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HCPCS L1971 · Level II · orthotic and prosthetic code

L1971: Ankle foot orthosis, plastic or other material with ankle joint, HCPCS Level II orthotic and prosthetic code

Compiled from CMS files by the QuickIntell RCM Editorial Team · Data effective · Method: reference methodology · Report a data correction

Data currency: HCPCS Level II file: October 2026 (effective October 1, 2026); DMEPOS fee schedule: DME26-D (October 2026) (effective October 1, 2026); NCCI MUE tables: 2026 Q4 (effective October 1, 2026); NCCI PTP edits: v323r0 (2026 Q4) (effective October 1, 2026); OPPS Addendum B: October 2026 (effective October 1, 2026); Medicare Coverage Database LCD export: MCD release October 8, 2026 (effective October 4, 2026). Next CMS release: January 1, 2027 (quarterly update) for the HCPCS Level II file and DMEPOS fee schedule and NCCI MUE tables and NCCI PTP edits and OPPS Addendum B; weekly, every Thursday for the Medicare Coverage Database LCD export.

Key facts for L1971

Medicare payment
$562.23 to $582.34
DMEPOS non-rural state fees
Coverage code
C
carrier judgment, so the Medicare contractor decides coverage
DME supplier MUE
2
MAI 2
OPPS status
SI A
Services not paid under OPPS; paid under fee schedule or other payment system
NCCI PTP pairs
0
practitioner file
LCDs and articles
1 / 0

TL;DR

L1971 is a Level II code from the L section (orthotic and prosthetic procedures and devices), in use since 2004: "Ankle foot orthosis, plastic or other material with ankle joint, with or without dorsiflexion assist, prefabricated, item that has been trimmed, bent, molded, assembled, or otherwise customized to fit a specific patient by an individual with expertise". L1971 is paid from the DMEPOS fee schedule as prosthetics and orthotics (PO): $562.23 in AZ, CA, CT and 17 more to $582.34 in CO, MT, ND and 3 more (floor $514.60, ceiling $686.13), October 2026. MUE limits for L1971: practitioner 0 (MAI 3, CMS Policy); hospital outpatient 2 (MAI 2, Anatomic Consideration); DME supplier 2 (MAI 2, Anatomic Consideration). 1 active LCD lists L1971: L33686 (Ankle-Foot/Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthosis). OPPS status indicator A: Services not paid under OPPS; paid under fee schedule or other payment system. HCPCS record: BETOS D1F (prosthetic/orthotic devices); pricing indicator 38; type of service P (lump-sum purchase of DME, prosthetics or orthotics). 23 other active codes open with "Ankle foot orthosis"; related codes: L1970, L1960, L1952, L1990.

L1971 descriptor and code status

The October 2026 HCPCS Level II file describes L1971 as “Ankle foot orthosis, plastic or other material with ankle joint, with or without dorsiflexion assist, prefabricated, item that has been trimmed, bent, molded, assembled, or otherwise customized to fit a specific patient by an individual with expertise”. It sits in the L section (orthotic and prosthetic procedures and devices), listed with the other L codes. Although searches often call it the "L1971 CPT code", L1971 is a HCPCS Level II code maintained by CMS, not an AMA CPT code; both go in the same procedure-code field on the claim.

HCPCS file attributes of L1971
FieldValue
Short descriptorAnkl foot ortho, customi fit
Added to HCPCS2004-01-01
Last actionC (long description changed), effective 2026-10-01
Coverage codeC: carrier judgment, so the Medicare contractor decides coverage
Pricing indicator38: DMEPOS orthotics, prosthetics, prosthetic devices and vision services (floors and ceilings)
BETOS categoryD1F: prosthetic/orthotic devices
Type of serviceP: lump-sum purchase of DME, prosthetics or orthotics

Medicare payment for L1971

L1971 is paid from the DMEPOS fee schedule as prosthetics and orthotics (PO): $562.23 in AZ, CA, CT and 17 more to $582.34 in CO, MT, ND and 3 more (floor $514.60, ceiling $686.13), October 2026. The amounts below are national figures from the October 2026 CMS files; the contractor applies the locality, rural or state adjustment and the beneficiary's cost sharing.

DMEPOS fee schedule (DME26-D)

Jurisdiction D (DME MAC), payment category PO (prosthetics and orthotics). Fees are set per state; AK, HI, PR and VI are not subject to the national ceiling and floor and are listed separately. A rural fee applies only in ZIP codes on the CMS rural ZIP list.

DMEPOS fees for L1971 by modifier
ModifierFloor / ceilingNon-rural state rangeRural rangeAK / HI / PR / VI
none$514.60 / $686.13$562.23 (AZ, CA, CT…) to $582.34 (CO, MT, ND…)—AK $562.23, HI $562.23, PR $618.47, VI $618.47

Hospital outpatient (OPPS Addendum B)

Status indicator A (Services not paid under OPPS; paid under fee schedule or other payment system), with no separate OPPS payment rate.

Medically Unlikely Edits for L1971

MUE limits for L1971: practitioner 0 (MAI 3, CMS Policy); hospital outpatient 2 (MAI 2, Anatomic Consideration); DME supplier 2 (MAI 2, Anatomic Consideration). The DME supplier MUE is a date-of-service policy edit: units above the limit deny even when split across lines, and appeals rarely succeed.

MUE values for L1971 by setting
SettingMUE (units/DOS)MAICMS rationale
Practitioner services03 Date of Service Edit: ClinicalCMS Policy
Facility outpatient hospital22 Date of Service Edit: PolicyAnatomic Consideration
DME supplier22 Date of Service Edit: PolicyAnatomic Consideration

The MUE lookup for L1971 shows every setting next to any other code on the same claim.

NCCI edits and add-on rules

No active practitioner PTP pair lists L1971 in v323r0.

L1971 is neither an add-on code nor a designated primary code in the 2026 Q4 NCCI add-on edit file.

Pair counts show exposure, not the answer for one claim. Check L1971 against a second code to see whether the pair bundles and whether a modifier can separate the services.

Medicare coverage policies for L1971

1 active Local Coverage Determination and 0 billing and coding articles list L1971. Each applies only in its contractor's jurisdiction, and the article carries the diagnosis codes that support the item or service.

Denials to expect on L1971

CARC 50 · N115

the diagnosis or documentation does not meet the LCD or billing article that lists L1971

CARC 151 · N362

units of L1971 exceed the DME supplier MUE of 2 per date of service

CARC 4

the modifier reported is inconsistent with the code

CARC 16

the claim lacks information needed to adjudicate the line, such as an order, NPI or required modifier

Prior authorization in Original Medicare

  • Newly enrolled DMEPOS suppliers, and suppliers after certain changes of ownership, need prior authorization for this item during their probationary year, for enrollments approved on or after October 15, 2026. CMS service group: Orthoses.

Medicare Advantage plans run their own prior authorization lists. See this code on the Medicare prior authorization list.

Where QuickIntell fits for L1971 claims

QuickAuth coordinates the requirement checks and documentation that DME claims for L1971 depend on, with human review of each case, and QuickRCM carries claim readiness and the CARC 50, 151 and modifier denials these items draw.

See QuickAuth for requirement checksSee QuickRCM for denial follow-upBook a meeting

Frequently asked questions: HCPCS L1971

What does HCPCS code L1971 describe?

"Ankle foot orthosis, plastic or other material with ankle joint, with or without dorsiflexion assist, prefabricated, item that has been trimmed, bent, molded, assembled, or otherwise customized to fit a specific patient by an individual with expertise" (short descriptor "Ankl foot ortho, customi fit"), in the L section (orthotic and prosthetic procedures and devices). Added 2004-01-01; last action C (long description changed) effective 2026-10-01.

Is L1971 a CPT code?

No: CMS maintains L1971 in HCPCS Level II, while the AMA maintains CPT. People do search "L1971 CPT code", and it goes in the same procedure-code field.

What does Medicare pay for L1971?

L1971 is paid from the DMEPOS fee schedule as prosthetics and orthotics (PO): $562.23 in AZ, CA, CT and 17 more to $582.34 in CO, MT, ND and 3 more (floor $514.60, ceiling $686.13), October 2026.

How many units of L1971 can be billed per day?

MUE limits for L1971: practitioner 0 (MAI 3, CMS Policy); hospital outpatient 2 (MAI 2, Anatomic Consideration); DME supplier 2 (MAI 2, Anatomic Consideration). For the DME supplier MUE (MAI 2), units above 2 deny for the whole day as a policy limit; denials arrive as CARC 151.

Does Medicare cover L1971?

Coverage code C (carrier judgment, so the Medicare contractor decides coverage). 1 active LCD lists L1971: L33686 (Ankle-Foot/Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthosis).

Sources

Every figure on this page is taken from the CMS publications below, as released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Projection built 2026-10-10. Verify against the primary file before billing or contracting decisions. The reference methodology explains how each figure is computed from these files.

Disclaimer

This page is an operational reference compiled from CMS publications: the HCPCS Level II file, the physician, DMEPOS and clinical laboratory fee schedules, OPPS and ASC addenda, NCCI MUE, PTP and add-on edit tables and the Medicare Coverage Database. Amounts are Medicare national figures before locality and state adjustment; Medicaid and commercial payers set their own. CPT codes are shown as numbers only; CPT descriptors are copyright AMA. Nothing here is legal, clinical or billing advice.

Found a figure that does not match the CMS file? Report a data correction with the CMS file and the value you expected; the request reaches the editorial team through the contact form.