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Commode chairs are billed under HCPCS Level II codes E0163, E0165, E0167, E0168, E0170 and E0171, with E0175 for a footrest. Under Medicare’s commode policy, some of these codes are bundled into others, and a modifier is required on every claim line. The code that fits is set by the CMS descriptor, not by the product’s brand name or catalogue label.
This page describes billing codes and general coverage rules; it is not medical advice and does not recommend a product for any individual.
Who this is for: clinic billing staff, equipment coordinators and students who need to match a commode chair to the right code, understand which codes are paid together, and know what a Medicare supplier must have on file.
Short answer: which HCPCS code is a commode?
It depends on the features. E0163 is a commode chair with fixed arms, E0165 has detachable arms, E0168 is the extra wide and/or heavy duty chair, and E0170 and E0171 are commode chairs with an integrated seat lift (electric and non-electric). E0167 is the replacement pail or pan. Source: CMS HCPCS Level II Alpha-Numeric file, October 2026 (updated 09/23/2026).
Definition and scope
HCPCS Level II is the code set CMS publishes for equipment and supplies, and Medicare’s commode policy is set out in an LCD and its companion policy article. This page covers the commode chair codes and the three nearby codes that are often confused with them: E0172 (toilet seat lift), E0244 (raised toilet seat) and E0175 (footrest). For the product types themselves, see what a bedside commode is; for the wider code family, see the durable medical equipment list.
Commode codes and what CMS says about each
Descriptors are quoted from the CMS October 2026 Alpha-Numeric HCPCS file. The right-hand columns come from LCD L33736 and Medicare Policy Article A52461 (Commodes), revision effective 01/01/2020, checked 2026-10-30.
| Code | CMS long descriptor | Policy wording | Bundled into (Column II) |
|---|---|---|---|
| E0163 | Commode chair, mobile or stationary, with fixed arms | See bundling rule below | E0167 |
| E0165 | Commode chair, mobile or stationary, with detachable arms | Addressed in LCD L33736 | E0167 |
| E0167 | Pail or pan for use with commode chair, replacement only | Column II code: included in the allowance for the chair when provided at the same time | Not applicable |
| E0168 | Commode chair, extra wide and/or heavy duty, stationary or mobile, with or without arms, any type, each | Width greater than or equal to 23 inches | E0167 |
| E0170 | Commode chair with integrated seat lift mechanism, electric, any type | Free-standing device with a commode pan and an integrated seat that can be raised | E0167, E0627, E0629 |
| E0171 | Commode chair with integrated seat lift mechanism, non-electric, any type | Same wording as E0170 | E0167, E0627, E0629 |
| E0175 | Foot rest, for use with commode chair, each | Non-covered because it is not medical in nature | Not applicable |
How the codes are used in practice
The coverage test
Local Coverage Determination L33736 (Commodes, effective 10/01/2015, revised 01/01/2020) sets the Medicare coverage test for commodes, and Article A52461 sets the billing and modifier rules that go with it. The conditions are applied to each claim by the ordering clinician and the supplier; this page does not assess whether any person meets them.
Modifier logic
Article A52461 sets out which modifier goes on the claim line:
- Use KX only when all coverage criteria in the policy are met. See HCPCS modifier KX.
- When the criteria are not met, use GA if a valid advance beneficiary notice is on file or GZ if none is. See GA, GY and GZ compared.
- When a commode is used as a raised toilet seat over the toilet, add GY, and do not use KX, GA or GZ.
- Claim lines billed without GA, GY, GZ or KX are rejected as missing information.
Documentation
The LCD requires a Standard Written Order to be communicated to the supplier before a claim is submitted, and proof of delivery must be available on request.
Related codes that are not commode chairs
- E0172, “Seat lift mechanism placed over or on top of toilet, any type.” Article A52461 describes it as a device with a seat that can be raised, with or without a forward tilt, that attaches to the toilet.
- E0244, “Raised toilet seat,” which the article describes as a device that adds height to the toilet seat.
- E0240, the bath/shower chair, is a different product family. See shower chair HCPCS codes.
Where it matters for clinics and supply decisions
A short checklist, each item drawn from LCD L33736 or Article A52461:
- Is a Standard Written Order in the file before the claim goes out?
- Is proof of delivery retrievable on request?
- For E0168: does the chair meet the width of 23 inches or more that Article A52461 gives for this code?
- For E0165, E0170 and E0171: do the coverage conditions in LCD L33736 for that feature appear in the clinician’s documentation?
- Is the right modifier (KX, GA, GY or GZ) on every line?
- Is a pail or pan billed with a chair at the same time? Under the bundling rule it is included in the chair’s allowance.
The article directs suppliers to the Pricing, Data Analysis and Coding (PDAC) contractor for coding guidance on a specific product. For the contractor structure behind these policies, see DME MACs.
Common misunderstandings
- “A commode and a raised toilet seat are the same code.” They are not: E0244 is the raised toilet seat. A commode chair placed over a toilet is billed with the GY modifier under the policy.
- “A footrest is paid with the chair.” E0175 is non-covered because it is not medical in nature.
- “The pan is a separate paid item.” When supplied with the chair at the same time, E0167 is included in the chair’s allowance.
- “Any modifier will do.” A line without GA, GY, GZ or KX is rejected.
- “Bidet seats are covered.” The LCD lists bidets and bidet toilet seats as non-covered.
FAQ
What are the different types of bedside commodes?
In the HCPCS code set, the types are a chair with fixed arms (E0163), with detachable arms (E0165), extra wide and/or heavy duty (E0168), and with an integrated seat lift, electric (E0170) or non-electric (E0171). Product types outside billing are described in what is a bedside commode.
How to choose a bedside commode?
This page gives no individual advice, and a clinician decides what suits a person. For billing, the code follows the product’s features: arm type, width, and whether it has a seat lift. Article A52461 gives the extra wide and/or heavy duty chair (E0168) a width of 23 inches or more.
Can a bedside commode go over a toilet?
Yes. Article A52461 addresses a commode used as a raised toilet seat over the toilet: the GY modifier must be added, and KX, GA or GZ must not be used.
Sources
- CMS, Medicare Coverage Database, LCD L33736 Commodes: cms.gov LCD L33736 (checked 2026-10-30).
- CMS, Medicare Coverage Database, Policy Article A52461 Commodes, revision R7 effective 01/01/2020: cms.gov Article A52461 (checked 2026-10-30).
- CMS, HCPCS Level II Alpha-Numeric file, October 2026 quarterly update (updated 09/23/2026): October 2026 Alpha-Numeric HCPCS file (checked 2026-10-30).
