L1821 — Knee orthosis, elastic with condylar pads and joints, with or without patellar control, prefabricated, off the shelf
HCPCS Level II L-code · short descriptor: “Ko elas w/ condyle pads otf”
- Code system
- HCPCS Level II
- Family
- L — Orthotics & prosthetics
- Medicare coverage status
- Carrier judgment — coverage decided by the DME MAC
- DMEPOS payment category
- Prosthetics & orthotics
- Prior authorization
- Not on Medicare required-PA list
- Face-to-face & WOPD
- Not on the required list
- MUE unit limit
- 2
- Status
- Active (HCPCS Level II October 2026)
Prior authorization
Not on the Medicare required-PA list (CMS Required Prior Authorization List — 74 items in force on 2026-10-25; 8 more from 2026-10-28; sources: CMS list updated 2026-01-13, CMS-6109-N (91 FR 47972)). Medicare Advantage and commercial plans set their own prior-authorization rules for this code — verify per plan before delivery.
Order readiness — what the written order must contain
Every Medicare DMEPOS claim needs a Standard Written Order with all six elements (42 CFR 410.38(d)):
- Beneficiary name or Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) (42 CFR 410.38(d)(1)(i)(A))
- General description of the item (42 CFR 410.38(d)(1)(i)(B))
- Quantity to be dispensed, if applicable (42 CFR 410.38(d)(1)(i)(C))
- Order date (42 CFR 410.38(d)(1)(i)(D))
- Treating practitioner name or NPI (42 CFR 410.38(d)(1)(i)(E))
- Treating practitioner signature (42 CFR 410.38(d)(1)(i)(F))
Not on the F2F/WOPD list (CMS Required F2F & WOPD List — 83 items in force on 2026-10-25; 22 more from 2026-10-28; sources: CMS list effective 2026-04-13 (91 FR 1250), CMS-6109-N (91 FR 47972)). The standard written order must reach the supplier before claim submission.
Blank requirements checklist only — MyMedi-AI never collects or stores completed orders.
L1821 Medicare fee schedule (October 2026)
Base (no modifier) Prosthetics & orthotics
Medicare allowable ranges from $148.99 to $194.23 depending on state and rural status.
Former-CBA payment limits: ceiling $198.66 · floor $148.99
| State | Non-rural | Rural |
|---|---|---|
| AK | $181.64 | — |
| AL | $148.99 | — |
| AR | $165.33 | — |
| AZ | $181.78 | — |
| CA | $181.78 | — |
| CO | $162.95 | — |
| CT | $174.92 | — |
| DC | $175.32 | — |
| DE | $175.32 | — |
| FL | $148.99 | — |
| GA | $148.99 | — |
| HI | $194.23 | — |
| IA | $152.53 | — |
| ID | $165.77 | — |
| IL | $174.65 | — |
| IN | $174.65 | — |
| KS | $152.53 | — |
| KY | $148.99 | — |
| LA | $165.33 | — |
| MA | $174.92 | — |
| MD | $175.32 | — |
| ME | $174.92 | — |
| MI | $174.65 | — |
| MN | $174.65 | — |
| MO | $152.53 | — |
| MS | $148.99 | — |
| MT | $162.95 | — |
| NC | $148.99 | — |
| ND | $162.95 | — |
| NE | $152.53 | — |
| NH | $174.92 | — |
| NJ | $169.15 | — |
| NM | $165.33 | — |
| NV | $181.78 | — |
| NY | $169.15 | — |
| OH | $174.65 | — |
| OK | $165.33 | — |
| OR | $165.77 | — |
| PA | $175.32 | — |
| PR | $173.77 | — |
| RI | $174.92 | — |
| SC | $148.99 | — |
| SD | $162.95 | — |
| TN | $148.99 | — |
| TX | $165.33 | — |
| UT | $162.95 | — |
| VA | $175.32 | — |
| VI | $169.15 | — |
| VT | $174.92 | — |
| WA | $165.77 | — |
| WI | $174.65 | — |
| WV | $175.32 | — |
| WY | $162.95 | — |
Unit limit (MUE)
Medicare's Medically Unlikely Edit caps L1821 at 2 units per date of service (absolute). Units above the MUE deny — typically as CO-151. Rationale: Anatomic Consideration.
Common denial codes to watch
Related L-codes
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