Local Coverage Determination · DME MAC
L33739
Speech Generating Devices (SGD)
Version 23. CMS effective date 10/01/2024. CMS updated 10/23/2025. Read from the CMS Coverage API on 2026-10-13. Contractors on the report: CGS Administrators (DME MAC) and Noridian Healthcare Solutions (DME MAC).
CMS coverage policy citation. CMS Pub. 100-03, (Medicare National Coverage Determinations Manual), Chapter 1, Section 50.1
Coverage indication
In addition to the “reasonable and necessary” criteria contained in this LCD there are other payment rules, which are discussed in the following documents, that must also be met prior to Medicare reimbursement: The LCD-related Standard Documentation Requirements Article, located at the bottom of this policy under the Related Local Coverage Documents section. The LCD-related Policy Article, located at the bottom of this policy under the Related Local Coverage Documents section. Refer to the Supplier Manual for additional information on documentation requirements. Refer to the DME MAC web sites for additional bulletin articles and other publications related to this LCD. For the items addressed in this LCD, the “reasonable and necessary” criteria, based on Social Security Act § 1862(a)(1)(A) provisions, are defined by the following coverage indications, limitations and/or medical necessity. For the purposes of this policy, speech generation is defined as audible generation of words or phrases and in addition, may include: Communication via written text (i.e., email or text (SMS) messaging); or, Communication via phone messaging. Speech generating devices are defined as durable medical equipment that provides an individual who has a severe speech impairment with the ability to meet his or her functional, speaking needs. Speech generating devices are speech aids consisting of devices or software that generate speech (as defined above) and are used solely by the individual who has a severe speech impairment.
Excerpt from the LCD indication. Full text on CMS.
Documentation requirements
Items covered in this LCD have additional policy-specific requirements that must be met prior to Medicare reimbursement. Refer to the LCD-related Policy article, located at the bottom of this policy under the Related Local Coverage Documents section for additional information.
Related articles
- A55426 · Standard Documentation Requirements for All Claims Submitted to DME MACs
- A52469 · Speech Generating Devices (SGD) - Policy Article
Related NCDs
- NCD 280.1 · Durable Medical Equipment Reference List (version 4)
- NCD 50.1 · Speech Generating Devices (version 2)
HCPCS codes on this LCD
9 other Level II codes are on the LCD and are not given a page in this set: E2502, E2504, E2506, E2508, E2510, E2511, E2512, E2513, E2599.
Questions
What does LCD L33739 cover?
L33739 is Speech Generating Devices (SGD). It is a current final DME MAC local coverage determination, version 23.
Where is the CMS source for L33739?
The Medicare Coverage Database page for LCD L33739 version 23.
Get the signed answer via API
The signed answer is the receipt for this code on a date of service: the rule that was in force, with a hash you can replay. The call needs an API key. The source archive and as-of resolution are public.
curl -H "X-API-Key: $VERZI_API_KEY" \
"https://api.verzi.health/v1/rules/warrant?hcpcs=A4601&as_of=2024-01-15&npi=1234567890&state=UT"