L0140 — Cervical, semi-rigid, adjustable (plastic collar)
L0140 is a HCPCS Level II code for cervical, semi-rigid, adjustable (plastic collar). It belongs to the Orthotic and Prosthetic Procedures and Devices section. Whether Medicare pays it depends on the coverage rule below.
Medicare coverage: Carrier judgment
Coverage is decided by your Medicare contractor, not by national policy. Whether this is paid depends on the LCD for your jurisdiction and on what the documentation supports.
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 L0140 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
- 1 unit MAI 2 — Date of Service Edit: Policy · Anatomic Consideration
- DME supplier
- 1 unit MAI 2 — Date of Service Edit: Policy · Anatomic Consideration
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 L0140
- Long descriptor
- Cervical, semi-rigid, adjustable (plastic collar)
- Short descriptor
- Cervical semi-rigid adjustab
- Added
- January 1, 1982
- BETOS
- D1F
- Pricing indicator
- 38 — 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.
Orthotics, prosthetics, prosthetic devices and vision services. Price subject to floors and ceilings.
Codes adjacent to L0140
HCPCS has no hierarchy — related items simply sit next to each other in the numbering. If L0140 is not quite right, the correct code is very often within a few positions of it.
- K1034Provision of covid-19 test, nonprescription self-administered and self-collected use, fda approved, authorized or cleared, one test count
- K1035Molecular diagnostic test reader, nonprescription self-administered and self-collected use, fda approved, authorized or cleared
- K1036Supplies and accessories (e.g., transducer) for low frequency ultrasonic diathermy treatment device, per month
- K1037Docking station for use with oral device/appliance used to reduce upper airway collapsibility
- L0112Cranial cervical orthosis, congenital torticollis type, with or without soft interface material, adjustable range of motion joint, custom fabricated
- L0113Cranial cervical orthosis, torticollis type, with or without joint, with or without soft interface material, prefabricated, includes fitting and adjustment
- L0120Cervical, flexible, non-adjustable, prefabricated, off-the-shelf (foam collar)
- L0130Cervical, flexible, thermoplastic collar, molded to patient
- L0150Cervical, semi-rigid, adjustable molded chin cup (plastic collar with mandibular/occipital piece)
- L0160Cervical, semi-rigid, wire frame occipital/mandibular support, prefabricated, off-the-shelf
- L0170Cervical, collar, molded to patient model
- L0172Cervical, collar, semi-rigid thermoplastic foam, two-piece, prefabricated, off-the-shelf
- L0174Cervical, collar, semi-rigid, thermoplastic foam, two piece with thoracic extension, prefabricated, off-the-shelf
- L0180Cervical, multiple post collar, occipital/mandibular supports, adjustable
- L0190Cervical, multiple post collar, occipital/mandibular supports, adjustable cervical bars (somi, guilford, taylor types)
- L0200Cervical, multiple post collar, occipital/mandibular supports, adjustable cervical bars, and thoracic extension
Questions about L0140
What is HCPCS code L0140?
L0140 is a HCPCS Level II code for cervical, semi-rigid, adjustable (plastic collar). It sits in the Orthotic and Prosthetic Procedures and Devices section.
Does Medicare cover L0140?
The CMS HCPCS file marks L0140 as "Carrier judgment". Coverage is decided by your Medicare contractor, not by national policy. Whether this is paid depends on the LCD for your jurisdiction and on what the documentation supports.