K1020 — Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulator
K1020 is a HCPCS Level II code for non-invasive vagus nerve stimulator. It belongs to the Durable Medical Equipment (DME MAC Temporary) section. It was terminated on December 31, 2023 and is not valid on new claims.
This code has been terminated
CMS terminated K1020 on December 31, 2023. It stays in the file as history — a claim you are auditing from before that date may legitimately carry it — but it must not appear on a new claim. The adjacent codes below are the usual place to look for its replacement.
Medicare coverage: Carrier judgment
Coverage is decided by your Medicare contractor, not by national policy. Whether this is paid depends on the LCD for your jurisdiction and on what the documentation supports.
From the coverage field of the CMS Alpha-Numeric HCPCS File, release 2026Q3-Jul. This states Medicare’s position on the code, not on your particular claim.
The CMS record for K1020
- Long descriptor
- Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulator
- Short descriptor
- Non-invasive vagus nerv stim
- Added
- April 1, 2021
- Terminated
- December 31, 2023
- BETOS
- D1E
- Pricing indicator
- 36 — DMEPOS
The official wording. This is what the code means.
CMS's 28-character form, which is what shows up on a remittance advice.
When CMS introduced the code.
When CMS retired it.
Berenson-Eggers Type of Service — CMS's own analytic grouping.
Capped rental DME. Price subject to floors and ceilings.
Codes adjacent to K1020
HCPCS has no hierarchy — related items simply sit next to each other in the numbering. If K1020 is not quite right, the correct code is very often within a few positions of it.
- K1012Charger and base station for intraurethral activation device, replacement onlyterminated
- K1013Enema tube, with or without adapter, any type, replacement only, eachterminated
- K1014Addition, endoskeletal knee-shin system, 4 bar linkage or multiaxial, fluid swing and stance phase controlterminated
- K1015Foot, adductus positioning device, adjustableterminated
- K1016Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator for electrical stimulation of the trigeminal nerveterminated
- K1017Monthly supplies for use of device coded at k1016terminated
- K1018External upper limb tremor stimulator of the peripheral nerves of the wristterminated
- K1019Supplies and accessories for external upper limb tremor stimulator of the peripheral nerves of the wristterminated
- K1021Exsufflation belt, includes all supplies and accessoriesterminated
- K1022Addition to lower extremity prosthesis, endoskeletal, knee disarticulation, above knee, hip disarticulation, positional rotation unit, any typeterminated
- K1023Distal transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator, stimulates peripheral nerves of the upper armterminated
- K1024Non-pneumatic compression controller with sequential calibrated gradient pressureterminated
- K1025Non-pneumatic sequential compression garment, full armterminated
- K1026Mechanical allergen particle barrier/inhalation filter, cream, nasal, topicalterminated
- K1027Oral device/appliance used to reduce upper airway collapsibility, without fixed mechanical hinge, custom fabricated, includes fitting and adjustment
- K1028Power source and control electronics unit for oral device/appliance for neuromuscular electrical stimulation of the tongue muscle, controlled by phone applicationterminated
Questions about K1020
What is HCPCS code K1020?
K1020 is a HCPCS Level II code for non-invasive vagus nerve stimulator. It sits in the Durable Medical Equipment (DME MAC Temporary) section.
Does Medicare cover K1020?
The CMS HCPCS file marks K1020 as "Carrier judgment". Coverage is decided by your Medicare contractor, not by national policy. Whether this is paid depends on the LCD for your jurisdiction and on what the documentation supports.
Is K1020 still valid?
No. K1020 was terminated on December 31, 2023 and should not be used on new claims.