L5649 HCPCS code: Addition to lower extremity, ischial containment/narrow m-l socket
L5649 is the HCPCS Level II code for addition to lower extremity, ischial containment/narrow m-l socket. The 2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule pays $1,903.55 to $3,018.14 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 fell 4% from 2022 to 2024 (9,193 to 8,780 services). In 2024, 1,852 suppliers billed Medicare for L5649 (purchases), serving 7,587 beneficiaries; Texas, Florida, California accounted for 28% of services. Its average fee ranks 64 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 | 1988-01-01 |
2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule for L5649
| Modifier | Meaning | Lowest state fee | Highest state fee | Ceiling | Floor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | base fee | $1,903.55 | $3,018.14 | $3,107.85 | $2,330.89 |
| State | Modifier | Fee | Rural fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| AK | — | $2,374.16 | — |
| AL | — | $2,920.65 | — |
| AR | — | $2,974.58 | — |
| AZ | — | $2,346.05 | — |
| CA | — | $2,346.05 | — |
| CO | — | $2,595.39 | — |
| CT | — | $2,330.89 | — |
| DC | — | $2,446.95 | — |
| DE | — | $2,446.95 | — |
| FL | — | $2,920.65 | — |
| GA | — | $2,920.65 | — |
| HI | — | $2,538.71 | — |
| IA | — | $2,330.89 | — |
| ID | — | $2,463.86 | — |
| IL | — | $3,018.14 | — |
| IN | — | $3,018.14 | — |
| KS | — | $2,330.89 | — |
| KY | — | $2,920.65 | — |
| LA | — | $2,974.58 | — |
| MA | — | $2,330.89 | — |
| MD | — | $2,446.95 | — |
| ME | — | $2,330.89 | — |
| MI | — | $3,018.14 | — |
| MN | — | $3,018.14 | — |
| MO | — | $2,330.89 | — |
| MS | — | $2,920.65 | — |
| MT | — | $2,595.39 | — |
| NC | — | $2,920.65 | — |
| ND | — | $2,595.39 | — |
| NE | — | $2,330.89 | — |
| NH | — | $2,330.89 | — |
| NJ | — | $2,330.89 | — |
| NM | — | $2,974.58 | — |
| NV | — | $2,346.05 | — |
| NY | — | $2,330.89 | — |
| OH | — | $3,018.14 | — |
| OK | — | $2,974.58 | — |
| OR | — | $2,463.86 | — |
| PA | — | $2,446.95 | — |
| PR | — | $1,903.55 | — |
| RI | — | $2,330.89 | — |
| SC | — | $2,920.65 | — |
| SD | — | $2,595.39 | — |
| TN | — | $2,920.65 | — |
| TX | — | $2,974.58 | — |
| UT | — | $2,595.39 | — |
| VA | — | $2,446.95 | — |
| VI | — | $2,330.89 | — |
| VT | — | $2,330.89 | — |
| WA | — | $2,463.86 | — |
| WI | — | $3,018.14 | — |
| WV | — | $2,446.95 | — |
| WY | — | $2,595.39 | — |
How the L5649 fee compares
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Rank among 68 L56 codes (lowest = 1) | 64 |
| Family fee range (average of state fees) | $55.23–$7,528.87 |
| Rural fee uplift | — |
Who bills L5649 (2024)
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Suppliers billing rentals | — |
| Suppliers billing purchases | 1,852 |
| Referring clinicians | 5,444 |
| Medicare beneficiaries | 7,587 |
| States with claims | 50 |
| Share of services in top 3 states (Texas, Florida, California) | 28% |
| Year | Suppliers | Beneficiaries |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1,936 | 7,999 |
| 2023 | 1,930 | 7,924 |
| 2024 | 1,852 | 7,587 |
Counts only. Supplier and clinician names, contact lists and state-by-state detail are in Caduvo.
Medicare utilization for L5649, 2022–2024
| Year | Services | Beneficiaries | Avg. allowed | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 9,193 | 7,999 | $2,316.69 | $1,806.80 |
| 2023 | 9,134 | 7,924 | $2,511.91 | $1,948.54 |
| 2024 | 8,780 | 7,587 | $2,568.58 | $1,992.61 |
States with the most L5649 services (2024)
| State | Services | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 910 | $2,173.07 |
| Florida | 827 | $2,172.79 |
| California | 725 | $1,742.97 |
| New York | 533 | $1,750.35 |
| Pennsylvania | 391 | $1,811.86 |
NCCI unit limits (MUE)
| Claim type | Max units per day | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| DME suppliers | 2 | Anatomic Consideration |
| outpatient hospital claims | 2 | Anatomic Consideration |
Medicare policy articles for this code
- A52496: Lower Limb Prostheses - Policy Article (CGS Administrators, LLC (DME MAC) Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC (DME MAC)) — mentions this code in its coding guidance
What changed for L5649
- 2026-01-01: Average state fee rose 2.0%: $2,555.47 to $2,606.58
- 1988-01-01: L5649 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 L5649?
L5649 is the HCPCS Level II code for addition to lower extremity, ischial containment/narrow m-l socket. Short descriptor: "Isch containmt/narrow m-l so".
How much does Medicare pay for L5649?
Under the 2026 DMEPOS fee schedule, non-rural state fees are base (base fee): $1,903.55–$3,018.14. Rural fees can be higher.
Does Medicare cover L5649?
Coverage code C — Carrier judgment. Coverage is decided by the Medicare contractor (MAC) case by case.
Did the Medicare fee for L5649 change in 2026?
The average non-rural state fee moved from $2,555.47 in 2025 to $2,606.58 in 2026 (+2.0%). CMS's next quarterly HCPCS and DMEPOS update takes effect January 1, 2027.
How many units of L5649 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)
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 L5649
- Watch L5649 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for L5649
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.