General Surgery Coding Alert

Prior to applying a skin (or skin replacement) graft, the surgeon will normally prepare the recipient site. You may report this preparation separately using 15000 (Surgical preparation or creation of recipient site by excision of open wounds, burn eschar, or scar [including subcutaneous tissues], or incisional release of scar contracture; first 100 sq cm or one percent of body area of infants and children) and/or +15001 (... each additional 100 sq cm or each additional one percent of body area of infants and children [list separately in addition to code for primary procedure]).

CPT 2006 has added specific language directing you to use 15000 and/or 15001 -for initial wound recipient site preparation.-

Example: After escharotomy (16035-16036) and debridement (16020-16030) but before placing a skin graft, the surgeon must prepare an area of 14 cm x 14 cm (196 sq cm) on a burn patient's left leg by clearing all remaining eschar, skin debris and subcutaneous tissue. In this case, report 15000 and 15001 to describe the site preparation.

The exceptions: You should not report site preparation 15000/15001 separately with xenograft codes 15430/15431, according to CPT instructions.