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The HCPCS code for a lift chair depends on how the chair is billed: Medicare’s policy article bills the seat lift mechanism with E0627 (electrically operated) or E0629 (manually operated), and the chair itself with A9270 when the mechanism is built into the chair as a complete unit. This page is for billing staff, suppliers and buyers who need to read a lift chair claim line (also searched as the lift chair HCPCS code) and know which part of it the Medicare criteria attach to.
Which HCPCS code applies to a lift chair?
There is no single code for the whole chair. In CMS Policy Article A52518, “A seat lift mechanism that is electrically operated is billed using HCPCS code E0627” and “A manually operated seat lift mechanism is billed using HCPCS code E0629.” When the mechanism is incorporated into a chair as a complete unit at purchase, “the supplier may bill the seat lift mechanism using E0627 or E0629, and bill A9270 for the chair.” (Article revision effective 07/02/2023; checked 2026-11-01.)
How a lift chair is split into mechanism and chair on a claim
A lift chair arrives as one piece of furniture, but the claim has two lines. The mechanism line (E0627 or E0629) is the item the Medicare seat lift policy covers. The chair line (A9270) is the chair that houses it. Reading a quote or claim therefore means asking which line is which, rather than looking for one lift chair code.
E0627, E0629 and A9270 compared
| Code | What the article says it bills | Key difference |
|---|---|---|
| E0627 | A seat lift mechanism that is electrically operated | Powered mechanism |
| E0629 | A manually operated seat lift mechanism | Operated by hand, not electrically |
| A9270 | The chair, when the mechanism is part of a complete unit at purchase | Billed separately from the mechanism |
Source: CMS Policy Article A52518, Seat Lift Mechanisms. The article’s revision history lists E0628 as removed (Revision R3, effective 01/01/2017), so it is not a current code for this item. The official long descriptors are licensed text; use the code set you subscribe to for them.
What the Medicare policy attaches to the mechanism (LCD L33801)
Local Coverage Determination L33801, Seat Lift Mechanisms, sets four coverage criteria for the mechanism. They concern the beneficiary’s documented condition and function and the treating practitioner’s course of treatment; they are not a statement about any individual’s eligibility, and the LCD itself should be read for the exact wording. For billing, what matters is that the criteria attach to the mechanism line (E0627 or E0629), not to the chair line.
The LCD also limits coverage by product type: mechanisms must operate smoothly, be controllable by the beneficiary and assist standing and sitting without other help. The type of lift that operates by spring release is excluded. (DME MAC LCD, current revision effective for services on or after 07/02/2023; checked 2026-11-01.)
Modifiers KX, GA and GZ
| Modifier | Use under A52518 |
|---|---|
| KX | Added to seat lift mechanism lines only if all the coverage criteria are met |
| GA | Added when criteria are not all met and an executed ABN is on file |
| GZ | Added when criteria are not all met and there is no valid ABN |
The article states that “claim lines billed with codes without a KX, GA or GZ modifier will be rejected as missing information.” For how GA and GZ differ, see modifiers GX, GY and GZ against GA.
Lift chair vs patient lift vs toilet seat lift
Three different products are easily confused. A lift chair raises a seated person to standing and is billed as described above. A patient lift moves a person between surfaces; its codes are on the Hoyer lift HCPCS code page. A toilet seat lift is a bathroom item discussed on the commode HCPCS code page. For the wider code families, see DME HCPCS codes; for the paperwork background, see what a CMN is.
Common coding mistakes
- Billing the whole chair under the mechanism code, when A9270 is the line for the chair.
- Choosing between E0627 and E0629 without checking whether the mechanism is electrically or manually operated.
- Leaving off KX, GA or GZ, which the article says leads to rejection as missing information.
- Using the removed code E0628.
FAQ
What is the lift chair HCPCS code?
E0627 for an electrically operated seat lift mechanism, E0629 for a manually operated one, and A9270 for the chair when billed with a built-in mechanism, per CMS Policy Article A52518.
Does the Medicare policy cover the chair?
The seat lift policy addresses the mechanism. The article gives A9270 as the separate line for the chair.
Is E0628 still a current seat lift code?
No. Policy Article A52518 lists HCPCS code E0628 as removed in revision R3, effective 01/01/2017.
What happens if a seat lift claim line has no KX, GA or GZ modifier?
The article states such lines will be rejected as missing information.
Sources
- CMS Medicare Coverage Database, LCD L33801 Seat Lift Mechanisms, checked 2026-11-01.
- CMS Medicare Coverage Database, Policy Article A52518 Seat Lift Mechanisms, checked 2026-11-01.
