Incision and Drainage CPT Coding Guideline

Post Last Updated on 17 Feb 2026

What is Incision and Drainage ?

Incision and drainage (I&D) is a minor surgical procedure used to treat a collection of pus (called an abscess).

Incision means making a small cut.

Drainage allowign trapped pus or fluid to drain.

What are the medical necessity of Incision and Drainage

1.Abscess

2.Hematoma

3.Seroma

Incision and Drainage of Abscess

CPT code range for Incision and Drainage

10060 : Incision and drainage of abscess (eg, carbuncle, suppurative hidradenitis, cutaneous or subcutaneous abscess, cyst, furuncle, or paronychia); simple or single

10061 : Incision and drainage of abscess (eg, carbuncle, suppurative hidradenitis, cutaneous or subcutaneous abscess, cyst, furuncle, or paronychia); complicated or multiple

10080 : Incision and drainage of pilonidal cyst; simple.

10081 : Incision and drainage of pilonidal cyst; complicated.

10140 : Incision and drainage of hematoma, seroma or fluid collection.

10180 : Incision and drainage, complex, postoperative wound infection.

Coding guideline for Incision and drainage

Scenario 1.Condition for Incision and Drainge for Complicated 10061 is used for follow :

Multiple Incision

Drain Placements

Probing to break up loculation

Extensive Packing used

Subsequent Wound closure.

Scenario 2.To bill for an incision and drainage procedure, the doctor must actually make a cut (incision) and document it in the medical record. If the doctor only uses a needle to poke the abscess and lets it drain, this is not considered an incision and drainage procedure. In that case, it should not be billed using incision and drainage codes.

Scenario 3: If a doctor drains a small abscess that is only in the top layer of the skin, it is billed using the skin (integumentary system) incision and drainage codes.

But if the abscess is deeper than the superficial skin, you must use the code from the body system where the abscess is located.

For Example : If the abscess is inside the abdomen (Intra-abdominal abscess), you would use a code from the digestive system section, not a skin code.