T81.42XA — Infection following a procedure, deep incisional surgical site, initial encounter
ICD-10-CM
Prior Authorization
No Prior Auth Required
Code is covered without prior authorization (high confidence)
Documentation Required
- The medical record must clearly document that the coverage indications, limitations, and medical necessity criteria in L37228 Wound Care have been met for any billed wound care item or service.
- Documentation must support the specific CPT/HCPCS code(s) billed, including procedure details, depth and surface area for debridement codes, and rationale for the service.
- When hydrotherapy (whirlpool) is billed with CPT 97597 or 97598, the record must state why hydrotherapy was necessary to remove devitalized/necrotic tissue and that a therapist's skill was required to perform the service.
- If CPT 97597 or 97598 is billed by a therapist while the patient is under a Home Health benefit, coverage depends on inclusion in the Home Health plan of care; if billed by a physician or non-physician practitioner it is paid under Part B even if the beneficiary has an active Home Health plan.
Key Coverage Criteria
- Traditional negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) devices, units, and supplies are covered under the Durable Medical Equipment (DME) benefit when they meet DME LCD coverage criteria and medical necessity.
- CPT codes 97597, 97598, and wound debridement codes 11042-11047 may be covered when the medical record documents medical necessity consistent with L37228 Wound Care criteria and Medicare reasonable-and-necessary requirements.
- Follow-up or limited transthoracic echocardiography performed to evaluate a single specified cardiac problem or region must be billed with CPT 93308.
- Limited Doppler/follow-up echocardiographic studies (for targeted velocity or gradient assessment) should be billed with CPT 93321 (e.g., tricuspid regurgitant velocity to estimate pulmonary artery systolic pressure or sequential transmitral velocity in mitral stenosis).
- Incision and drainage (I&D) is covered when medical record documents an abscess, hematoma, seroma or other collection of the skin/subcutaneous/accessory structures requiring drainage with signs/symptoms that justify the procedure (e.g., evidence of infection, frank pus, severe pain, or failure of conservative measures).
- For podiatry (specialty 48), CPT codes 10060, 10061 or 10160 are payable when billed with ICD-10-CM codes L02.611, L02.612 or L98.8 only.
20 Active Policies
A57594 — Billing and Coding: Non-Invasive Peripheral Venous Vascular and Hemodialysis Access Studies
J05
A55909 — Billing and Coding: Wound Care
J05
L37228 — Wound Care
J05
L35751 — Non-Invasive Peripheral Venous Vascular and Hemodialysis Access Studies
J05
L33563
Related Codes
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