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    OpenPayerBilling CodesRepair-Intermediate Procedures on the Integumentary SystemCPT cpt-12034-intermediate-wound-repair-7-6-to-12-5-cm-scalp-trunk-extremities
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    CPT 12034: Intermediate Wound Repair, 7.6–12.5 cm, Scalp/Trunk/Extremities

    Medicare pays $346 and commercial payers pay $420 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 12034 describes an intermediate repair procedure for wounds of the scalp, axillae, trunk, and/or extremities (excluding hands and feet) measuring 7.6 to 12.5 cm, typically performed as a surgical wound repair in an outpatient surgical suite, emergency department, or clinic procedure room.

    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

    National averages show Medicare at $346.3 versus BUCA (commercial average) at $419.7, placing BUCA about $73.4 higher than Medicare on mean reimbursement for CPT 12034. This gap highlights that average commercial plans pay materially more than the federal program for this code, with BUCA above the midpoint of commercial payers and Medicare sitting below most commercial means.

    Dispersion measured by interquartile range (P75–P25) varies notably: Blue Cross Blue Shield has a spread of $314.0 (from $286.8 to $582.3), UnitedHealth Group $295.9 (from $286.5 to $582.4), Cigna $278.5 (from $269.4 to $547.9), BUCA $275.7 (from $256.1 to $537.8), and Aetna is the tightest at $205.4 (from $89.6 to $305.3). These differences indicate which commercial payers exhibit wider variability in typical negotiated rates.

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    National Payer Mean Reimbursement Rates

    State Reimbursement Rates

    State: Alaska1 / 51

    Rate by payer

    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 34-year-old male presents to the emergency department after a fall onto a metal fence, sustaining a 9-cm jagged laceration to the right forearm with moderate depth but without an apparent foreign body. The wound is cleaned, irrigated, and anesthetized with local infiltration. Examination confirms no tendon or neurovascular injury. The provider performs an intermediate layered repair of the subcutaneous tissue and dermis to approximate wound edges and reduce tension. The procedure is documented with wound length of 9.0 cm, location on the right forearm, estimated blood loss minimal, and wound closure in layers using absorbable deep sutures and subcuticular interrupted sutures for the skin. The patient receives tetanus status assessment, aftercare instructions, and a scheduled wound check in 5–7 days. Typical sites of service for 12034 include emergency departments, urgent care centers, ambulatory surgery centers, and office-based procedure rooms. Typical providers include general surgeons, family medicine physicians, and dermatology physicians trained in minor surgical procedures.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    12031Intermediate repair, scalp, axillae, trunk and/or extremities (excluding hands and feet); 2.5 cm or lessAlternative code for much smaller intermediate repairs when wound length is 2.5 cm or less.

    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…
    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…
    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…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    208600000X
    207Q00000X
    208D00000X
    261QP2300X
    156FC0800X
    207U00000X
    207WX0108X
    225CX0006X

    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-12032-INTERMEDIATE-WOUND-REPAIR-2-6-TO-7-5-CM

    CPT 12032: Intermediate Repair of Wound, 2.6–7.5 cm

    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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    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.

    12032Intermediate repair, scalp, axillae, trunk and/or extremities (excluding hands and feet); 2.6 cm to 7.5 cmUsed for intermediate repairs of shorter wounds; select when measured wound length falls within 2.6–7.5 cm.
    12034Intermediate repair, scalp, axillae, trunk and/or extremities (excluding hands and feet); 7.6 cm to 12.5 cmPrimary code in this document for intermediate layered wound closure of 7.6–12.5 cm wounds.
    12035Intermediate repair, scalp, axillae, trunk and/or extremities (excluding hands and feet); 12.6 cm to 20.0 cmUsed when intermediate layered closure exceeds 12.5 cm but is 12.6–20.0 cm.
    12036Intermediate repair, scalp, axillae, trunk and/or extremities (excluding hands and feet); 20.1 cm to 30.0 cmUsed for very long intermediate repairs in the 20.1–30.0 cm range.
    12037Intermediate repair, scalp, axillae, trunk and/or extremities (excluding hands and feet); over 30.0 cmUsed for extremely long intermediate repairs exceeding 30.0 cm.