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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesOther Repair (Closure) Procedures on the Integumentary SystemCPT cpt-15853-suture-staple-removal-add-on-to-evaluation-and-management
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    CPT 15853: Removal of Sutures or Staples (Add-on to E/M)

    Medicare pays $14 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 15853 describes an add-on service in which the provider removes sutures or staples as part of an evaluation and management encounter; this represents a minor procedure service typically performed in an outpatient clinic or office setting during an E/M visit and is billed in addition to the primary E/M service when removal of sutures or staples is performed.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Onychomycosis diagnostic testing and coverage, Topical Acne-Non-Retinoid Products, Dermatology - Vtama Drug Quantity Management Policy - Per Days.

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is a 45-year-old who presents to an outpatient surgical clinic or primary care office for planned removal of skin sutures following a recent procedure such as excision of a skin lesion, repair of a laceration, or closure after an operative procedure. The provider performs a focused evaluation and management visit to inspect the wound for healing, removes sutures or staples, documents wound appearance, discusses wound care instructions, and assesses for signs of infection or dehiscence. The service is billed as an add-on to an evaluation and management service using 15853 when the provider removes sutures or staples during the same encounter as the E/M visit. Typical sites of service include ambulatory surgery centers, outpatient clinics, urgent care centers, and physician offices. The clinical workflow commonly includes review of the operative note or prior visit, focused physical exam of the incision site, removal of sutures or staples using sterile technique, wound cleansing, brief counseling on wound care and return precautions, and documentation of the procedure and findings in the medical record.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    99213Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient, typically 15 minutesCommon E/M visit code billed with suture/staple removal when a problem-focused evaluation is performed
    12001Simple repair of superficial wounds of scalp, neck, axillae, external genitalia, trunk and/or extremities; 2.5 cm or lessOften precedes suture removal when initial wound repair was a simple closure
    12021Intermediate repair of wounds of scalp, axillae, trunk and/or extremities; 2.5 cm or lessUsed for intermediate closures that will later require suture removal
    15852Suture removal requiring complex technique (Note: similar add-on context)Related add-on-level service for suture removal in more complex scenarios
    99024Postoperative follow-up visit, normally included in the global service, performed during a postoperative periodIndicates routine postoperative follow-up that typically includes suture/staple removal when included in global surgical package

    Related Modifiers

    8 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…
    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…
    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 CodeSpecialtyNotes
    207Q00000XFamily Medicine PhysicianFamily Medicine is the medical specialty which is concerned with the total health care of the individual and the family. It is the specialty in breadt…
    208000000XPediatrics PhysicianA pediatrician is concerned with the physical, emotional and social health of children from birth to young adulthood. Care encompasses a broad spectru…
    207L00000XAnesthesiology PhysicianAn anesthesiologist is trained to provide pain relief and maintenance, or restoration, of a stable condition during and immediately following an opera…
    363LF0000XFamily Nurse PractitionerPhysician Assistants & Advanced Practice Nursing Providers · Nurse Practitioner
    207RR0500XRheumatology PhysicianAn internist who treats diseases of joints, muscle, bones and tendons. This specialist diagnoses and treats arthritis, back pain, muscle strains, comm…
    261QE0002XEmergency Care Clinic/CenterAmbulatory Health Care Facilities · Clinic/Center
    111NN1001XNutrition ChiropractorChiropractic Nutrition is that specialty within the chiropractic profession that deals with the overall factors that affect the patient's ability to m…
    207RI0001XClinical & Laboratory Immunology (Internal Medicine) PhysicianAn internal medicine physician who specializes in clinical and laboratory immunology disease management.

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    21 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    A49.9Bacterial infection, unspecified
    K22.2Esophageal obstruction
    L73.0Acne keloid
    L90.5Scar conditions and fibrosis of skin
    L97.909Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of unspecified lower leg with unspecified severity
    M86.60Other chronic osteomyelitis, unspecified site
    R22.1Localized swelling, mass and lump, neck
    R63.4Abnormal weight loss
    S01.01XALaceration without foreign body of scalp, initial encounter
    S31.811ALaceration without foreign body of right buttock, initial encounter

    Showing 1–10 of 21

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Dermatology1 / 2

    5 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Onychomycosis diagnostic testing and coverageOscar Health2026-10-01
    Topical Acne-Non-Retinoid ProductsCigna2026-08-15
    Dermatology - Vtama Drug Quantity Management Policy - Per DaysCigna2026-08-15
    Medical Necessity Guidelines: Acne and Rosacea Medicationsharvard pilgrim health care2026-08-11
    Winlevi (clascoterone 1% cream) — Topical AcneCigna2026-08-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-15780-FACIAL-DEVICE-BASED-RESURFACING-TOTAL-FACE

    CPT 15780: Rotational Device Treatment of Total Face

    CPT-15781-FACIAL-DERMABRASION-PARTIAL-FACE

    CPT 15781: Partial-Face Dermabrasion for Scars, Lesions, Tattoos

    CPT-15782-NON-FACIAL-DERMABRASION-SKIN-RESURFACING

    CPT 15782: Dermabrasion, Non-Facial Skin

    CPT-15783-SUPERFICIAL-SKIN-RESURFACING-TATTOO-AND-SCAR-REMOVAL

    CPT 15783: Dermabrasion for Tattoo and Superficial Lesion Removal

    CPT-15786-SKIN-LESION-SANDING-DERMABRASION-SINGLE-LESION

    CPT 15786: Skin Surface Abrasion for Single Lesion

    CPT-15787-DERMAL-RESURFACING-ADDITIONAL-LESIONS-1-TO-4

    CPT 15787: Removal of 1–4 Additional Lesions by Light Dermabrasion

    CPT-15788-CHEMICAL-PEEL-CHEMEXFOLIATION-SKIN-RESURFACING

    CPT 15788: Chemical Peel (Chemexfoliation) for Superficial Skin Lesions

    CPT-15789-CHEMICAL-PEEL-CHEMEXFOLIATION

    CPT 15789: Chemical Peel (Chemexfoliation)

    CPT-15792-CHEMICAL-PEEL-CHEMEXFOLIATION

    CPT 15792: Chemical Peel (Chemexfoliation)

    CPT-15793-CHEMICAL-PEEL-CHEMEXFOLIATION-SKIN-RESURFACING

    CPT 15793: Chemical Peel (Chemexfoliation) for Superficial Skin Damage

    Showing 1–10 of 41

    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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