DDMEAtlasReference
Equipment

Hospital beds

Understand the equipment first. Then connect its features to the right code and coverage policy.

On this page
EQUIPMENT OVERVIEW

A bed designed for care at home

Hospital-bed features vary. Compare positioning controls, included accessories and the exact item prescribed with your supplier.

Illustration of an unbranded home hospital bed with mattress and side railsAI-generated equipment illustration · Not a verified product model or safety setup

Start with the adjustment type

TypeKey distinctionNext check
Fixed heightBed height is fixedApplicable coverage criteria
Variable heightBed height can changeWhy height adjustment is needed
Semi-electricPowered head and leg positioning; manual height adjustmentE0260 reference
Total electricPowered positioning and height adjustmentCMS treats powered height adjustment as a convenience feature; total-electric beds are not covered under this policy

These are equipment distinctions, not an eligibility test. See the CMS policy for the exact covered configurations.

Before arranging a bed

  1. Discuss the need with your treating provider.

    Ask which positioning features are necessary for your care.

  2. Confirm the supplied configuration.

    Ask whether the mattress and rails are included and which code the supplier plans to bill.

  3. Get a written cost explanation.

    Ask about rental terms, assignment and any upgrade charges before delivery.

Looking for Medicare eligibility?

The coverage guide separates general Part B rules from equipment-specific policy.

Read the hospital-bed coverage guide

Policy versions used in this reference

CMS source snapshot checked September 30, 2026. Version, effective date and source update date are separate fields. Confirm the edition applicable to the date of service.

Policy / CMS versionRevision labelRevision effective dateSource updated
L33820 · v21R62020-01-012020-02-13
A52508 · v39R72020-01-012022-04-07
A55426 · v132R282024-01-012026-06-24
NCD 280.7 · v1Not displayedNot posted by CMS2022-10-04

NCD 280.7 is a national policy. CMS has not posted its effective date; no date is inferred. Its version and update date come from CMS embedded document metadata. LCD/article versions are also checked against the public version table. An open ending date does not guarantee future applicability.

Applicable jurisdiction

NCD 280.7 provides the national coverage layer. L33820, A52508 and A55426 list the following DME MAC contracts and state/territory scopes. This reference summarizes Original Medicare; Medicare Advantage plan requirements need separate confirmation.

J-A · Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC · Contract 16013

CT, DE, DC, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT

J-B · CGS Administrators, LLC · Contract 17013

IL, IN, KY, MI, MN, OH, WI

J-C · CGS Administrators, LLC · Contract 18003

AL, AR, CO, FL, GA, LA, MS, NM, NC, OK, PR, SC, TN, TX, VI, VA, WV

J-D · Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC · Contract 19003

AK, AS, AZ, CA, GU, HI, ID, IA, KS, MO, MT, NE, NV, ND, MP, OR, SD, UT, WA, WY

DME MAC policy jurisdiction is separate from fee-schedule Former CBA and rural ZIP geography. The fee lookup does not select or approve a coverage policy.

Order and documentation context

  • A55426 requires a standard written order (SWO) before a claim is submitted, supporting medical records, and supplier proof-of-delivery records. Item-specific LCD and policy-article requirements must also be checked.
  • Face-to-face encounter and written-order-prior-to-delivery (WOPD) rules apply to selected items on the applicable required list; they are not a blanket requirement for all hospital-bed codes.
  • The CMS E0260 status page, observed September 30, 2026, says “No” for prior authorization and F2F/WOPD. This observation is not a historical determination and does not waive SWO or coverage requirements.
  • NCD 280.7 section D adds the ability to operate powered controls, with specified exceptions, to the frequent/immediate-positioning context. Read the full NCD and LCD rather than using this summary as an eligibility checklist.

The currently linked CMS required-list PDF is effective October 28, 2026. It is retained as future evidence and is not applied to the July–September 2026 fee preview.

Editorial review record

Source check
Completed by Codex (automated assistant)
2026-09-30T05:14:48.835125+00:00
Recorded review
Evan · September 30, 2026 · All 12 checklist items approved, including fee calculations and billing rules
Record ID
sample-bed-20260930-01
Release status
Public reference published · Fixed Q3 snapshot

The review approval was supplied by Evan for Site V5 and its fixed Q3 snapshot. Reviewer credentials were not supplied; no professional qualification is inferred. The original source-check record is preserved below. This summary does not determine individual coverage or payment.

  • Recorded exact CMS versions and separated effective/update/check dates.
  • Added national and four DME MAC jurisdiction scopes.
  • Qualified selected-item F2F/WOPD rules and added observed E0260 status.
  • Preserved missing NCD effective date and the original pending-review source-check record; Evan subsequently approved the fixed snapshot.

Official sources

Source checks: September 29–30, 2026. This is not a policy effective date or a clinical review. Confirm the current source and applicable version before use.

Medicare.gov · Hospital beds

General Part B eligibility and patient cost-sharing.

CMS · Hospital Beds and Accessories, L33820

Equipment-specific criteria; check the version applicable to the date of service.

CMS · Hospital-bed coding policy, A52508

Definitions and coding guidance; check the applicable version.

CMS · Hospital beds provider guidance

Coverage and documentation summary, including electric-bed limitations.

CMS · July 2026 HCPCS code file

Official quarterly code file; this preview imports E0260 only. The code does not establish coverage or payment.