E0988 HCPCS code: Manual wheelchair accessory, lever-activated, wheel drive, pair
E0988 is the HCPCS Level II code for manual wheelchair accessory, lever-activated, wheel drive, pair. The 2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule pays $410.20 to $437.25 (RR, rental (monthly)) 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. In 2024, 13 suppliers billed Medicare for E0988 (rentals), serving 2,815 beneficiaries; Florida, Texas, Georgia accounted for 91% of services. Its average fee ranks 46 of 47 E09 codes billed RR (family range $2.12–$695.86).
Code details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Section | E codes — Durable medical equipment |
| Coverage code | C — Carrier judgment |
| Pricing indicator | 36 — DMEPOS: capped rental item |
| BETOS category | D1D — Wheelchairs |
| Added | 2012-01-01 |
| Last action effective | 2012-01-01 |
2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule for E0988
| Modifier | Meaning | Lowest state fee | Highest state fee | Ceiling | Floor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RR | rental (monthly) | $410.20 | $437.25 | $426.62 | $362.63 |
| State | Modifier | Fee | Rural fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| AK | RR | $410.20 | — |
| AL | RR | $426.62 | — |
| AR | RR | $426.62 | — |
| AZ | RR | $410.20 | — |
| CA | RR | $426.62 | — |
| CO | RR | $426.62 | — |
| CT | RR | $410.20 | — |
| DC | RR | $426.62 | — |
| DE | RR | $410.20 | — |
| FL | RR | $410.20 | — |
| GA | RR | $426.62 | — |
| HI | RR | $426.62 | — |
| IA | RR | $426.62 | — |
| ID | RR | $410.20 | — |
| IL | RR | $426.62 | — |
| IN | RR | $426.62 | — |
| KS | RR | $410.20 | — |
| KY | RR | $426.62 | — |
| LA | RR | $426.62 | — |
| MA | RR | $410.20 | — |
| MD | RR | $410.20 | — |
| ME | RR | $410.20 | — |
| MI | RR | $426.62 | — |
| MN | RR | $426.62 | — |
| MO | RR | $426.62 | — |
| MS | RR | $426.62 | — |
| MT | RR | $410.20 | — |
| NC | RR | $422.47 | — |
| ND | RR | $426.62 | — |
| NE | RR | $410.20 | — |
| NH | RR | $410.20 | — |
| NJ | RR | $410.20 | — |
| NM | RR | $426.62 | — |
| NV | RR | $410.20 | — |
| NY | RR | $410.20 | — |
| OH | RR | $426.62 | — |
| OK | RR | $426.62 | — |
| OR | RR | $410.20 | — |
| PA | RR | $410.20 | — |
| PR | RR | $437.25 | — |
| RI | RR | $410.20 | — |
| SC | RR | $426.62 | — |
| SD | RR | $426.62 | — |
| TN | RR | $426.62 | — |
| TX | RR | $410.20 | — |
| UT | RR | $426.62 | — |
| VA | RR | $410.20 | — |
| VI | RR | $426.62 | — |
| VT | RR | $410.20 | — |
| WA | RR | $426.62 | — |
| WI | RR | $426.62 | — |
| WV | RR | $426.62 | — |
| WY | RR | $422.47 | — |
How the E0988 fee compares
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Rank among 47 E09 codes billed RR (lowest = 1) | 46 |
| Family fee range (average of state fees) | $2.12–$695.86 |
| Rural fee uplift | — |
Who bills E0988 (2024)
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Suppliers billing rentals | 13 |
| Suppliers billing purchases | — |
| Referring clinicians | 764 |
| Medicare beneficiaries | 2,815 |
| States with claims | 12 |
| Share of services in top 3 states (Florida, Texas, Georgia) | 91% |
Counts only. Supplier and clinician names, contact lists and state-by-state detail are in Caduvo.
Medicare utilization for E0988, 2024–2024
| Year | Services | Beneficiaries | Avg. allowed | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 8,680 | 2,815 | $366.32 | $287.18 |
States with the most E0988 services (2024)
| State | Services | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | 6,088 | $287.61 |
| Texas | 1,278 | $281.66 |
| Georgia | 472 | $293.47 |
| Connecticut | 396 | $289.63 |
| Tennessee | 163 | $293.79 |
NCCI unit limits (MUE)
| Claim type | Max units per day | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| DME suppliers | 1 | Code Descriptor / CPT Instruction |
Medicare policy articles for this code
- A52504: Wheelchair Options/Accessories - Policy Article (CGS Administrators, LLC (DME MAC) Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC (DME MAC)) — mentions this code in its coding guidance
What changed for E0988
- 2026-01-01: Average state fee (RR) rose 2.0%: $411.61 to $419.85
- 2012-01-01: E0988 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 E0988?
E0988 is the HCPCS Level II code for manual wheelchair accessory, lever-activated, wheel drive, pair. Short descriptor: "Lever-activated wheel drive".
How much does Medicare pay for E0988?
Under the 2026 DMEPOS fee schedule, non-rural state fees are RR (rental (monthly)): $410.20–$437.25. Rural fees can be higher.
Does Medicare cover E0988?
Coverage code C — Carrier judgment. Coverage is decided by the Medicare contractor (MAC) case by case.
Did the Medicare fee for E0988 change in 2026?
The average non-rural state fee for RR moved from $411.61 in 2025 to $419.85 in 2026 (+2.0%). CMS's next quarterly HCPCS and DMEPOS update takes effect January 1, 2027.
How many units of E0988 can be billed per day?
1 on DME suppliers (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 E0988
- Watch E0988 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for E0988
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.