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    OpenPayerBilling CodesRepair-Intermediate Procedures on the Integumentary SystemCPT cpt-12032-intermediate-wound-repair-2-6-to-7-5-cm
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    CPT 12032: Intermediate Repair of Wound, 2.6–7.5 cm

    Medicare pays $311 and commercial payers pay $514 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 12032 describes an intermediate repair procedure for wounds of the scalp, axillae, trunk, and/or extremities (excluding hands and feet) measuring 2.6 to 7.5 cm; the service is a surgical wound repair typically performed in an ambulatory surgery center, hospital outpatient department, or physician office for traumatic or surgical lacerations requiring layered closure and intermediate tissue repair.

    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 well above Medicare for CPT 12032: Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Aetna, UnitedHealth Group and BUCA all have mean commercial rates higher than Medicare’s mean of $311, with BUCA’s mean at $513.80 notably about $202.80 above Medicare. This gap highlights a substantial commercial-to-Medicare spread driven by higher negotiated means in the commercial market versus the Medicare locality average ($311 across 47 localities).

    Dispersion measured as the interquartile range (P75–P25) varies materially by payer. Blue Cross Blue Shield has the widest IQR at $262.90 (P75 $770.70 minus P25 $490.80), followed by UnitedHealth Group at $283.30 (P75 $544.40 minus P25 $271.10) and BUCA at $261.60 (P75 $638.30 minus P25 $372.70). Aetna and Cigna show tighter spreads at $217.40 and $267.30 respectively, while Medicare’s P75–P25 spread is narrow at $35.00 (P75 $323 minus P25 $288).

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    National Payer Mean Reimbursement Rates

    State Reimbursement Rates

    State: Alaska1 / 51

    Rate by payer

    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 35-year-old male presents to the emergency department after sustaining a 4.0 cm linear laceration to the right forearm from a fall onto broken glass. The wound is on the extensor surface of the forearm, approximately 4 cm in length, with moderate tissue involvement requiring layered closure (deep dermal approximation plus epidermal suturing). The patient is hemodynamically stable, tetanus status updated, and initial wound irrigation and exploration are performed at bedside. Local anesthesia is administered and an intermediate repair is performed using buried interrupted absorbable sutures for the deep dermal layer and nonabsorbable interrupted sutures for the epidermis. The procedure is documented with wound measurements, suture materials, anesthesia agents, and consent. The clinician codes the procedure as 12032 for intermediate repair of wounds of the scalp, axillae, trunk and/or extremities; 2.6 to 7.5 cm.

    The typical clinical workflow includes triage and wound assessment, informed consent, local anesthesia, wound irrigation and debridement as needed, layered closure (deep sutures plus epidermal closure), dressing application, discharge instructions including wound care and return precautions, and follow-up arranged for suture removal and wound check. Procedural documentation includes wound length, location, complexity (multilayer closure), anesthesia, complications if any, and time spent counseling if relevant for modifier reporting.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    12031

    Related Modifiers

    10 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…
    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…
    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…
    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…
    78CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…
    79Modifier 79 indicates a surgical procedure performed during the postoperative global period of a prior surgery that is unrelated to the original procedure. Per AMA/CPT and CMS guidance, it is…- Use modifier 79 when the same physician (or same‑specialty physician in the same group) performs a surgical procedure during the postoperative global period of a prior surgery and the new procedure…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    208600000X
    207Q00000X
    208D00000X
    281PC2000X
    225XP0019X
    324500000X
    207WX0120X
    156FC0800X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    17 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    B82.0Intestinal helminthiasis, unspecified
    L03.119Cellulitis of unspecified part of limb
    L08.9Local infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, unspecified
    L98.9Disorder of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, unspecified
    R20.2Paresthesia of skin
    R23.1Pallor
    S01.81XALaceration without foreign body of other part of head, initial encounter
    S01.91XALaceration without foreign body of unspecified part of head, initial encounter
    S11.81XALaceration without foreign body of other specified part of neck, initial encounter
    S41.001AUnspecified open wound of right shoulder, initial encounter

    Showing 1–10 of 17

    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-12031-INTERMEDIATE-REPAIR-WOUND-SCALP-TRUNK-EXTREMITY-2-5CM

    CPT 12031: Intermediate Repair of Wound, Scalp/Axilla/Trunk/Extremity 2.5 cm or Less

    CPT-12034-INTERMEDIATE-WOUND-REPAIR-7-6-TO-12-5-CM-SCALP-TRUNK-EXTREMITIES

    CPT 12034: Intermediate Wound Repair, 7.6–12.5 cm, Scalp/Trunk/Extremities

    CPT-12035-INTERMEDIATE-WOUND-REPAIR-SCALP-TRUNK-EXTREMITIES-12-6-20CM

    CPT 12035: Intermediate Repair of Wounds 12.6–20 cm

    CPT-12036-INTERMEDIATE-REPAIR-WOUND-20-1-30-CM-SCALP-TRUNK-EXTREMITIES

    CPT 12036: Intermediate Repair of Wound 20.1–30 cm

    CPT-12037-INTERMEDIATE-REPAIR-WOUND-GREATER-THAN-30CM-SCALP-TRUNK-EXTREMITIES

    CPT 12037: Intermediate Repair of Wounds >30.0 cm

    CPT-12041-INTERMEDIATE-REPAIR-SUPERFICIAL-WOUND-2-5CM-OR-LESS

    CPT 12041: Intermediate Repair of Superficial Wound ≤2.5 cm

    CPT-12042-INTERMEDIATE-REPAIR-SUPERFICIAL-WOUND-NECK-HANDS-FEET-GENITALIA

    CPT 12042: Intermediate Repair of Superficial Wound 2.6–7.5 cm

    CPT-12044-INTERMEDIATE-REPAIR-SUPERFICIAL-WOUNDS-7-6-TO-12-5-CM

    CPT 12044: Intermediate Repair of Superficial Wound 7.6–12.5 cm

    CPT-12045-INTERMEDIATE-WOUND-REPAIR-NECK-HANDS-FEET-GENITALIA

    CPT 12045: Intermediate Repair of Superficial Wounds 12.6–20 cm

    CPT-12046-INTERMEDIATE-REPAIR-SUPERFICIAL-WOUND-20-1-TO-30-CM-NECK-HANDS-FEET-GENITALIA

    CPT 12046: Intermediate Repair of Superficial Wound 20.1–30.0 cm

    Showing 1–10 of 18

    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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    Repair, intermediate, wounds of scalp, axillae, trunk and/or extremities; 2.5 cm or less
    Used for smaller wounds when closure complexity is intermediate but total length is ≤ 2.5 cm; alternative code when wound length is smaller than the 12032 range
    12034Repair, intermediate, wounds of scalp, axillae, trunk and/or extremities; 7.6 cm to 12.5 cmUsed for intermediate repairs when wound length falls into the next higher size bracket, typically after measuring wound length
    12035Repair, intermediate, wounds of scalp, axillae, trunk and/or extremities; 12.6 cm to 20.0 cmUsed when intermediate repair spans a longer wound length requiring more resources than 12032
    12036Repair, intermediate, wounds of scalp, axillae, trunk and/or extremities; 20.1 cm to 30.0 cmUsed for substantially longer intermediate repairs beyond the 12032 size range