Name of Manual - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota

Coding Policies and Guidelines (Durable Medical Equipment)
Oxygen and Oxygen
Aiding Equipment
(includes ventilators)
Portable Oxygen
Billing
11-12
Oxygen and oxygen aiding equipment are defined as the following
items:
Oxygen
Ventilators
Negative-Pressure Ventilators
Oximeters
Large-Volume Air Compressors
Airway-Pressure Monitors (excluding CPAP)
Oxygen Concentrators and Oxygen Conservers
Oxygen equipment is reimbursed on a rental basis only, as long as
the equipment is medically necessary.
Oxygen contents will be reimbursed separately only when the
subscriber owns an oxygen system, or rents or owns only a
portable oxygen system.
The units billed for the following codes should never exceed
one (1) per one-month-date range based on the code narrative:
E0443 - Portable oxygen contents, gaseous (for use only with
portable gaseous systems when no stationary gas or liquid
system is used), one month's supply = 1 unit
E0444 - Portable oxygen contents, liquid (for use only with
portable liquid systems when no stationary gas or liquid system
is used), one month's supply = 1 unit
At this time the Department of Human Services (DHS) has
different unit submission guides for billing units for E0443-E0444;
however, those guidelines may be used only for Public Program
claims.
In addition to the oxygen contents only codes, E0443 and E0444,
the equipment rental or purchase fees are billed separately as
appropriate, with the corresponding gaseous or liquid system code
as follows:
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Provider Policy and Procedure Manual (08/15/2012)