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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesDebridement Procedures on the SkinCPT cpt-11042-surgical-debridement-skin-subcutaneous
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    CPT 11042: Surgical Debridement of Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue, Up to 20 cm2

    Medicare pays $137 and commercial payers pay $328 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 11042 describes surgical debridement performed with instruments to remove necrotic tissue involving the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue for an area up to 20 cm2; the service is a surgical debridement procedure typically performed in an operative/surgical suite or procedure room and is billed as a surgical wound care intervention.

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

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    National Reimbursement Benchmarks

    Commercial averages sit above Medicare for CPT 11042: Blue Cross Blue Shield and BUCA show notably higher means, with BUCA’s mean at $328.20 versus Medicare’s mean of $137.50 — BUCA is roughly $190.70 higher than Medicare. Other commercial payers like Aetna ($89.70), Cigna ($148.20), and UnitedHealth Group ($162.20) span below and above Medicare, while Blue Cross Blue Shield’s mean ($474.40) is the highest among listed payers.

    Dispersion varies materially across payers. Calculating interquartile ranges (P75–P25) shows Blue Cross Blue Shield has the widest spread at $254.70, followed by Aetna at $77.80, UnitedHealth Group at $122.10, Cigna at $109.60, and BUCA at $160.70. Medicare’s IQR is narrow at $16.00, indicating the tightest distribution around its central tendency. These differences highlight greater variability in commercial contract rates versus Medicare.

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    National Payer Mean Reimbursement Rates

    State Reimbursement Rates

    State: Alaska1 / 51

    Rate by payer

    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 62-year-old patient with long-standing type 2 diabetes (E11.52) and peripheral arterial disease presents to the outpatient wound clinic with a 3-cm necrotic ulcer on the plantar surface of the right foot with surrounding necrotic tissue and moderate exudate. The wound care nurse documents nonviable epidermis and dermis with subcutaneous slough that prevents assessment of viable tissue. The surgeon evaluates the patient, documents informed consent, reviews perfusion and glycemic control, administers local or regional anesthesia, and performs sharp surgical debridement using scalpel and forceps down to and including the subcutaneous layer, removing all devitalized tissue across a wound area of 18 cm2. Hemostasis is achieved, the wound is irrigated, and a sterile dressing is applied. The procedure is billed with 11042 for debridement to subcutaneous tissue (first 20 cm2). Postprocedure instructions include wound dressing changes, serial debridement plan if needed, and referral to vascular surgery if ischemia worsens. Typical site of service is outpatient wound clinic, physician office, or ambulatory surgical center. Usual providers include general surgeons, vascular surgeons, surgical critical care physicians, and family medicine physicians with wound care experience.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    11045Debridement, subcutaneous tissue (includes epidermis and dermis, if performed); each additional 20 sq cm, or part thereof

    Related Modifiers

    9 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…
    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…
    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…
    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…
    51Modifier –51 (Multiple Procedures) is used when the same provider performs multiple procedures in the same session to identify secondary, non‑exempt procedures and indicate payment reduction logic…- Use modifier -51 when the same provider performs multiple distinct procedures during the same patient encounter: report the highest‑valued procedure first (no modifier) and append -51 to…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207XS0106X
    208600000X
    207Q00000X
    320700000X
    246X00000X
    363AM0700X
    207RA0002X
    207LP3000X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    30 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    A48.0Gas gangrene
    E08.51Diabetes mellitus due to underlying condition with diabetic peripheral angiopathy without gangrene
    E08.52Diabetes mellitus due to underlying condition with diabetic peripheral angiopathy with gangrene
    E09.51Drug or chemical induced diabetes mellitus with diabetic peripheral angiopathy without gangrene
    E09.52Drug or chemical induced diabetes mellitus with diabetic peripheral angiopathy with gangrene
    E10.51Type 1 diabetes mellitus with diabetic peripheral angiopathy without gangrene
    E10.52Type 1 diabetes mellitus with diabetic peripheral angiopathy with gangrene
    E11.51Type 2 diabetes mellitus with diabetic peripheral angiopathy without gangrene
    E11.52Type 2 diabetes mellitus with diabetic peripheral angiopathy with gangrene
    I70.231Atherosclerosis of native arteries of right leg with ulceration of thigh

    Showing 1–10 of 30

    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-11000-SURGICAL-DEBRIDEMENT-SKIN-UP-TO-10-PERCENT-BODY-SURFACE

    CPT 11000: Surgical Debridement of Skin, Up to 10% BSA

    CPT-11001-ADD-ON-SURGICAL-DEBRIDEMENT-UP-TO-10-PERCENT

    CPT 11001: Surgical Debridement, Add-on, Additional Up to 10% Skin

    CPT-11004-PERINEAL-GENITAL-NECROTIC-TISSUE-DEBRIDEMENT

    CPT 11004: Debridement of External Genitalia and Perineum

    CPT-11005-ABDOMINAL-WALL-DEBRIDEMENT-NECROTIC-TISSUE-EVALUATION

    CPT 11005: Abdominal Wall Debridement of Necrotic Tissue

    CPT-11006-NECROTIZING-SOFT-TISSUE-DEBRIDEMENT-GENITALIA-PERINEUM

    CPT 11006: Debridement of Necrotic Tissue, Genitalia/Perineum/Abdominal Wall

    CPT-11008-ABDOMINAL-WALL-PROSTHETIC-MESH-REMOVAL-INFECTION

    CPT 11008: Removal of Prosthetic Material or Mesh from Abdominal Wall

    CPT-11010-DEBRIDEMENT-OPEN-FRACTURE-DISLOCATION

    CPT 11010: Debridement for Open Fracture or Dislocation

    CPT-11011-DEBRIDEMENT-OPEN-FRACTURE-DISLOCATION-DEEP-TISSUES

    CPT 11011: Debridement for Open Fracture or Dislocation

    CPT-11012-DEBRIDEMENT-OPEN-FRACTURE-DISLOCATION-DEEP-TISSUE

    CPT 11012: Debridement for Open Fracture Wound

    CPT-11043-SURGICAL-DEBRIDEMENT-MUSCLE-FASCIA-20CM2-OR-LESS

    CPT 11043: Surgical Debridement of Muscle and/or Fascia, ≤20 cm2

    Showing 1–10 of 14

    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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    Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

    Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.

    Billed in addition to 11042 when the total debrided area exceeds the first 20 cm2; used to report incremental 20 cm2 units