CCI 18.0 Update: Include Compression Therapy in Numerous Skin Graft Codes

Watch out for different sessions or sites before you try to break these bundles.

If your dermatologist is carrying out venous compressions to treat ulcers, you might already be aware about novel procedure codes 29582-29584 (Application of multi-layer compression system…), introduced in CPT® 2012. At present you are required to know how that code is affected by the latest round of Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) edits to ensure error free medical coding.

CCI edits 2012 introduces 15,530 new edit pairs. As per CCI edits 2012, 29582-29584 are taken as an intrinsic part of these skin graft codes:

15050 – (Pinch graft, single or multiple, to cover small ulcer, tip of digit, or other minimal open area (except on face), up to defect size 2 cm diameter)

15100 – (Split-thickness autograft, trunk, arms, legs; first 100 sq cm or less, or 1% of body area of infants and children (except 15050))

15110 – (Epidermal autograft, trunk, arms, legs; first 100 sq cm or less, or 1% of body area of infants and children)

15115 – (Epidermal autograft, face, scalp, eyelids, mouth, neck, ears, orbits, genitalia, hands, feet, and/or multiple digits; first 100 sq cm or less, or 1% of body area of infants and children)

15120 – (Split-thickness autogr`aft, face, scalp, eyelids, mouth, neck, ears, orbits, genitalia, hands, feet, and/or multiple digits; first 100 sq cm or less, or 1% of body area of infants and children (except 15050))

15130 – (Dermal autograft, trunk, arms, legs; first 100 sq cm or less, or 1% of body area of infants and children)

15135 – (Dermal autograft, face, scalp, eyelids, mouth, neck, ears, orbits, genitalia, hands, feet, and/or multiple digits; first 100 sq cm or less, or 1% of body area of infants and children)

15150 – (Tissue cultured skin autograft, trunk, arms, legs; first 25 sq cm or less)

15155 – (Tissue cultured skin autograft, face, scalp, eyelids, mouth, neck, ears, orbits, genitalia, hands, feet, and/or multiple digits; first 25 sq cm or less)

15200 – (Full thickness graft, free, including direct closure of donor site, trunk; 20 sq cm or less)

15220 – (Full thickness graft, free, including direct closure of donor site, scalp, arms, and/or legs; 20 sq cm or less)

15240 – (Full thickness graft, free, including direct closure of donor site, forehead, cheeks, chin, mouth, neck, axillae, genitalia, hands, and/or feet; 20 sq cm or less)

15260 – (Full thickness graft, free, including direct closure of donor site, nose, ears, eyelids, and/or lips; 20 sq cm or less)

15271-15278 – (Application of skin substitute graft …)

As per CCI edits 2012, besides, CPT code 29582 (Application of multi-layer compression system; thigh and leg, including ankle and foot, when performed) is bundled into:

10060-10061 -- Incision and drainage of abscess (e.g., carbuncle, suppurative hidradenitis, cutaneous or subcutaneous abscess, cyst, furuncle, or paronychia…)

10140 – (Incision and drainage of hematoma, seroma or fluid collection)

10160 – (Puncture aspiration of abscess, hematoma, bulla, or cyst)

11000 – (Debridement of extensive eczematous or infected skin; up to 10% of body surface)

11042 – (Debridement, subcutaneous tissue (includes epidermis and dermis, if performed); first 20 sq cm or less)

Check Bundles for Novel Skin Substitute Codes
CCI edits 2012 also presents a number of code edits affecting the new skin substitute graft codes, 15271-15278 (Application of skin substitute graft ...). According to CCI edits 2012, the following listed procedures are taken as an intrinsic part of all of the skin substitute graft applications:

11000 – (Debridement of extensive eczematous or infected skin; up to 10% of body surface)

11042 – (Debridement, subcutaneous tissue (includes epidermis and dermis, if performed); first 20 sq cm or less)

12001-12007 – (Simple repair of superficial wounds of scalp, neck, axillae, external genitalia, trunk and/or extremities (including hands and feet))

12020-12021 – (Treatment of superficial wound dehiscence)

12031-12037 – (Repair, intermediate, wounds of scalp, axillae, trunk and/or extremities (excluding hands and feet))

13120-13121 – (Repair, complex, scalp, arms, and/or legs)

16020-16030 – (Dressings and/or debridement of partial-thickness burns, initial or subsequent)