L5850 HCPCS code: Addition, endoskeletal system, above knee or hip disarticulation, knee extension assist
L5850 is the HCPCS Level II code for addition, endoskeletal system, above knee or hip disarticulation, knee extension assist. The 2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule pays $129.44 to $208.81 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 2% from 2022 to 2024 (4,179 to 4,251 services). In 2024, 1,494 suppliers billed Medicare for L5850 (purchases), serving 3,993 beneficiaries; California, Texas, Florida accounted for 26% of services. Its average fee ranks 1 of 22 L58 codes (family range $167.80–$29,408.45).
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 L5850
| Modifier | Meaning | Lowest state fee | Highest state fee | Ceiling | Floor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | base fee | $129.44 | $208.81 | $208.81 | $156.61 |
| State | Modifier | Fee | Rural fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| AK | — | $145.42 | — |
| AL | — | $156.61 | — |
| AR | — | $208.81 | — |
| AZ | — | $156.61 | — |
| CA | — | $156.61 | — |
| CO | — | $208.81 | — |
| CT | — | $156.61 | — |
| DC | — | $162.60 | — |
| DE | — | $162.60 | — |
| FL | — | $156.61 | — |
| GA | — | $156.61 | — |
| HI | — | $155.50 | — |
| IA | — | $156.61 | — |
| ID | — | $156.61 | — |
| IL | — | $156.61 | — |
| IN | — | $156.61 | — |
| KS | — | $156.61 | — |
| KY | — | $156.61 | — |
| LA | — | $208.81 | — |
| MA | — | $156.61 | — |
| MD | — | $162.60 | — |
| ME | — | $156.61 | — |
| MI | — | $156.61 | — |
| MN | — | $156.61 | — |
| MO | — | $156.61 | — |
| MS | — | $156.61 | — |
| MT | — | $208.81 | — |
| NC | — | $156.61 | — |
| ND | — | $208.81 | — |
| NE | — | $156.61 | — |
| NH | — | $156.61 | — |
| NJ | — | $164.12 | — |
| NM | — | $208.81 | — |
| NV | — | $156.61 | — |
| NY | — | $164.12 | — |
| OH | — | $156.61 | — |
| OK | — | $208.81 | — |
| OR | — | $156.61 | — |
| PA | — | $162.60 | — |
| PR | — | $129.44 | — |
| RI | — | $156.61 | — |
| SC | — | $156.61 | — |
| SD | — | $208.81 | — |
| TN | — | $156.61 | — |
| TX | — | $208.81 | — |
| UT | — | $208.81 | — |
| VA | — | $162.60 | — |
| VI | — | $164.12 | — |
| VT | — | $156.61 | — |
| WA | — | $156.61 | — |
| WI | — | $156.61 | — |
| WV | — | $162.60 | — |
| WY | — | $208.81 | — |
How the L5850 fee compares
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Rank among 22 L58 codes (lowest = 1) | 1 |
| Family fee range (average of state fees) | $167.80–$29,408.45 |
| Rural fee uplift | — |
Who bills L5850 (2024)
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Suppliers billing rentals | — |
| Suppliers billing purchases | 1,494 |
| Referring clinicians | 3,030 |
| Medicare beneficiaries | 3,993 |
| States with claims | 47 |
| Share of services in top 3 states (California, Texas, Florida) | 26% |
| Year | Suppliers | Beneficiaries |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1,515 | 3,967 |
| 2023 | 1,469 | 3,886 |
| 2024 | 1,494 | 3,993 |
Counts only. Supplier and clinician names, contact lists and state-by-state detail are in Caduvo.
Medicare utilization for L5850, 2022–2024
| Year | Services | Beneficiaries | Avg. allowed | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 4,179 | 3,967 | $142.83 | $111.56 |
| 2023 | 4,124 | 3,886 | $155.16 | $120.54 |
| 2024 | 4,251 | 3,993 | $158.65 | $123.23 |
States with the most L5850 services (2024)
| State | Services | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|
| California | 398 | $115.01 |
| Texas | 379 | $150.56 |
| Florida | 340 | $116.96 |
| New York | 225 | $121.82 |
| Pennsylvania | 206 | $121.33 |
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 L5850
- 2026-01-01: Average state fee rose 2.0%: $164.51 to $167.80
- 1988-01-01: L5850 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 L5850?
L5850 is the HCPCS Level II code for addition, endoskeletal system, above knee or hip disarticulation, knee extension assist. Short descriptor: "Endo ak/hip knee extens assi".
How much does Medicare pay for L5850?
Under the 2026 DMEPOS fee schedule, non-rural state fees are base (base fee): $129.44–$208.81. Rural fees can be higher.
Does Medicare cover L5850?
Coverage code C — Carrier judgment. Coverage is decided by the Medicare contractor (MAC) case by case.
Did the Medicare fee for L5850 change in 2026?
The average non-rural state fee moved from $164.51 in 2025 to $167.80 in 2026 (+2.0%). CMS's next quarterly HCPCS and DMEPOS update takes effect January 1, 2027.
How many units of L5850 can be billed per day?
2 on DME suppliers; 2 on outpatient hospital claims (NCCI medically unlikely edits).
Related L58 codes
- L5810 — Addition, endoskeletal knee-shin system, single axis, manual lock ($475.88–$1,129.31)
- L5811 — Addition, endoskeletal knee-shin system, single axis, manual lock, ultra-light material ($892.86–$1,651.67)
- L5812 — Addition, endoskeletal knee-shin system, single axis, friction swing and stance phase control (safety knee) ($692.06–$1,262.70)
- L5814 — Addition, endoskeletal knee-shin system, polycentric, hydraulic swing phase control, mechanical stance phase lock ($4,463.43–$4,909.82)
- L5816 — Addition, endoskeletal knee-shin system, polycentric, mechanical stance phase lock ($618.67–$2,023.41)
- L5818 — Addition, endoskeletal knee-shin system, polycentric, friction swing, and stance phase control ($1,175.67–$2,038.75)
- L5822 — Addition, endoskeletal knee-shin system, single axis, pneumatic swing, friction stance phase control ($1,427.66–$2,779.69)
- L5824 — Addition, endoskeletal knee-shin system, single axis, fluid swing phase control ($1,808.36–$3,524.23)
- L5826 — Addition, endoskeletal knee-shin system, single axis, hydraulic swing phase control, with miniature high activity frame ($3,753.23–$4,503.85)
- L5827 — Endoskeletal knee-shin system, single axis, electromechanical swing and stance phase control, with or without shock absorption and stance extension damping ($6,903.72–$8,403.35)
- L5828 — Addition, endoskeletal knee-shin system, single axis, fluid swing and stance phase control ($3,457.19–$4,956.82)
- L5830 — Addition, endoskeletal knee-shin system, single axis, pneumatic/ swing phase control ($2,128.21–$4,205.51)
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 L5850
- Watch L5850 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for L5850
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.