Medicare Advantage

Medical Policy

Title:

Commode Chairs

Policy #:

MA05.036c

Policy

This policy uses coverage criteria developed solely based on applicable Medicare statutes, regulations, NCDs, LCDs, CMS manuals and other applicable Medicare coverage documents.

MEDICALLY NECESSARY

A commode chair is considered medically necessary and, therefore, covered, when the individual is physically incapable of utilizing regular toilet facilities and meets at least one of the following indications:

The individual is confined to a single room.
The individual is confined to one level of the home environment and there is no toilet on that level.
The individual is confined to the home and there are no toilet facilities in the home.

An extra wide/heavy duty commode chair is considered medically necessary and, therefore, covered, for individuals who weigh over 300 pounds.

A commode chair with detachable arms is considered medically necessary and, therefore, covered, if the detachable arms feature meets at least one of the following indications:

To facilitate transferring the individual.
The individual has a body configuration that requires extra width.

A commode chair with seat lift mechanism is considered medically necessary and, therefore, covered, if the individual meets the medical necessity criteria for a commode and also meets the coverage criteria for a seat lift mechanism.

A commode chair with seat lift mechanism is intended to allow the individual to ambulate after standing; If the individual can ambulate, he or she would rarely meet the coverage criterion for a commode chair.

NOT MEDICALLY NECESSARY

A commode chair is considered not medically necessary and, therefore, not covered when the above criteria are not met.

NOT COVERED

A raised toilet seat and a commode chair that is used as a raised toilet seat by positioning it over the toilet is not covered by the Company because it is an item or service not covered by Medicare. Therefore, it is not eligible for reimbursement consideration.

Toilet seat lift mechanisms are not covered by the Company, because they are an item or service not covered by Medicare, because they are considered not primarily medical in nature. Therefore, they are not eligible for reimbursement consideration.

A footrest is not covered by the Company, because it is an item or service not covered by Medicare, because it is considered not primarily medical in nature. Therefore, it is not eligible for reimbursement consideration.

Bidets and bidet toilet seats are not covered by the Company, because they are items not covered by Medicare, because they are considered not primarily medical in nature. Therefore, they are not eligible for reimbursement consideration.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

The Company may conduct reviews and audits of services to our members regardless of the participation status of the provider. Medical record documentation must be maintained on file to reflect the medical necessity of the care and services provided. These medical records may include but are not limited to: records from the professional provider’s office, hospital, nursing home, home health agencies, therapies, and test reports. This policy is consistent with Medicare's documentation requirements, including the following required documentation:

STANDARD WRITTEN ORDER REQUIREMENTS
Before submitting a claim to the Company, the supplier must have on file a timely, appropriate, and complete order for each item billed that is signed and dated by the professional provider who is treating the member. Requesting a provider to sign a retrospective order at the time of an audit or after an audit for submission as an original order, reorder, or updated order will not satisfy the requirement to maintain a timely professional provider order on file.

PROOF OF DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS
Medical record documentation must include a contemporaneously prepared delivery confirmation or member’s receipt of supplies and equipment. The medical record documentation must include a copy of delivery confirmation if delivered by a commercial carrier and a signed copy of delivery confirmation by member/caregiver if delivered by the durable medical equipment (DME) supplier/provider. All documentation is to be prepared contemporaneous with delivery and be available to the Company upon request.

For specified DME items, documentation of a face-to-face encounter between the treating professional provider and the individual meeting the above requirements, including an assessment of the individual's clinical condition supporting the need for the prescribed DME item(s), must be provided to and kept on file by the DME supplier.

If required documentation is not available on file to support a claim at the time of an audit or record request, the DME supplier may be required to reimburse the Company for overpayments.

COLUMN I/COLUMN II REIMBURSEMENT EDITS

The reimbursement for the item(s) represented by the code(s) in column II are included in the reimbursement for the item represented by the code in column I.

Column I	Column II
E0163	E0167
E0165	E0167
E0168	E0167
E0170	E0167, E0627, E0629
E0171	E0167, E0627, E0629

Guidelines

This policy is consistent with Medicare's coverage criteria. The Company's payment methodology may differ from Medicare.

BENEFIT APPLICATION

Subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Evidence of Coverage, commode chairs are covered under the medical benefits of the Company’s Medicare Advantage products when the medical necessity criteria listed in this medical policy are met.

However, services that are identified in this policy as not medically necessary or not covered are not eligible for coverage or reimbursement by the Company.

Description

A commode is a chair-like device that serves as a toilet, outside of the bathroom setting.

A commode chair with seat lift mechanism is a free-standing device that has a commode pan and that has an integrated seat that can be raised with or without a forward tilt while the individual is seated. An integrated device is one which is sold as a unit by the manufacturer and in which the lift and the commode cannot be separated without the use of tools.

A toilet seat lift mechanism is a device with a seat that can be raised with or without a forward tilt while the individual is seated, allowing the individual to stand and ambulate once they are in an upright position. It may be manually operated or electric. It is attached to the toilet.

A raised toilet seat is a device that adds height to the toilet seat. It is either fixed height or adjustable. It is either attached to the toilet or is unattached, resting on the bowl.

A freestanding raised toilet seat supported by legs on the floor is coded as a commode.

Extra wide/heavy duty commode chairs have a width of greater than or equal to 23 inches and are also capable of supporting an individual who weighs 300 pounds or more.

Bidets and bidets incorporated into toilet seats are cleansing devices that utilize a stream of water to irrigate and wash the buttocks and perineum area.

References

Noridian Healthcare Solutions. Local Coverage Determination (L33736). Commodes. [Noridian Healthcare Solutions Web site]. Original: 10/01/2015. (Revised: 01/01/2020). Available at: https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/details/lcd-details.aspx?LCDId=33736&ver=20&Date=01/05/2021&SearchType=Advanced&DocID=L33736&search_id=&service_date=&bc=KAAAAAIAAAAA&. Accessed January 22, 2025.

Noridian Healthcare Solutions. Local Coverage Article (A52461). Commodes. [Noridian Healthcare Solutions Web site]. Original: 10/01/2015. (Revised: 01/01/2020). Available at: https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/view/article.aspx?articleid=52461&ver=21&Date=01/05/2021&SearchType=Advanced&ContrId=&DocID=A52461&search_id=&service_date=&bc=JAAAAAIAAAAA&=. Accessed January 22, 2025.

Coding

CPT Procedure Code Number(s)

N/A

ICD - 10 Procedure Code Number(s)

N/A

ICD - 10 Diagnosis Code Number(s)

N/A

HCPCS Level II Code Number(s)

MEDICALLY NECESSARY

E0163 Commode chair, mobile or stationary, with fixed arms

E0165 Commode chair, mobile or stationary, with detachable arms

E0167 Pail or pan for use with commode chair, replacement only

E0168 Commode chair, extra wide and/or heavy-duty, stationary or mobile, with or without arms, any type, each

E0170 Commode chair with integrated seat lift mechanism, electric, any type

E0171 Commode chair with integrated seat lift mechanism, nonelectric, any type

NOT COVERED

E0172 Seat lift mechanism placed over or on top of toilet, any type

E0175 Footrest, for use with commode chair, each

E0244 Raised toilet seat

THE FOLLOWING CODE IS USED TO REPRESENT BIDETS AND BIDET TOILET SEATS:

E1399 Durable medical equipment, miscellaneous

Revenue Code Number(s)

N/A

MPMiscCodesNarrativesPub

Coding and Billing Requirements

Cross Reference

Policy History

Revisions From MA05.036c:

04/21/2025

This version of the policy will become effective 04/21/2025.

This policy has been reviewed and communicates the Company's continuing position on Commode Chairs.

Revisions From MA05.036b:

02/07/2024	This policy has been reissued in accordance with the Company's annual review process.
01/01/2024	Effective 01/01/2024 this policy applies to New Jersey Medicare Advantage (MA) lines of business.
02/22/2023	This policy has been reviewed and reissued to communicate the Company's continuing position on Commode Chairs.
03/09/2022	This policy has been reissued in accordance with the Company's annual review process.
03/10/2021	The policy has been reviewed and reissued to communicate the Company's continuing position on Commode Chairs.
02/12/2020	This policy has been reissued in accordance with the Company's annual review process.
02/13/2019	This policy has been reviewed and reissued to communicate the Company's continuing position on Commode Chairs.
04/25/2018	This policy has been reviewed and reissued to communicate the Company's continuing position on Commode Chairs.
03/24/2017	The following criteria have been added to this policy: Bidets and bidet toilet seats are not covered by the Company, because they are items not covered by Medicare, because they are considered not primarily medical in nature. Therefore, they are not eligible for reimbursement consideration. The following HCPCS code has been added to this policy: THE FOLLOWING CODE IS USED TO REPRESENT BIDETS AND BIDET TOILET SEATS: E1399 Durable medical equipment, miscellaneous

Revisions From MA05.036a:

01/01/2017

This policy has been identified for a HCPCS code update effective 01/01/2017.

The following codes were revised: E0627 & E0629.

The following code was termed and removed from the policy: E0628

Revisions From MA05.036:

10/26/2016	This policy has been reviewed and reissued to communicate the Company's continuing position on commodes.
08/19/2015	This policy has been reviewed and reissued to communicate the Company's continuing position on commodes.
01/01/2015	This is a new policy.

Version Effective Date:

4/21/2025

Version Issued Date: