S5160 — Emergency response system; installation and testing
S5160 is a HCPCS Level II code for emergency response system; installation and testing. It belongs to the Temporary National Codes (Non-Medicare) section. Medicare does not pay it — see the coverage note below before you bill it.
Medicare coverage: Not payable by Medicare
Medicare does not pay this code. It may still be valid for another payer, but a Medicare claim carrying it will not be reimbursed.
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.
Physician fee schedule statusI
Not valid for Medicare purposes. Medicare uses another code.
Global period: XXX
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The CMS record for S5160
- Long descriptor
- Emergency response system; installation and testing
- Short descriptor
- Emer response sys instal&tst
- Added
- January 1, 2003
- BETOS
- Z2
- Pricing indicator
- 00 — Not priced by Part B
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.
Berenson-Eggers Type of Service — CMS's own analytic grouping.
Service not separately priced by Part B — not covered, bundled into another service, or used by Part A only.
Codes adjacent to S5160
HCPCS has no hierarchy — related items simply sit next to each other in the numbering. If S5160 is not quite right, the correct code is very often within a few positions of it.
- S5135Companion care, adult (e.g., iadl/adl); per 15 minutes
- S5136Companion care, adult (e.g., iadl/adl); per diem
- S5140Foster care, adult; per diem
- S5141Foster care, adult; per month
- S5145Foster care, therapeutic, child; per diem
- S5146Foster care, therapeutic, child; per month
- S5150Unskilled respite care, not hospice; per 15 minutes
- S5151Unskilled respite care, not hospice; per diem
- S5161Emergency response system; service fee, per month (excludes installation and testing)
- S5162Emergency response system; purchase only
- S5165Home modifications; per service
- S5170Home delivered meals, including preparation; per meal
- S5175Laundry service, external, professional; per order
- S5180Home health respiratory therapy, initial evaluation
- S5181Home health respiratory therapy, nos, per diem
- S5185Medication reminder service, non-face-to-face; per month
Questions about S5160
What is HCPCS code S5160?
S5160 is a HCPCS Level II code for emergency response system; installation and testing. It sits in the Temporary National Codes (Non-Medicare) section.
Does Medicare cover S5160?
The CMS HCPCS file marks S5160 as "Not payable by Medicare". Medicare does not pay this code. It may still be valid for another payer, but a Medicare claim carrying it will not be reimbursed.
How is S5160 paid under the physician fee schedule?
S5160 carries PFS status code I. Not valid for Medicare purposes. Medicare uses another code.