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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesIncision and Drainage Procedures on the Skin, Subcutaneous and Accessory StructuresCPT cpt-10160-percutaneous-aspiration-skin-fluid-collection-culture
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    CPT 10160: Needle Aspiration of Skin Fluid or Pus

    Medicare pays $136 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 10160 describes a clinician-performed needle aspiration of a cutaneous fluid or pus collection to obtain a specimen for culture; this is a minor invasive procedural aspiration typically performed in an ambulatory clinic or emergency department setting for diagnostic sampling of abscesses or localized fluid collections.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Mohs Micrographic Surgery, Mohs Micrographic Surgery, Mohs Micrographic Surgery.

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 42-year-old patient presents to an outpatient clinic with a localized, fluctuant, erythematous swelling on the forearm that is painful and warm to touch. The provider performs a focused history and brief exam, identifies a probable abscess, prepares a sterile field, and uses a syringe and needle to aspirate purulent fluid for culture and Gram stain. The specimen is labeled and sent to the laboratory. Procedure documentation includes location, size, appearance of fluid, method (needle aspiration), obtainment of specimen for microbiology, patient tolerance, and aftercare instructions. Typical site of service: ambulatory clinic, urgent care center, emergency department, or bedside in an inpatient ward when a superficial fluid collection (abscess, bursitis, seroma) needs diagnostic aspiration rather than open incision and drainage.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    10060Incision and drainage of abscess; simple or singleUsed when open incision and drainage is performed instead of or in addition to needle aspiration for abscess management.
    10120Incision and drainage; complicated (e.g., multiple)Used for more extensive drainage procedures when aspiration is insufficient.
    87070Culture, bacterial; aerobic, routine isolateUsed by the laboratory to culture the specimen obtained from the aspiration (sometimes reported as CPT or lab code depending on billing).
    36415Collection of venous blood by venipunctureMay be performed in the same encounter for laboratory testing related to the infectious process.
    99000Handling and/or conveyance of specimen to a laboratoryApplied by some payers/systems when reporting specimen handling associated with the aspiration.

    Related Modifiers

    11 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    25CPT modifier 25 indicates that on the same day as another procedure or service, the same physician or other qualified health care professional provided a significant, separately identifiable…- When to apply: Use modifier 25 only on an E/M code to indicate the same provider delivered a significant, separately identifiable E/M service on the same day as another procedure or service — i.e.,…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    50Modifier –50 (Bilateral Procedure) is appended to a CPT code when an identical procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures during the same operative session. The AMA states to add…- Use modifier -50 when the same CPT surgical, diagnostic, or radiology procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures (both sides of the body) during the same operative/session by the same…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    77Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    24Modifier 24 denotes an unrelated evaluation and management (E/M) service performed by the same physician or qualified healthcare professional during a postoperative global period. Per CPT guidance,…- Use modifier 24 when you report an evaluation and management (E/M) service performed by the same physician or same-specialty group during a procedure’s postoperative global period that is unrelated…

    Showing 1–10 of 11

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    208000000X
    207Q00000X
    208200000X
    261QR0800X
    261QR0207X
    224Y00000X
    3336C0004X
    163WE0003X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    18 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    A49.02Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection, unspecified site
    B95.61Methicillin susceptible Staphylococcus aureus infection as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere
    B99.9Unspecified infectious disease
    I83.10Varicose veins of unspecified lower extremity with inflammation
    L02.01Cutaneous abscess of face
    L02.11Cutaneous abscess of neck
    L02.411Cutaneous abscess of right axilla
    L02.612Cutaneous abscess of left foot
    L02.91Cutaneous abscess, unspecified
    L03.012Cellulitis of left finger

    Showing 1–10 of 18

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Dermatology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Mohs Micrographic Surgerypremerabluecrossofwashington2027-02-05
    Mohs Micrographic Surgerypremerabluecrossofwashington2027-02-05
    Mohs Micrographic Surgerypremerabluecrossofwashington2027-02-05
    FilsuvezCigna2026-11-01
    Destruction of Pre-Malignant Skin LesionsAnthem2026-10-01
    Onychomycosis diagnostic testing and coverageOscar Health2026-10-01
    Treatment of Capillary Malformations (Port Wine Stains)universityofutahhealthplans2026-09-28
    AnzupgoCigna2026-09-15
    Hyperhidrosispriority_health_medicare2026-09-01
    Zevaskyn Coverage for Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis BullosaCigna2026-09-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-10040-LESION-EXTRACTION-DRAINAGE-REMOVAL

    CPT 10040: Extraction of Skin Lesion (Incision and Drainage)

    CPT-10060-INCISION-AND-DRAINAGE-SIMPLE-ABSCESS

    CPT 10060: Incision and Drainage of Simple Skin Abscess

    CPT-10061-COMPLICATED-INCISION-AND-DRAINAGE-ABSCESS

    CPT 10061: Incision and Drainage, Complicated Abscess

    CPT-10080-PILONIDAL-CYST-INCISION-AND-DRAINAGE

    CPT 10080: Incision and Drainage of Pilonidal Cyst

    CPT-10081-PILONIDAL-CYST-INCISION-DRAINAGE-PROCEDURE

    CPT 10081: Incision and Drainage of Pilonidal Cyst, Complex

    CPT-10120-FOREIGN-BODY-REMOVAL-SUBCUTANEOUS

    CPT 10120: Incision and Removal of Subcutaneous Foreign Body

    CPT-10121-DEEP-FOREIGN-BODY-REMOVAL-SOFT-TISSUE

    CPT 10121: Incision and Removal of Deep Foreign Body

    CPT-10140-INCISION-AND-DRAINAGE-HEMATOMA-SEROMA-FLUID-EVACUATION

    CPT 10140: Incision and Drainage of Hematoma/Seroma

    CPT-10180-INCISION-DRAINAGE-INSTRUMENT-ASSISTED-INFECTION

    CPT 10180: Incision and Drainage of Complex Infected Area

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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