Skin Substitute Graft CPT Coding

What is skin substitute graft ?

Skin subsitute graft is the substitute or the replacement of the skin, if original skin is damage or not present.

So, it promote healing and provide a coverage or supporting sturcture for new skin growth.

What are the other type of skin substitute graft ?

Biobrane

Integra bilayer

Dermagraft

Alloderm

Accellular dermal allograft

The Code range of Skin Substitute graft

15271- 15278

15271 : Application of skin substitute graft to trunk, arms, legs, total wound surface area up to 100 sq cm; first 25 sq cm or less wound surface area

+15272 : Application of skin substitute graft to trunk, arms, legs, total wound surface area up to 100 sq cm; each additional 25 sq cm wound surface area, or part thereof (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)

15273 : Application of skin substitute graft to trunk, arms, legs, total wound surface area greater than or equal to 100 sq cm; first 100 sq cm wound surface area, or 1% of body area of infants and children

+15274 : Application of skin substitute graft to trunk, arms, legs, total wound surface area greater than or equal to 100 sq cm; each additional 100 sq cm wound surface area, or part thereof, or each additional 1% of body area of infants and children, or part thereof (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)

15275 : Application of skin substitute graft to face, scalp, eyelids, mouth, neck, ears, orbits, genitalia, hands, feet, and/or multiple digits, total wound surface area up to 100 sq cm; first 25 sq cm or less wound surface area

+15276 : Application of skin substitute graft to face, scalp, eyelids, mouth, neck, ears, orbits, genitalia, hands, feet, and/or multiple digits, total wound surface area up to 100 sq cm; each additional 25 sq cm wound surface area, or part thereof (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)

15277 : Application of skin substitute graft to face, scalp, eyelids, mouth, neck, ears, orbits, genitalia, hands, feet, and/or multiple digits, total wound surface area greater than or equal to 100 sq cm; first 100 sq cm wound surface area, or 1% of body area of infants and children

+15278 : Application of skin substitute graft to face, scalp, eyelids, mouth, neck, ears, orbits, genitalia, hands, feet, and/or multiple digits, total wound surface area greater than or equal to 100 sq cm; each additional 100 sq cm wound surface area, or part thereof, or each additional 1% of body area of infants and children, or part thereof (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)

So, the Code selection criteria is based on

1. Location of th recipient area

2. Area of wound of recipient area

Coding guideline :

• Donot code 97602 with 15271-15278

• Dont code debridement 11042 , if it is performed with skin substitute graft placement, it will only be coded it there is gross contamination.

Interview Question : What is surgical prepration of skin ?

It is the removal of viable or you can say healthy tissue from the skin surface.