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This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
Ambulatory aids (also called ambulation aids) are the canes, crutches and walkers that support a person who has difficulty walking. This guide is for clinic staff, billing teams and students who need one clear reference for the class: what the term covers, how the three device families are coded and covered by Medicare, and which thresholds change the answer.
What are ambulatory aids?
“Ambulation aid” is a collective term for a cane, a crutch or a walker. That is the definition used in Ohio’s Medicaid rule for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS) ambulation aids (Ohio Administrative Code 5160-10-30, checked 2026-10-30). Note that this is one state’s Medicaid rule, not a national definition; it is cited here because it states the grouping plainly.
Who uses this reference: the clinicians, suppliers and billing staff who prescribe, document and bill for these devices.
Types of ambulatory aids and how each is coded
Medicare covers the three families under two Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs): L33733 for canes and crutches and L33791 for walkers, both published in the CMS Medicare Coverage Database (checked 2026-10-30). HCPCS codes below are those named in the LCDs.
| Device class | HCPCS codes named in the LCD | Coverage position in the source |
|---|---|---|
| Cane | E0100, E0105 | Covered only when all three criteria in LCD L33733 are met (see below) |
| Crutch | E0110, E0111, E0112, E0113, E0114, E0116 | Same three criteria as canes (LCD L33733) |
| Underarm articulating spring-assisted crutch | E0117 | Medical necessity “has not been established”; denied (LCD L33733) |
| Standard walker | E0130, E0135, E0141, E0143 | Covered when the walker criteria in LCD L33791 are met |
| Heavy-duty walker | E0148, E0149 | Standard walker criteria plus the beneficiary weighs more than 300 lb (LCD L33791) |
| Heavy-duty multiple-braking, variable wheel resistance walker | E0147 | Only if a standard walker cannot be used because of a severe neurologic disorder or a condition restricting use of one hand; obesity alone is not sufficient (LCD L33791) |
| Enclosed-frame walker | E0144 | Medical necessity not established under Medicare; denied (LCD L33791) |
| Walker with trunk support | E0140 | Standard criteria plus documentation of why the features are needed (LCD L33791) |
| Walker leg extensions | E0158 | Only if the beneficiary is 6 ft or taller (LCD L33791) |
For single-device detail, see our guides to canes, crutches, walkers and rollator uses.
What is the HCPCS code for crutches?
There is no single code. HCPCS Level II, the code set maintained by CMS, separates crutches by type and by whether the code covers a pair or one crutch. Medicare LCD L33733 names six crutch codes, and the descriptors below are the abbreviated descriptors published in the HCPCS data (NLM Clinical Tables, checked 2026-10-31).
| HCPCS code | Descriptor | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| E0110 | Crutch forearm pair | Pair |
| E0111 | Crutch forearm each | One crutch |
| E0112 | Crutch underarm pair wood | Pair |
| E0113 | Crutch underarm each wood | One crutch |
| E0114 | Crutch underarm pair no wood | Pair |
| E0116 | Crutch underarm each no wood | One crutch |
| E0117 | Underarm springassist crutch | Medicare denies this code as not established (LCD L33733) |
Canes use separate codes: E0100 (cane, adjustable or fixed, with tip) and E0105 (cane, adjustable or fixed, quad or three-prong). Add-on parts have their own codes, for example E0153 for a forearm crutch platform attachment. The coverage position for each crutch code is in the table above, and what are crutches covers the device itself.
What is the HCPCS code for a walker?
Again there is no single code: the code depends on the frame (rigid or folding), whether it has wheels, and any special feature. The descriptors below are the abbreviated HCPCS descriptors (NLM Clinical Tables, checked 2026-10-31); coverage positions come from Medicare LCD L33791.
| HCPCS code | Descriptor |
|---|---|
| E0130 | Walker rigid adjust/fixed ht |
| E0135 | Walker folding adjust/fixed |
| E0141 | Rigid wheeled walker adj/fix |
| E0143 | Walker folding wheeled (descriptor abbreviated in the data source) |
| E0140 | Walker w trunk support |
| E0144 | Enclosed walker w rear seat |
| E0147 | Walker variable wheel resist |
| E0148 | Heavyduty walker no wheels |
| E0149 | Heavy duty wheeled walker |
The four codes E0130, E0135, E0141 and E0143 are the “standard walker” codes in LCD L33791. Attachments and parts are coded separately: E0154 walker platform attachment, E0155 walker wheel attachment (pair), E0156 walker seat attachment, E0157 walker crutch attachment, E0158 walker leg extenders (set of four) and E0159 brake for a wheeled walker. A rollator is a wheeled walker; see rollator uses and what is a walker. Use the code that matches the exact product, and confirm it against the current HCPCS file and the supplier’s payer rules before billing.
Which thresholds and specifications matter?
Two numeric thresholds appear in the sources. A heavy-duty walker is tied to a user weight above 300 lb in Medicare LCD L33791; Ohio’s rule uses “at least 300 lb”. Walker leg extensions are tied to a user height of 6 ft or taller in both sources. For crutch fitting, see crutch sizes.
How do coverage criteria frame the choice of aid?
Under Medicare LCD L33733, a cane or crutch is covered only if all three of these are true:
- The beneficiary has a mobility limitation that significantly impairs the ability to take part in one or more mobility-related activities of daily living (MRADLs) in the home. The LCD lists toileting, feeding, dressing, grooming and bathing in customary locations. A limitation qualifies if it prevents the activity, places the person at heightened risk of harm, or prevents completion within a reasonable time.
- The beneficiary is able to use the cane or crutch safely.
- The functional mobility deficit can be sufficiently resolved by use of a cane or crutch.
LCD L33791 applies the same logic to standard walkers: a mobility limitation that significantly impairs participation in MRADLs in the home, safe use, and a deficit that a walker can resolve. Ohio’s Medicaid rule adds that the limitation must be documented in the medical record, the aid must be prescribed by a qualified practitioner, and the individual must be able to use it safely.
These are payer criteria, not clinical selection guidance. They show what documentation a payer expects; they do not say which device suits a particular person. A clinician makes that decision.
Cane vs crutches: how do the two device classes differ?
The clearest regulatory difference is the level of weight support each device is defined to provide. Under FDA’s classification regulations, a cane is “used to provide minimal weight support while walking” (21 CFR 890.3075), while a crutch is “for use by disabled persons to provide minimal to moderate weight support while walking” (21 CFR 890.3150). Both are Class I devices (general controls) and are exempt from premarket notification (FDA classification regulations via Cornell LII, checked 2026-10-31).
| Point of comparison | Cane | Crutch | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight support in the FDA definition | Minimal | Minimal to moderate | 21 CFR 890.3075; 21 CFR 890.3150 |
| Examples named in the regulation | Standard cane, forearm cane, cane with a tripod, quad or retractable stud on the ground end | None listed | 21 CFR 890.3075; 21 CFR 890.3150 |
| Medicare HCPCS codes | E0100, E0105 | E0110, E0111, E0112, E0113, E0114, E0116 (E0117 is denied) | LCD L33733 |
| Medicare coverage rule | One LCD, three criteria | The same LCD and the same three criteria | LCD L33733 |
For Medicare billing purposes the two are not separated: LCD L33733 covers both in one policy, with the same three criteria (a qualifying mobility limitation in the home, safe use, and a deficit that the device can resolve). Which device suits a particular person is a clinical decision for the prescriber, not something these sources answer. See also our single-device guides to canes and crutches.
Crutches vs walker: how do the two device classes differ?
FDA defines a mechanical walker as “a four-legged device with a metal frame intended for medical purposes to provide moderate weight support while walking”, used “by disabled persons who lack strength, good balance, or endurance” (21 CFR 890.3825). A crutch is defined at minimal to moderate weight support (21 CFR 890.3150). Like canes and crutches, mechanical walkers are Class I devices (checked 2026-10-31).
| Point of comparison | Crutch | Walker | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight support in the FDA definition | Minimal to moderate | Moderate | 21 CFR 890.3150; 21 CFR 890.3825 |
| Form in the FDA definition | Not described | Four-legged metal frame | 21 CFR 890.3150; 21 CFR 890.3825 |
| Medicare policy | LCD L33733 (canes and crutches) | LCD L33791 (walkers) | CMS Medicare Coverage Database |
| Medicare HCPCS codes | E0110 to E0114, E0116 (E0117 denied) | E0130, E0135, E0141, E0143, plus heavy-duty and special-feature codes | LCD L33733; LCD L33791 |
| Numeric thresholds in the policy | None named | More than 300 lb for heavy-duty walkers; 6 ft or taller for leg extensions | LCD L33791 |
| Written order | Standard Written Order required | Standard Written Order required | LCD L33733; LCD L33791 |
In coverage terms the walker policy is the more detailed of the two, with more coded variants and specific weight and height thresholds, while the crutch policy sits inside the shared cane and crutch LCD. Both require the same type of mobility-limitation documentation. Choosing between a crutch and a walker is a matter for the prescribing clinician. For the walker family, see walkers and rollator uses; for the wider range of devices, see types of mobility aids.
Safe use and handling basics
Safe use is a condition of coverage in every payer rule cited on this page, which is why prescribers document it. Selection and fitting are matters for the prescribing clinician and the device’s instructions for use. The single-device guides linked above go deeper on each family, and the durable medical equipment list places ambulatory aids among other home equipment.
Common mistakes
- Billing without a Standard Written Order. Both Medicare LCDs require one before billing; claims without it are denied.
- Assuming every variant is covered. Medicare treats the E0117 spring-assisted crutch and the E0144 enclosed-frame walker as not established. Ohio, by contrast, accepts an enclosed-frame walker when the prescriber attests in writing to medical necessity, so the answer depends on the payer.
- Using obesity alone to justify E0147. LCD L33791 says it is not sufficient.
- Treating one state’s rule as national. Ohio’s rule governs Ohio Medicaid only.
- Skipping documentation for add-ons. Trunk support (E0140) needs a documented reason for the feature; leg extensions (E0158) are tied to height.
For wider coverage context, see Medicare DME coverage.
Frequently asked questions
What are ambulatory aids?
The term covers canes, crutches and walkers. Ohio’s Medicaid rule defines “ambulation aid” as a collective term for a cane, crutch or walker.
Are ambulatory aids and ambulation aids the same thing?
Both terms are used for the same class of devices; Ohio’s rule uses “ambulation aid”.
Which HCPCS codes cover canes, crutches and walkers?
Medicare LCD L33733 names E0100 and E0105 for canes and E0110 to E0114 plus E0116 for crutches. LCD L33791 names E0130, E0135, E0141 and E0143 for standard walkers, with further codes for heavy-duty and special-feature walkers, as shown in the table above.
What is the HCPCS code for crutches?
Forearm crutches use E0110 (pair) and E0111 (each). Underarm wooden crutches use E0112 (pair) and E0113 (each), and underarm crutches that are not wood use E0114 (pair) and E0116 (each). E0117 is the underarm spring-assisted crutch, which Medicare denies as not established.
What is the HCPCS code for a walker?
Standard walkers use E0130 (rigid), E0135 (folding), E0141 (rigid wheeled) and E0143 (folding wheeled). Heavy-duty walkers use E0148 (no wheels) and E0149 (wheeled). E0140 is a walker with trunk support, E0144 an enclosed walker with rear seat and E0147 a walker with variable wheel resistance.
What weight and height thresholds apply?
Medicare covers a heavy-duty walker (E0148, E0149) for beneficiaries who weigh more than 300 lb, and walker leg extensions (E0158) only for beneficiaries 6 ft tall or more.
Does Medicare require a written order?
Yes. Both LCDs require a Standard Written Order to be communicated to the supplier before a claim is submitted.
What is the difference between a cane and a crutch?
FDA defines a cane as providing minimal weight support and a crutch as providing minimal to moderate weight support (21 CFR 890.3075 and 890.3150). Medicare codes them differently (E0100 and E0105 for canes; E0110 to E0116 for crutches) but covers both under the same LCD and the same three criteria.
What is the difference between crutches and a walker?
FDA defines a crutch at minimal to moderate weight support and a mechanical walker, a four-legged metal frame, at moderate weight support (21 CFR 890.3150 and 890.3825). Medicare covers them under separate policies: LCD L33733 for crutches and LCD L33791 for walkers, and only the walker policy names weight and height thresholds.
Which one should a person use?
That is a clinical decision for the prescribing clinician. This page covers definitions, codes and coverage criteria only.
Sources
- Ohio Administrative Code 5160-10-30, “DMEPOS: ambulation aids”, Legal Information Institute, law.cornell.edu, checked 2026-10-30.
- CMS Medicare Coverage Database, LCD L33791 “Walkers” (revision R5 effective 2026-10-01), cms.gov, checked 2026-10-30.
- CMS Medicare Coverage Database, LCD L33733 “Canes and Crutches” (revision effective 2020-01-01), cms.gov, checked 2026-10-30.
- NLM Clinical Tables, HCPCS Level II code search (CMS HCPCS descriptors), https://clinicaltables.nlm.nih.gov/apidoc/hcpcs/v3/doc.html, checked 2026-10-31.
- CMS, Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS), https://www.cms.gov/medicare/coding-billing/healthcare-common-procedure-system, checked 2026-10-31.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration device classification regulations, 21 CFR 890.3075 “Cane”, 21 CFR 890.3150 “Crutch” and 21 CFR 890.3825 “Mechanical walker”, https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/21/890.3075, https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/21/890.3150 and https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/21/890.3825, checked 2026-10-31.
