L5646 HCPCS code: Addition to lower extremity, below knee, air, fluid, gel or equal, cushion socket
L5646 is the HCPCS Level II code for addition to lower extremity, below knee, air, fluid, gel or equal, cushion socket. The 2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule pays $541.12 to $894.36 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. Medicare volume rose 17% from 2022 to 2024 (238 to 278 services). In 2024, 70 suppliers billed Medicare for L5646 (purchases), serving 243 beneficiaries; Georgia, Texas, Minnesota accounted for 57% of services. Its average fee ranks 44 of 68 L56 codes (family range $55.23–$7,528.87).
Code details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Section | L codes — Orthotic and prosthetic procedures and devices |
| Coverage code | C — Carrier judgment |
| Pricing indicator | 38 — DMEPOS: orthotics, prosthetics, prosthetic devices and vision services |
| BETOS category | D1F — Prosthetic and orthotic devices |
| Added | 1986-01-01 |
| Last action effective | 2004-01-01 |
2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule for L5646
| Modifier | Meaning | Lowest state fee | Highest state fee | Ceiling | Floor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | base fee | $541.12 | $894.36 | $894.36 | $670.77 |
| State | Modifier | Fee | Rural fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| AK | — | $541.12 | — |
| AL | — | $670.77 | — |
| AR | — | $870.73 | — |
| AZ | — | $670.77 | — |
| CA | — | $670.77 | — |
| CO | — | $868.83 | — |
| CT | — | $894.36 | — |
| DC | — | $670.77 | — |
| DE | — | $670.77 | — |
| FL | — | $670.77 | — |
| GA | — | $670.77 | — |
| HI | — | $578.62 | — |
| IA | — | $670.77 | — |
| ID | — | $718.04 | — |
| IL | — | $760.20 | — |
| IN | — | $760.20 | — |
| KS | — | $670.77 | — |
| KY | — | $670.77 | — |
| LA | — | $870.73 | — |
| MA | — | $894.36 | — |
| MD | — | $670.77 | — |
| ME | — | $894.36 | — |
| MI | — | $760.20 | — |
| MN | — | $760.20 | — |
| MO | — | $670.77 | — |
| MS | — | $670.77 | — |
| MT | — | $868.83 | — |
| NC | — | $670.77 | — |
| ND | — | $868.83 | — |
| NE | — | $670.77 | — |
| NH | — | $894.36 | — |
| NJ | — | $710.29 | — |
| NM | — | $870.73 | — |
| NV | — | $670.77 | — |
| NY | — | $710.29 | — |
| OH | — | $760.20 | — |
| OK | — | $870.73 | — |
| OR | — | $718.04 | — |
| PA | — | $670.77 | — |
| PR | — | $664.54 | — |
| RI | — | $894.36 | — |
| SC | — | $670.77 | — |
| SD | — | $868.83 | — |
| TN | — | $670.77 | — |
| TX | — | $870.73 | — |
| UT | — | $868.83 | — |
| VA | — | $670.77 | — |
| VI | — | $710.29 | — |
| VT | — | $894.36 | — |
| WA | — | $718.04 | — |
| WI | — | $760.20 | — |
| WV | — | $670.77 | — |
| WY | — | $868.83 | — |
How the L5646 fee compares
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Rank among 68 L56 codes (lowest = 1) | 44 |
| Family fee range (average of state fees) | $55.23–$7,528.87 |
| Rural fee uplift | — |
Who bills L5646 (2024)
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Suppliers billing rentals | — |
| Suppliers billing purchases | 70 |
| Referring clinicians | 211 |
| Medicare beneficiaries | 243 |
| States with claims | 9 |
| Share of services in top 3 states (Georgia, Texas, Minnesota) | 57% |
| Year | Suppliers | Beneficiaries |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 79 | 201 |
| 2023 | 72 | 229 |
| 2024 | 70 | 243 |
Counts only. Supplier and clinician names, contact lists and state-by-state detail are in Caduvo.
Medicare utilization for L5646, 2022–2024
| Year | Services | Beneficiaries | Avg. allowed | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 238 | 201 | $630.58 | $476.22 |
| 2023 | 272 | 229 | $688.39 | $526.18 |
| 2024 | 278 | 243 | $710.33 | $540.52 |
States with the most L5646 services (2024)
| State | Services | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 38 | $492.31 |
| Texas | 35 | $633.84 |
| Minnesota | 33 | $564.91 |
| Washington | 17 | $478.75 |
| Florida | 14 | $470.04 |
NCCI unit limits (MUE)
| Claim type | Max units per day | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| DME suppliers | 2 | Anatomic Consideration |
| outpatient hospital claims | 2 | Anatomic Consideration |
What changed for L5646
- 2026-01-01: Average state fee rose 2.0%: $733.43 to $748.10
- 1986-01-01: L5646 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 L5646?
L5646 is the HCPCS Level II code for addition to lower extremity, below knee, air, fluid, gel or equal, cushion socket. Short descriptor: "Below knee cushion socket".
How much does Medicare pay for L5646?
Under the 2026 DMEPOS fee schedule, non-rural state fees are base (base fee): $541.12–$894.36. Rural fees can be higher.
Does Medicare cover L5646?
Coverage code C — Carrier judgment. Coverage is decided by the Medicare contractor (MAC) case by case.
Did the Medicare fee for L5646 change in 2026?
The average non-rural state fee moved from $733.43 in 2025 to $748.10 in 2026 (+2.0%). CMS's next quarterly HCPCS and DMEPOS update takes effect January 1, 2027.
How many units of L5646 can be billed per day?
2 on DME suppliers; 2 on outpatient hospital claims (NCCI medically unlikely edits).
Related L56 codes
- L5600 — Preparatory, hip disarticulation-hemipelvectomy, pylon, no cover, sach foot, laminated socket, molded to patient model ($5,443.57–$10,073.55)
- L5610 — Addition to lower extremity, endoskeletal system, above knee, hydracadence system ($2,534.66–$3,807.08)
- L5611 — Addition to lower extremity, endoskeletal system, above knee - knee disarticulation, 4 bar linkage, with friction swing phase control ($1,972.47–$2,747.18)
- L5613 — Addition to lower extremity, endoskeletal system, above knee-knee disarticulation, 4 bar linkage, with hydraulic swing phase control ($2,522.22–$4,561.30)
- L5614 — Addition to lower extremity, exoskeletal system, above knee-knee disarticulation, 4 bar linkage, with pneumatic swing phase control ($2,028.06–$2,230.84)
- L5615 — Addition, endoskeletal knee-shin system, 4 bar linkage or multiaxial, fluid swing and stance phase control ($6,603.89–$9,833.55)
- L5616 — Addition to lower extremity, endoskeletal system, above knee, universal multiplex system, friction swing phase control ($1,427.66–$2,216.96)
- L5617 — Addition to lower extremity, quick change self-aligning unit, above knee or below knee, each ($672.42–$739.74)
- L5618 — Addition to lower extremity, test socket, symes ($319.44–$459.08)
- L5620 — Addition to lower extremity, test socket, below knee ($340.36–$483.98)
- L5622 — Addition to lower extremity, test socket, knee disarticulation ($443.82–$1,237.32)
- L5624 — Addition to lower extremity, test socket, above knee ($445.08–$677.51)
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Next steps
- Run a reimbursement report for a device billed under L5646
- Watch L5646 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for L5646
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.