E1220 — Wheelchair; specially sized or constructed, (indicate brand name, model number, if any) and justification
E1220 is a HCPCS Level II code for wheelchair; specially sized or constructed, (indicate brand name, model number, if any) and justification. It belongs to the Durable Medical Equipment section. Whether Medicare pays it depends on the coverage rule below.
Medicare coverage: Special coverage instructions apply
There are published conditions attached to this code. Check the applicable coverage policy before billing it: the code being valid is not the same as the service being covered.
From the coverage field of the CMS Alpha-Numeric HCPCS File, release 2026Q3-Jul. This states Medicare’s position on the code, not on your particular claim.
Medically Unlikely Edits — units per day
The most units of E1220 Medicare will pay on one date of service. Bill more on a single line and it is denied. The limit is not the same in every setting, so the row that matters is the one matching the claim you are building.
- practitioner
- 0 — never payable MAI 3 — Date of Service Edit: Clinical · CMS Policy
- outpatient
- 0 — never payable MAI 3 — Date of Service Edit: Clinical · CMS Policy
- DME supplier
- 1 unit MAI 2 — Date of Service Edit: Policy · Code Descriptor / CPT Instruction
The adjudication indicator decides whether exceeding the limit is worth appealing at all: MAI 1 is a line edit you can support with documentation, MAI 3 is a date-of-service edit that is also appealable, and MAI 2 is absolute — no documentation overrides it. CMS MUE 2026Q3.
The CMS record for E1220
- Long descriptor
- Wheelchair; specially sized or constructed, (indicate brand name, model number, if any) and justification
- Short descriptor
- Whlchr special size/constrc
- Added
- January 1, 1986
- BETOS
- D1D
- Pricing indicator
- 45 — DMEPOS
The official wording. This is what the code means.
CMS's 28-character form, which is what shows up on a remittance advice.
When CMS introduced the code.
Berenson-Eggers Type of Service — CMS's own analytic grouping.
Customized DME items.
Codes adjacent to E1220
HCPCS has no hierarchy — related items simply sit next to each other in the numbering. If E1220 is not quite right, the correct code is very often within a few positions of it.
- E1161Manual adult size wheelchair, includes tilt in space
- E1170Amputee wheelchair, fixed full length arms, swing away detachable elevating legrests
- E1171Amputee wheelchair, fixed full length arms, without footrests or legrest
- E1172Amputee wheelchair, detachable arms (desk or full length) without footrests or legrest
- E1180Amputee wheelchair, detachable arms (desk or full length) swing away detachable footrests
- E1190Amputee wheelchair, detachable arms (desk or full length) swing away detachable elevating legrests
- E1195Heavy duty wheelchair, fixed full length arms, swing away detachable elevating legrests
- E1200Amputee wheelchair, fixed full length arms, swing away detachable footrest
- E1221Wheelchair with fixed arm, footrests
- E1222Wheelchair with fixed arm, elevating legrests
- E1223Wheelchair with detachable arms, footrests
- E1224Wheelchair with detachable arms, elevating legrests
- E1225Wheelchair accessory, manual semi-reclining back, (recline greater than 15 degrees, but less than 80 degrees), each
- E1226Wheelchair accessory, manual fully reclining back, (recline greater than 80 degrees), each
- E1227Special height arms for wheelchair
- E1228Special back height for wheelchair
Questions about E1220
What is HCPCS code E1220?
E1220 is a HCPCS Level II code for wheelchair; specially sized or constructed, (indicate brand name, model number, if any) and justification. It sits in the Durable Medical Equipment section.
Does Medicare cover E1220?
The CMS HCPCS file marks E1220 as "Special coverage instructions apply". There are published conditions attached to this code. Check the applicable coverage policy before billing it: the code being valid is not the same as the service being covered.