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CPT 15736: Upper-Extremity Muscle or Fasciocutaneous Flap Reconstruction
CPT code 15736 denotes the surgical creation of a muscle, myocutaneous, or fasciocutaneous flap from an upper extremity to treat an injury or open wound. This reconstructive flap procedure is used to provide durable soft-tissue coverage, improve wound healing, and restore function after trauma, infection, or tissue loss. Nationally, flap reconstruction codes like 15736 are clinically important for trauma, burn, oncologic, and complex wound care pathways and can affect surgical workflows, utilization, and payment patterns across inpatient and outpatient settings.
Key payers considered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical intent and service setting, standard billing considerations, common modifiers associated with surgical services, and where to look for related coding guidance. The publication highlights typical sites of service and payer coverage patterns, offers benchmarking context for utilization and reimbursement (where available), and summarizes recent policy themes affecting reconstructive flap procedures. Data not available in the input is noted explicitly where applicable.
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Billing Code Overview
CPT code 15736 describes the creation of a muscle, myocutaneous, or fasciocutaneous flap harvested from the upper extremity to treat an injury or open wound on an affected area. This procedure involves mobilizing tissue with its blood supply to provide coverage, promote healing, and restore form and function at the recipient site.
Service type: Surgical reconstructive procedure — flap reconstruction
Typical site of service: Operating room or surgical suite, commonly performed in inpatient or outpatient surgical settings depending on wound complexity and patient status.