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General coding and coverage information from public Medicare documents; it is not medical or billing advice for an individual patient or claim.
Short answer
E0260 is the HCPCS code for a semi-electric hospital bed. Under Medicare policy article A52508, a mattress (E0271, E0272) or bedside rails (E0305, E0310) supplied at the same time are included in the E0260 allowance and must not be billed separately. Coverage depends on the beneficiary’s condition under LCD L33820.
What E0260 covers
LCD L33820, Hospital Beds and Accessories, lists five semi-electric bed codes: E0260, E0261, E0294, E0295 and E0329. E0260 is the entry in that group that article A52508 uses as the Column I code for the mattress and rail bundle. For the full coverage table by bed type, see hospital bed Medicare requirements; for how adjustable-height beds are classified, see hi-lo beds. For the wider code family, see DME HCPCS codes.
What is included in the E0260 allowance
Article A52508 pairs Column I codes with Column II codes. It states that a Column II code is included in the allowance for the corresponding Column I code when provided at the same time, and must not be billed separately. For E0260, the Column II codes are:
| Column II code | Item | Billed separately with E0260? |
|---|---|---|
| E0271 | Mattress, innerspring | No, included in the allowance |
| E0272 | Mattress, foam rubber | No, included in the allowance |
| E0305 | Bedside rails, half-length | No, included in the allowance |
| E0310 | Bedside rails, full-length | No, included in the allowance |
The article adds that when a mattress or bedside rails are provided at the same time as a hospital bed, the supplier uses the single code that combines these items.
Can E0260 and E0277 be billed together?
The bundling table in A52508 names only E0271, E0272, E0305 and E0310 as folded into E0260. E0277 is not in that table, so it is not one of the items the article says is included in the E0260 allowance. Neither A52508 nor LCD L33820 states a rule for billing E0277 on the same claim as E0260. A pressure-reducing support surface is judged under its own policy, LCD L33642 (Pressure Reducing Support Surfaces, Group 2). A combined claim has to meet that policy on its own, separately from the bed criteria; confirm with the DME MAC.
Medicare guidelines for semi-electric hospital beds
LCD L33820 requires that the beneficiary meet one of the fixed-height-bed criteria and, for a semi-electric bed, that the beneficiary “requires frequent changes in body position and/or has an immediate need for a change in body position.” Article A52508 also states that specified HCPCS codes require a face-to-face encounter and a Written Order Prior to Delivery (WOPD), and that a claim missing them is denied as not reasonable and necessary. Standard documentation requirements sit in article A55426.
Does Medicare cover a Halo bed rail?
The policies classify rails by code and length, not by product name: E0305 is a half-length bedside rail and E0310 a full-length one. LCD L33820 states that side rails (E0305, E0310) or safety enclosures (E0316) are covered when they are required by the beneficiary’s condition, and that they must be an integral part of, or an accessory to, a covered hospital bed. When rails are delivered with an E0260 bed, they fall inside the bed’s allowance as shown above.
Documentation checklist for an E0260 claim
- Record which fixed-height-bed criterion the beneficiary meets and the need for frequent or immediate position changes (LCD L33820).
- Hold the face-to-face encounter record and the Written Order Prior to Delivery (A52508).
- Add the KX, GA or GZ modifier as applicable; claim lines without one are rejected as missing information (A52508).
- Do not add separate lines for a mattress or rails delivered with the bed (A52508).
- Follow the standard documentation requirements in article A55426. For modifier background, see modifiers for DME.
Common misunderstandings
- Rails and mattress are extra lines. When supplied with the bed at the same time, A52508 includes them in the E0260 allowance.
- Any bed accessory follows the bed code. Only the Column II codes the article lists are bundled; that statement does not extend to other items.
- The code alone establishes coverage. Coverage turns on the beneficiary’s condition and documentation, as in the checklist above.
FAQ
Can E0260 and E0277 be billed together?
The sources do not state a rule. E0277 is not among the codes A52508 bundles into E0260, and a support surface is assessed under its own policy, LCD L33642.
What are the Medicare guidelines for semi-electric hospital beds?
A fixed-height-bed criterion plus a need for frequent or immediate position changes (LCD L33820), supported by a face-to-face encounter and a written order prior to delivery (A52508).
Does Medicare cover a Halo bed rail?
Rails are coded E0305 (half-length) or E0310 (full-length) and are covered when required by the beneficiary’s condition and part of or an accessory to a covered bed (LCD L33820).
Sources
- CMS Medicare Coverage Database, LCD L33820 Hospital Beds and Accessories: https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/view/lcd.aspx?lcdid=33820 (checked 2026-11-01)
- CMS Medicare Coverage Database, Policy Article A52508 Hospital Beds and Accessories: https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/details/article-details.aspx?articleid=52508 (checked 2026-11-01)
- CMS Medicare Coverage Database, LCD L33642 Pressure Reducing Support Surfaces – Group 2: https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/view/lcd.aspx?lcdid=33642 (checked 2026-11-01)
