Summary & Overview
CPT 17250: Chemical Cauterization of Granulation Tissue
CPT code 17250 denotes chemical cauterization of granulation tissue, a minor dermatologic or wound-care procedure used to control excessive granulation and promote healing. Nationally relevant for outpatient surgical and dermatology practice settings, this code captures a common, procedure-level intervention performed in ambulatory clinics and outpatient procedure rooms.
Key payers discussed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context, common sites of service, and typical scenarios where the code is billed. The publication outlines benchmark considerations, payer coverage patterns, and coding nuances that affect claim adjudication for this service. It also summarizes policy updates and documentation elements that commonly influence reimbursement and utilization reporting.
This resource is intended to help billing managers, practice administrators, and health policy analysts understand how CPT code 17250 is used, what clinical situations it represents, and what factors commonly affect payer decisions and claim processes at a national level.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 17250 describes chemical cauterization of granulation tissue using agents such as silver nitrate or potassium hydroxide to promote healing of injured tissue. This procedure is a minor surgical or dermatologic intervention that involves topical chemical application to control granulation tissue and facilitate wound resolution.
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Service type: Minor surgical/dermatologic procedure
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Typical site of service: Ambulatory clinic, dermatology office, outpatient procedure room, or other outpatient settings where minor wound care and topical surgical treatments are performed.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 42-year-old woman presents to a dermatology clinic with a non-healing granulating wound at the margin of a previously excised skin lesion on the left cheek. The wound has persistent friable granulation tissue that bleeds easily and impairs epithelialization. After wound cleansing and bedside assessment, the provider elects to apply chemical cautery with silver nitrate to devitalize the granulation tissue and promote healing. The procedure is performed in an outpatient dermatology procedure room. The workflow includes informed consent, topical or local anesthesia if needed, targeted application of silver nitrate stick to the granulation tissue until hemostasis and tissue devitalization are achieved, wound dressing, and post‑procedure wound care instructions. Follow-up is scheduled to reassess wound closure and to repeat chemical cautery if residual granulation tissue persists.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
25 | Significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service by same physician on same day | Use when an E/M visit is performed and documented separately from the chemical cautery on the same day. |
| 52 | Reduced services | Use when the chemical cautery is partially performed or limited in scope compared with full service.