L7181 HCPCS code: Electronic elbow, microprocessor simultaneous control of elbow and terminal device
L7181 is the HCPCS Level II code for electronic elbow, microprocessor simultaneous control of elbow and terminal device. The 2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule pays $48,155.50 to $52,971.00 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 17% from 2023 to 2024 (18 to 15 services). In 2024, 15 suppliers billed Medicare for L7181 (purchases), serving 15 beneficiaries. Its average fee ranks 7 of 7 L71 codes (family range $7,789.04–$49,092.41).
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 | 2005-01-01 |
| Last action effective | 2005-01-01 |
2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule for L7181
| Modifier | Meaning | Lowest state fee | Highest state fee | Ceiling | Floor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | base fee | $48,155.50 | $52,971.00 | $58,766.81 | $44,075.11 |
| State | Modifier | Fee | Rural fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| AK | — | $48,155.50 | — |
| AL | — | $49,605.45 | — |
| AR | — | $49,600.83 | — |
| AZ | — | $48,155.50 | — |
| CA | — | $48,155.50 | — |
| CO | — | $49,879.14 | — |
| CT | — | $48,155.50 | — |
| DC | — | $48,155.50 | — |
| DE | — | $48,155.50 | — |
| FL | — | $49,605.45 | — |
| GA | — | $49,605.45 | — |
| HI | — | $48,155.50 | — |
| IA | — | $49,095.74 | — |
| ID | — | $48,155.50 | — |
| IL | — | $49,338.18 | — |
| IN | — | $49,338.18 | — |
| KS | — | $49,095.74 | — |
| KY | — | $49,605.45 | — |
| LA | — | $49,600.83 | — |
| MA | — | $48,155.50 | — |
| MD | — | $48,155.50 | — |
| ME | — | $48,155.50 | — |
| MI | — | $49,338.18 | — |
| MN | — | $49,338.18 | — |
| MO | — | $49,095.74 | — |
| MS | — | $49,605.45 | — |
| MT | — | $49,879.14 | — |
| NC | — | $49,605.45 | — |
| ND | — | $49,879.14 | — |
| NE | — | $49,095.74 | — |
| NH | — | $48,155.50 | — |
| NJ | — | $48,155.50 | — |
| NM | — | $49,600.83 | — |
| NV | — | $48,155.50 | — |
| NY | — | $48,155.50 | — |
| OH | — | $49,338.18 | — |
| OK | — | $49,600.83 | — |
| OR | — | $48,155.50 | — |
| PA | — | $48,155.50 | — |
| PR | — | $52,971.00 | — |
| RI | — | $48,155.50 | — |
| SC | — | $49,605.45 | — |
| SD | — | $49,879.14 | — |
| TN | — | $49,605.45 | — |
| TX | — | $49,600.83 | — |
| UT | — | $49,879.14 | — |
| VA | — | $48,155.50 | — |
| VI | — | $52,971.00 | — |
| VT | — | $48,155.50 | — |
| WA | — | $48,155.50 | — |
| WI | — | $49,338.18 | — |
| WV | — | $48,155.50 | — |
| WY | — | $49,879.14 | — |
How the L7181 fee compares
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Rank among 7 L71 codes (lowest = 1) | 7 |
| Family fee range (average of state fees) | $7,789.04–$49,092.41 |
| Rural fee uplift | — |
Who bills L7181 (2024)
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Suppliers billing rentals | — |
| Suppliers billing purchases | 15 |
| Referring clinicians | 15 |
| Medicare beneficiaries | 15 |
| States with claims | 0 |
| Year | Suppliers | Beneficiaries |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 18 | 18 |
| 2024 | 15 | 15 |
Counts only. Supplier and clinician names, contact lists and state-by-state detail are in Caduvo.
Medicare utilization for L7181, 2023–2024
| Year | Services | Beneficiaries | Avg. allowed | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 18 | 18 | $45,424.61 | $34,062.11 |
| 2024 | 15 | 15 | $44,129.73 | $34,585.17 |
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 L7181
- 2026-01-01: Average state fee rose 2.0%: $48,129.81 to $49,092.41
- 2005-01-01: L7181 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 L7181?
L7181 is the HCPCS Level II code for electronic elbow, microprocessor simultaneous control of elbow and terminal device. Short descriptor: "Electronic elbo simultaneous".
How much does Medicare pay for L7181?
Under the 2026 DMEPOS fee schedule, non-rural state fees are base (base fee): $48,155.50–$52,971.00. Rural fees can be higher.
Does Medicare cover L7181?
Coverage code C — Carrier judgment. Coverage is decided by the Medicare contractor (MAC) case by case.
Did the Medicare fee for L7181 change in 2026?
The average non-rural state fee moved from $48,129.81 in 2025 to $49,092.41 in 2026 (+2.0%). CMS's next quarterly HCPCS and DMEPOS update takes effect January 1, 2027.
How many units of L7181 can be billed per day?
2 on DME suppliers; 2 on outpatient hospital claims (NCCI medically unlikely edits).
Related L71 codes
- L7170 — Electronic elbow, hosmer or equal, switch controlled ($7,052.45–$9,571.18)
- L7180 — Electronic elbow, microprocessor sequential control of elbow and terminal device ($18,180.91–$50,007.15)
- L7185 — Electronic elbow, adolescent, variety village or equal, switch controlled ($7,269.08–$9,692.10)
- L7186 — Electronic elbow, child, variety village or equal, switch controlled ($10,430.01–$14,162.40)
- L7190 — Electronic elbow, adolescent, variety village or equal, myoelectronically controlled ($9,330.76–$13,407.96)
- L7191 — Electronic elbow, child, variety village or equal, myoelectronically controlled ($10,261.32–$14,868.87)
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 L7181
- Watch L7181 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for L7181
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.