K0050 HCPCS code: Ratchet assembly, replacement only
K0050 is the HCPCS Level II code for ratchet assembly, replacement only. The 2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule pays $39.25 to $47.91 (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 2 per day on DME suppliers. Its average fee ranks 8 of 28 K00 codes billed NU (family range $19.23–$2,627.69); rural fees run 3% higher.
Code details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Section | K codes — Temporary codes for DME MACs |
| Coverage code | C — Carrier judgment |
| Pricing indicator | 32 — DMEPOS: inexpensive or routinely purchased item |
| BETOS category | D1D — Wheelchairs |
| Added | 1994-01-01 |
| Last action effective | 2017-01-01 |
2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule for K0050
| Modifier | Meaning | Lowest state fee | Highest state fee | Ceiling | Floor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NU | new equipment, purchased | $39.25 | $47.91 | $39.93 | $33.94 |
| NU | new equipment, purchased | $39.25 | $47.22 | — | — |
| RR | rental (monthly) | $3.91 | $4.83 | $3.99 | $3.39 |
| RR | rental (monthly) | $3.92 | $4.74 | — | — |
| UE | used equipment, purchased | $29.45 | $35.41 | — | — |
| UE | used equipment, purchased | $29.45 | $35.93 | $29.97 | $25.47 |
| State | Modifier | Fee | Rural fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| AK | NU | $42.27 | — |
| AL | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| AR | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| AZ | NU | $39.25 | $42.27 |
| CA | NU | $39.25 | $42.27 |
| CO | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| CT | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| DC | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| DE | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| FL | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| GA | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| HI | NU | $42.27 | — |
| IA | NU | $39.25 | $42.27 |
| ID | NU | $39.25 | $42.27 |
| IL | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| IN | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| KS | NU | $39.25 | $42.27 |
| KY | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| LA | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| MA | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| MD | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| ME | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| MI | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| MN | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| MO | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| MS | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| MT | NU | $39.25 | $42.27 |
| NC | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| ND | NU | $39.25 | $42.27 |
| NE | NU | $39.25 | $42.27 |
| NH | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| NJ | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| NM | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| NV | NU | $39.25 | $42.27 |
| NY | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| OH | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| OK | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| OR | NU | $39.25 | $42.27 |
| PA | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| PR | NU | $47.91 | — |
| RI | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| SC | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| SD | NU | $39.25 | $42.27 |
| TN | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| TX | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| UT | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| VA | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| VI | NU | $42.65 | — |
| VT | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| WA | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| WI | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| WV | NU | $39.93 | $42.65 |
| WY | NU | $39.25 | $42.27 |
| AK | RR | $4.22 | — |
| AL | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| AR | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| AZ | RR | $3.92 | $4.22 |
| CA | RR | $3.92 | $4.22 |
| CO | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| CT | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| DC | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| DE | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| FL | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| GA | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| HI | RR | $4.22 | — |
| IA | RR | $3.92 | $4.22 |
| ID | RR | $3.92 | $4.22 |
| IL | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| IN | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| KS | RR | $3.92 | $4.22 |
| KY | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| LA | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| MA | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| MD | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| ME | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| MI | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| MN | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| MO | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| MS | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| MT | RR | $3.92 | $4.22 |
| NC | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| ND | RR | $3.92 | $4.22 |
| NE | RR | $3.92 | $4.22 |
| NH | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| NJ | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| NM | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| NV | RR | $3.92 | $4.22 |
| NY | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| OH | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| OK | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| OR | RR | $3.92 | $4.22 |
| PA | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| PR | RR | $4.83 | — |
| RI | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| SC | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| SD | RR | $3.92 | $4.22 |
| TN | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| TX | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| UT | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| VA | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| VI | RR | $4.26 | — |
| VT | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| WA | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| WI | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| WV | RR | $3.99 | $4.26 |
| WY | RR | $3.92 | $4.22 |
| AK | UE | $31.71 | — |
| AL | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| AR | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| AZ | UE | $29.45 | $31.71 |
| CA | UE | $29.45 | $31.71 |
| CO | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| CT | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| DC | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| DE | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| FL | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| GA | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| HI | UE | $31.71 | — |
| IA | UE | $29.45 | $31.71 |
| ID | UE | $29.45 | $31.71 |
| IL | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| IN | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| KS | UE | $29.45 | $31.71 |
| KY | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| LA | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| MA | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| MD | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| ME | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| MI | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| MN | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| MO | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| MS | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| MT | UE | $29.45 | $31.71 |
| NC | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| ND | UE | $29.45 | $31.71 |
| NE | UE | $29.45 | $31.71 |
| NH | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| NJ | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| NM | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| NV | UE | $29.45 | $31.71 |
| NY | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| OH | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| OK | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| OR | UE | $29.45 | $31.71 |
| PA | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| PR | UE | $35.93 | — |
| RI | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| SC | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| SD | UE | $29.45 | $31.71 |
| TN | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| TX | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| UT | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| VA | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| VI | UE | $32.00 | — |
| VT | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| WA | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| WI | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| WV | UE | $29.97 | $32.00 |
| WY | UE | $29.45 | $31.71 |
How the K0050 fee compares
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Rank among 28 K00 codes billed NU (lowest = 1) | 8 |
| Family fee range (average of state fees) | $19.23–$2,627.69 |
| Rural fee uplift | 3.0% |
NCCI unit limits (MUE)
| Claim type | Max units per day | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| DME suppliers | 2 | Nature of Equipment |
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 K0050
- 2026-01-01: Average state fee (NU) rose 2.2%: $39.01 to $39.88
- 2026-01-01: Average state fee (RR) rose 2.3%: $3.89 to $3.99
- 2026-01-01: Average state fee (UE) rose 2.2%: $29.27 to $29.92
- 1994-01-01: K0050 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 K0050?
K0050 is the HCPCS Level II code for ratchet assembly, replacement only. Short descriptor: "Ratchet assembly replacement".
How much does Medicare pay for K0050?
Under the 2026 DMEPOS fee schedule, non-rural state fees are NU (new equipment, purchased): $39.25–$47.91; NU (new equipment, purchased): $39.25–$47.22; RR (rental (monthly)): $3.91–$4.83; RR (rental (monthly)): $3.92–$4.74; UE (used equipment, purchased): $29.45–$35.41; UE (used equipment, purchased): $29.45–$35.93. Rural fees can be higher.
Does Medicare cover K0050?
Coverage code C — Carrier judgment. Coverage is decided by the Medicare contractor (MAC) case by case.
Did the Medicare fee for K0050 change in 2026?
The average non-rural state fee for NU moved from $39.01 in 2025 to $39.88 in 2026 (+2.2%). CMS's next quarterly HCPCS and DMEPOS update takes effect January 1, 2027.
How many units of K0050 can be billed per day?
2 on DME suppliers (NCCI medically unlikely edits).
Related K00 codes
- K0001 — Standard wheelchair ($25.23–$53.63)
- K0002 — Standard hemi (low seat) wheelchair ($38.93–$101.05)
- K0003 — Lightweight wheelchair ($36.91–$115.29)
- K0004 — High strength, lightweight wheelchair ($48.55–$163.93)
- K0005 — Ultralightweight wheelchair ($259.07–$2,797.90)
- K0006 — Heavy duty wheelchair ($68.77–$169.03)
- K0007 — Extra heavy duty wheelchair ($96.40–$211.59)
- K0008 — Custom manual wheelchair/base
- K0009 — Other manual wheelchair/base ($101.86–$122.26)
- K0010 — Standard - weight frame motorized/power wheelchair ($516.03–$1,144.42)
- K0011 — Standard - weight frame motorized/power wheelchair with programmable control parameters for speed adjustment, tremor dampening, acceleration control and braking ($641.58–$810.57)
- K0012 — Lightweight portable motorized/power wheelchair ($393.59–$543.05)
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Next steps
- Run a reimbursement report for a device billed under K0050
- Watch K0050 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for K0050
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.