CPT code 10061 denotes a complicated incision and drainage (I&D) of an abscess, a common surgical procedure used to evacuate pus from localized infections such as carbuncles, hidradenitis, cysts, furuncles, and paronychia. This code captures procedures that require multiple incisions, drain placement, extensive packing, or more complex wound closure than a simple, single incision. Nationally, accurate use of 10061 matters for clinical documentation, appropriate payment, and quality measurement because it differentiates more resource-intensive treatments from simpler I&Ds coded with 10060.

Key payers in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, United Healthcare, and Medicare. The publication provides readers with benchmark context for coding and claim classification, an overview of typical clinical scenarios supporting the code, and comparisons to related procedural codes. It highlights service settings where 10061 is commonly reported—ambulatory surgical centers, hospital outpatient departments, emergency departments, and sometimes office-based procedures—and explains distinctions between complicated and simple I&D services.

Readers will gain a concise reference for when 10061 is applicable, how it relates to adjacent codes, and what clinical features typically justify its use. Data-driven benchmarks, payer policy patterns, and coding nuances that affect billing and reimbursement are summarized to support accurate claims processing and consistent documentation practices.