0978 is the HCPCS Level II code for wheelchair accessory, positioning belt/safety belt/pelvic strap, each. Short descriptor: "W/c acc,saf belt pelv strap".
How much does Medicare pay for E0978?
Under the 2026 DMEPOS fee schedule, non-rural state fees are NU (new equipment, purchased): $44.58–$68.39; NU (new equipment, purchased): $27.72–$55.61; RR (rental (monthly)): $2.77–$6.51; RR (rental (monthly)): $4.47–$8.48; UE (used equipment, purchased): $20.79–$41.70; UE (used equipment, purchased): $33.04–$51.27. Rural fees can be higher.
Does Medicare cover E0978?
Coverage code C — Carrier judgment. Coverage is decided by the Medicare contractor (MAC) case by case.
Did the Medicare fee for E0978 change in 2026?
The average non-rural state fee for NU moved from $40.44 in 2025 to $41.35 in 2026 (+2.2%). CMS's next quarterly HCPCS and DMEPOS update takes effect January 1, 2027.
How many units of E0978 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)
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Next steps
- Run a reimbursement report for a device billed under E0978
- Watch E0978 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for E0978
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.