Crutch HCPCS Codes: E0110 vs. E0117 for Work Injuries

If you want to understand why one crutch gets approved without a fuss and another gets questioned, you have to understand the billing codes. They are called HCPCS codes, and for crutches there are only a handful. Knowing them helps you, your doctor, and your supplier speak the same language and get the right equipment authorized. This one is a little technical, but it is the post that saves headaches.

What HCPCS codes are

HCPCS codes are the standardized codes that insurers, including workers' comp payers, use to identify a specific piece of equipment for billing. Every crutch type has one. The code, not the brand name, is what drives whether and how something is covered.

The crutch codes that matter

The one that trips people up: E0117

E0117 is the code for the articulating, spring-assisted underarm crutch. It is the premium category, and that is exactly why it gets scrutiny. Many workers' comp and federal fee schedules treat E0117 as carrying special or limited coverage rather than automatic payment, the same way Medicare does. Translation: the spring-assisted underarm model is the one most likely to need extra medical-necessity documentation, or to come through a self-purchase-and-reimbursement route.

Why E0110 is the smooth path

The forearm code, E0110, is treated as standard durable medical equipment and is reliably covered. For a work injury, that conveniently lines up with the clinically smarter choice, because forearm crutches remove the armpit pressure that causes crutch palsy. So the code that is easiest to get approved is also the one that protects you from a secondary nerve injury. That is a rare win-win in the DME world.

What this means for your prescription

If you want a smooth approval and a safer crutch, aim for E0110, the forearm model, and have it written as medically necessary. If you specifically want the spring-assisted underarm model, expect to either document the medical reason for the upgraded feature or buy it and submit for reimbursement. Either way, get the code right on the paperwork so it does not bounce.

A note for clinics and suppliers

If you dispense crutches in an orthopedic office, surgery center, or DME operation, the same logic applies on your side. Billing the forearm code for an in-office dispense of a forearm crutch is clean. The articulating spring-assisted code needs documentation to support it. Getting this right reduces denials and rework, and it is part of why forearm crutches are an easy in-office offering.

The product behind the codes

Millennial Medical's in-Motion line covers both lanes. The in-Motion Pro forearm crutch bills under E0110 or E0111 and is the reliable, covered, nerve-safe choice for most work injuries. The spring-assisted in-Motion Pro underarm crutch is the premium option for those who want maximum shock absorption and pursue the upgrade or reimbursement route.

Next step: if you are a patient, ask for E0110 forearm crutches by name. If you are a clinic, talk to us about stocking the in-Motion Pro forearm crutch.

More in this series

• Does Workers' Comp Cover Crutches? Your 2026 Guide
• Crutch Palsy: The Hidden Injury That Can Turn One Work Injury Into Two
• How to Get the Crutches You Actually Want Through Workers' Comp
• Crutches and Return to Work: Why Mobility Quality Matters
• Best Crutches for a Work-Injury Recovery (and How to Get Them)

Frequently asked questions

What is the HCPCS code for forearm crutches? E0110 for a pair, E0111 for each.

What is the code for spring-assisted crutches? E0117, crutch, underarm, articulating, spring assisted, each.

Why does workers' comp cover E0110 but question E0117? E0110 is standard DME, while E0117 is a premium code that often carries special or limited coverage and needs extra documentation.

Which crutch code is easiest to get approved? The forearm code, E0110, which is also the design that avoids armpit nerve pressure.

Can I still get a spring-assisted crutch? Yes, by documenting medical necessity for the feature, or by buying it and submitting for reimbursement.

Coverage note: HCPCS code descriptors and coverage policies change over time and vary by payer and by state fee schedule. Verify current code descriptors and your state's workers' compensation DMEPOS fee schedule before relying on them. This article is general education, not legal, medical, or billing advice.

This guide is part of our Workers' Comp Crutch Coverage hub, where you'll find every option for getting crutches covered.