L1950 — Ankle foot orthosis, spiral, (institute of rehabilitative medicine type), plastic, custom fabricated
L1950 is a HCPCS Level II code for ankle foot orthosis, spiral, (institute of rehabilitative medicine type), plastic, custom fabricated. 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 L1950 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
- 2 units MAI 2 — Date of Service Edit: Policy · Anatomic Consideration
- DME supplier
- 2 units 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 L1950
- Long descriptor
- Ankle foot orthosis, spiral, (institute of rehabilitative medicine type), plastic, custom fabricated
- Short descriptor
- Afo spiral molded to pt plas
- 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 L1950
HCPCS has no hierarchy — related items simply sit next to each other in the numbering. If L1950 is not quite right, the correct code is very often within a few positions of it.
- L1907Ankle orthosis, supramalleolar with straps, with or without interface/pads, custom fabricated
- L1910Ankle foot orthosis, posterior, single bar, clasp attachment to shoe counter, prefabricated, includes fitting and adjustment
- L1920Ankle foot orthosis, single upright with static or adjustable stop (phelps or perlstein type), custom fabricated
- L1930Ankle foot orthosis, plastic or other material, prefabricated, includes fitting and adjustment
- L1932Ankle foot orthosis, rigid anterior tibial section, total carbon fiber or equal material, prefabricated item that has been trimmed, bent, molded, assembled, or otherwise customized to fit a specific patient by an individual with expertise
- L1933Ankle foot orthosis, rigid anterior tibial section, total carbon fiber or equal material, prefabricated, off-the-shelf
- L1940Ankle foot orthosis, plastic or other material, custom fabricated
- L1945Ankle foot orthosis, plastic, rigid anterior tibial section (floor reaction), custom fabricated
- L1951Ankle foot orthosis, spiral, (institute of rehabilitative medicine type), plastic or other material, prefabricated item that has been trimmed, bent, molded, assembled, or otherwise customized to fit a specific patient by an individual with expertise
- L1952Ankle foot orthosis, spiral, (institute of rehabilitative medicine type), plastic or other material, prefabricated, off-the-shelf
- L1960Ankle foot orthosis, posterior solid ankle, plastic, custom fabricated
- L1970Ankle foot orthosis, plastic with ankle joint, custom fabricated
- L1971Ankle foot orthosis, plastic or other material with ankle joint, with or without dorsiflexion assist, prefabricated, includes fitting and adjustment
- L1980Ankle foot orthosis, single upright free plantar dorsiflexion, solid stirrup, calf band/cuff (single bar 'bk' orthosis), custom fabricated
- L1990Ankle foot orthosis, double upright free plantar dorsiflexion, solid stirrup, calf band/cuff (double bar 'bk' orthosis), custom fabricated
- L2000Knee ankle foot orthosis, single upright, free knee, free ankle, solid stirrup, thigh and calf bands/cuffs (single bar 'ak' orthosis), custom fabricated
Questions about L1950
What is HCPCS code L1950?
L1950 is a HCPCS Level II code for ankle foot orthosis, spiral, (institute of rehabilitative medicine type), plastic, custom fabricated. It sits in the Orthotic and Prosthetic Procedures and Devices section.
Does Medicare cover L1950?
The CMS HCPCS file marks L1950 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.