The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the new HCPCS codes for 2017, and there were only a few minor changes.
The biggest change was the deletion of the temporary K codes (K0901 & K0902), which became effective on October 1, 2014, to describe off the shelf (OTS) versions of custom fitted knee orthoses described by L1843 and L1845, and their subsequent crosswalk to new permanent L codes (L1851 & L1852).
Below is a complete breakdown of the code changes which will be effective for claims with a date of service on or after January 1, 2017.
New Codes
| Code | Descriptor |
| A4467 | Belt, strap, sleeve, garment, or covering, any type |
| A9285 | Inversion/eversion correction device |
| L1851 | Knee orthosis (KO), single upright, thigh and calf, with adjustable flexion and extension joint (unicentric or polycentric), medial-lateral and rotation control, with or without varus/valgus adjustment, prefabricated, off-the-shelf |
| L1852 | Knee orthosis (KO), double upright, thigh and calf, with adjustable flexion and extension joint (unicentric or polycentric), medial-lateral and rotation control, with or without varus/valgus adjustment, prefabricated, off-the-shelf |
Changes in Code Descriptors
| Code | New Descriptor | Old Descriptor |
| L1906 | Ankle foot orthosis, multiligamentous ankle support, prefabricated, off-the-shelf | AFO, multiligamentous ankle support, prefabricated, off-the-shelf |
Deleted Codes
| Code | Descriptor |
| A4466 | Garment, belt, sleeve or other covering, elastic or similar stretchable material, any type, each |
| K0901 | Knee orthosis (ko), single upright, thigh and calf, with adjustable flexion and extension joint (unicentric or polycentric), medial-lateral and rotation control, with or without varus/valgus adjustment, prefabricated, off-the-shelf |
| K0902 | Knee orthosis (ko), double upright, thigh and calf, with adjustable flexion and extension joint (unicentric or polycentric), medial-lateral and rotation control, with or without varus/valgus adjustment, prefabricated, off-the-shelf |
AOPA‘s Coding and Reimbursement Committee will review the list of changes and provide appropriate comments to CMS.
As a reminder registration is still open for the December 14, 2016 AOPAversity webinar, New Codes & What Lies Ahead for 2017, which will focus on the changes to the HCPCS codes and any other upcoming Medicare changes which may impact your business in 2017.
Questions regarding the code changes may be directed to Joe McTernan at jmcternan@AOPAnet.org , or Devon Bernard at dbernard@AOPAnet.org.