Local Coverage Determination (LCD)

Debridement Services

L33614

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Proposed LCD
Proposed LCDs are works in progress that are available on the Medicare Coverage Database site for public review. Proposed LCDs are not necessarily a reflection of the current policies or practices of the contractor.

Document Note

Note History

Contractor Information

LCD Information

Document Information

Source LCD ID
N/A
LCD ID
L33614
Original ICD-9 LCD ID
Not Applicable
LCD Title
Debridement Services
Proposed LCD in Comment Period
N/A
Source Proposed LCD
DL33614
Original Effective Date
For services performed on or after 10/01/2015
Revision Effective Date
For services performed on or after 11/07/2019
Revision Ending Date
N/A
Retirement Date
N/A
Notice Period Start Date
02/15/2016
Notice Period End Date
03/31/2016
AMA CPT / ADA CDT / AHA NUBC Copyright Statement

CPT codes, descriptions and other data only are copyright 2023 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved. Applicable FARS/HHSARS apply.

Fee schedules, relative value units, conversion factors and/or related components are not assigned by the AMA, are not part of CPT, and the AMA is not recommending their use. The AMA does not directly or indirectly practice medicine or dispense medical services. The AMA assumes no liability for data contained or not contained herein.

Current Dental Terminology © 2023 American Dental Association. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2023, the American Hospital Association, Chicago, Illinois. Reproduced with permission. No portion of the American Hospital Association (AHA) copyrighted materials contained within this publication may be copied without the express written consent of the AHA. AHA copyrighted materials including the UB‐04 codes and descriptions may not be removed, copied, or utilized within any software, product, service, solution or derivative work without the written consent of the AHA. If an entity wishes to utilize any AHA materials, please contact the AHA at 312‐893‐6816.

Making copies or utilizing the content of the UB‐04 Manual, including the codes and/or descriptions, for internal purposes, resale and/or to be used in any product or publication; creating any modified or derivative work of the UB‐04 Manual and/or codes and descriptions; and/or making any commercial use of UB‐04 Manual or any portion thereof, including the codes and/or descriptions, is only authorized with an express license from the American Hospital Association. The American Hospital Association (the "AHA") has not reviewed, and is not responsible for, the completeness or accuracy of any information contained in this material, nor was the AHA or any of its affiliates, involved in the preparation of this material, or the analysis of information provided in the material. The views and/or positions presented in the material do not necessarily represent the views of the AHA. CMS and its products and services are not endorsed by the AHA or any of its affiliates.

Issue

Issue Description
Issue - Explanation of Change Between Proposed LCD and Final LCD

CMS National Coverage Policy

Language quoted from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), National Coverage Determinations (NCDs) and coverage provisions in interpretive manuals is italicized throughout the policy. NCDs and coverage provisions in interpretive manuals are not subject to the Local Coverage Determination (LCD) Review Process (42 CFR 405.860[b] and 42 CFR 426 [Subpart D]). In addition, an administrative law judge may not review an NCD. See Section 1869(f)(1)(A)(i) of the Social Security Act.

Unless otherwise specified, italicized text represents quotation from one or more of the following CMS sources:

Title XVIII of the Social Security Act (SSA):

Section 1862(a)(1)(A) excludes expenses incurred for items or services which are not reasonable and necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of illness or injury or to improve the functioning of a malformed body member.

Section 1833(e) prohibits Medicare payment for any claim which lacks the necessary information to process the claim.

CMS Publications:

CMS Publication 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 16:

    120 Cosmetic Surgery

 

Coverage Guidance

Coverage Indications, Limitations, and/or Medical Necessity

Abstract:

Debridement is the removal of infected, contaminated, damaged, devitalized, necrotic, or foreign tissue from a wound. The codes in this local coverage determination (LCD) cover debridement of skin, subcutaneous tissue, fascia, muscle, bone and removal of foreign material. Debridement promotes wound healing by reducing sources of infection and other mechanical impediments to healing. Its goal is to cleanse the wound, reduce bacterial contamination and provide an optimal environment for wound healing or possible surgical intervention. The usual end point of debridement is removal of pathological tissue and/or foreign material until healthy tissue is exposed. Debridement techniques include, among others, sharp and blunt dissection, curettement, scrubbing, and forceful irrigation. Surgical instruments may include a scrub brush, irrigation device, electrocautery, laser, sharp curette, forceps, scissors, burr or scalpel. Prior to debridement, determination of the extent of an ulcer/wound may be aided by the use of blunt probes to determine wound/ulcer depth and to disclose abscess and sinus tracts.

This LCD does not apply to debridement of burned surfaces. Regulations concerning the use of debridement of burned surfaces codes are not addressed in this LCD. This LCD does not apply to debridement of nails and the provider is referred to NGS LCD Routine Foot Care and Debridement of Nails (L33636).

Indications:

Debridement is indicated for any wound requiring removal of deep seated foreign material, devitalized or nonviable tissue at the level of skin, subcutaneous tissue, fascia, muscle or bone, to promote optimal wound healing or to prepare the site of appropriate surgical intervention. 

Conditions that may require debridement of large amounts of skin include: rapidly spreading necrotizing process (sometimes seen with aggressive streptococcal infections), severe eczema, bullous skin diseases, extensive skin trauma (including large abraded areas with ground-in dirt), or autoimmune skin diseases (such as pemphigus).

Debridement services for subcutaneous tissue muscle or fascia or bone are appropriate for treatment of skin ulcers, circumscribed dermal infections, conditions affecting contiguous deeper structures, and debridement of deep-seated debris from any number of injury types.

Debridement for osteomyelitis is covered for chronic osteomyelitis and osteomyelitis associated with an open wound.

Debridement of superficial ulcers (skin, dermis and/or epidermis, whenever necrotic tissue is present in an open wound may also be indicated. They may also be indicated in cases of abnormal wound healing or repair. These services will not be considered a reasonable and necessary procedure for a wound that is clean and free of necrotic tissue.

    • The wound care performed must be in accordance with accepted standards of medical practice. If debridement is performed, the type of debridement should be appropriate to the type of wound and the devitalized tissue, and the patient’s condition. Not all wounds require debridement at each session or the same level of debridement at each session. It is unusual to debride more than one time per week for more than three months. A greater frequency or duration of selective debridement should be justified in the documentation. Most very small wounds do not require selective debridement. Ulcers that may require selective debridement are typically larger than 2 x 2 cm. Wounds with tunneling, regardless of size, may require selective debridement. Selective debridement is usually not reasonable and necessary for blisters, ulcers smaller than those described above and uninfected ulcers with clear borders.
    • Debridement of the wound(s) if indicated must be performed judiciously and at appropriate intervals. It is expected that, with appropriate care, and no extenuating medical or surgical complications or setbacks, wound volume or surface dimension should decrease over time. It is also expected the wound care treatment plan is modified in the event that appropriate healing is not achieved. It is expected that co-morbid conditions that may interfere with normal wound healing have been addressed; the etiology of the wound has been determined and addressed as well as addressing patient compliance issues. This may include, for example, evaluation of pulses, ABI and/or possible consultation with a vascular surgeon.

The number of debridement services required is variable and depends on numerous intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Debridement services are covered provided all significant relevant comorbid conditions are addressed that could interfere with optimal wound healing.

Limitations:


If there is no necrotic, devitalized, fibrotic, or other tissue or foreign matter present that would interfere with wound healing, the debridement service is not medically necessary. The presence or absence of such tissue or foreign matter must be documented in the medical record.

Debridement area greater than 10% is limited to those practitioners who are licensed to perform surgery above the ankle, since the amount of skin required is more than that contained on both feet.


Skin breakdown under a dorsal corn is not considered an ulcer and generally does not require debridement. These lesions typically heal without significant surgical intervention beyond removal of the corn and shoe modification



 

Summary of Evidence

N/A

Analysis of Evidence (Rationale for Determination)

N/A

Proposed Process Information

Synopsis of Changes
Changes Fields Changed
N/A
Associated Information
Sources of Information
Bibliography
Open Meetings
Meeting Date Meeting States Meeting Information
N/A
Contractor Advisory Committee (CAC) Meetings
Meeting Date Meeting States Meeting Information
N/A
MAC Meeting Information URLs
N/A
Proposed LCD Posting Date
Comment Period Start Date
Comment Period End Date
Reason for Proposed LCD
Requestor Information
This request was MAC initiated.
Requestor Name Requestor Letter
N/A
Contact for Comments on Proposed LCD

Coding Information

Bill Type Codes

Code Description
N/A

Revenue Codes

Code Description
N/A

CPT/HCPCS Codes

Group 1

Group 1 Paragraph

N/A

Group 1 Codes

N/A

N/A

ICD-10-CM Codes that Support Medical Necessity

Group 1

Group 1 Paragraph:

N/A

Group 1 Codes:

N/A

N/A

ICD-10-CM Codes that DO NOT Support Medical Necessity

Group 1

Group 1 Paragraph:

N/A

Group 1 Codes:

N/A

N/A

Additional ICD-10 Information

General Information

Associated Information
N/A
Sources of Information
N/A
Bibliography

N/A

Revision History Information

Revision History Date Revision History Number Revision History Explanation Reasons for Change
11/07/2019 R4

This LCD was converted to the new "no-codes" format. There has been no change in coverage with this LCD revision.

  • Revisions Due To Code Removal
08/01/2019 R3

Consistent with Change Request 10901, all coding information, National coverage provisions, and Associated Information (Documentation Requirements, Utilization Guidelines) have been removed from the LCD and placed in the related Billing and Coding Article, A56617. There has been no change in coverage with this LCD revision.

To provide clarity the following sentence was added to Coverage Limitations:

Debridement area greater than 10% is limited to those practitioners who are licensed to perform surgery above the ankle, since the amount of skin required is more than that contained on both feet.

  • Provider Education/Guidance
04/01/2016 R2 The LCD was returned for comment to the Jurisdiction 6 and Jurisdiction K regions from 10/29/2015 through 12/12/2015.
CPT codes 97597 and 97598 (previously included in the Outpatient Physical and Occupational Therapy Services LCD, L33631) were added to the LCD. Indications and Documentation Requirements for these services were added to the LCD.
Limitations were revised to clarify services which are not appropriately billed with the debridement codes covered in this LCD.
  • Provider Education/Guidance
10/01/2015 R1 ICD-10 codes have been removed from the LCD. Medical necessity criteria apply to all services within this LCD.
  • Provider Education/Guidance
N/A

Associated Documents

Attachments
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Related National Coverage Documents
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Public Versions
Updated On Effective Dates Status
11/01/2019 11/07/2019 - N/A Currently in Effect You are here
Some older versions have been archived. Please visit the MCD Archive Site to retrieve them.

Keywords

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