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    v1.0.31
    OpenPayerBilling CodesLower Extremity Application of CastsCPT cpt-29445-total-contact-walking-cast-for-diabetic-ulcer-offloading
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    CPT 29445: Total Contact Cast for Diabetic Foot Ulcer

    Medicare pays $136 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 29445 describes application of a short leg total contact cast (TCC) that covers the lower leg, ankle, and foot to treat diabetic foot ulcers; service type is therapeutic cast application / off-loading procedure and typical site of service is outpatient clinic, wound care center, or ambulatory surgical center where the provider fits a cast shaped to accommodate a removable cast shoe or embedded footplate to permit ambulation while protecting the ulcer.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Medical Necessity Guidelines Non-Emergency Transportation, Non-Emergent Transportation Medical Policy, Non-Emergency Facility to Facility Transfers.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is an adult with diabetes mellitus who presents to a podiatry or wound-care clinic for management of a non-healing plantar foot ulcer. The provider evaluates perfusion, infection signs, and offloading needs. After debridement and wound assessment, the clinician selects a total contact cast (TCC) to provide definitive offloading of the lower leg, ankle, and foot. The procedure is performed in an outpatient clinic, ambulatory surgery center, or hospital-based wound clinic. The TCC is molded to the patient’s limb and fitted to accept a removable cast shoe or is formed with an embedded footplate and rubber heel to permit protected weight-bearing. Typical workflow: history and focused exam, wound measurement and dressing change, debridement as needed, cast application (material selection, molding, padding), patient education on cast care and activity restrictions, and scheduling follow-up for cast change and wound reassessment. This procedure is billed using 29445 for application of a short leg walking or total contact cast for diabetic ulcer offloading.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    11042Debridement; subcutaneous tissue (first 20 sq cm or less)Sharp debridement of wound bed commonly performed immediately prior to applying a TCC.
    97597Debridement (eg, high-pressure water jet, sharp) & wound debridement, selective debridement, initial; first 20 sq cmUsed for wound debridement and preparation before offloading with a TCC.
    29580Application of short leg splint (calf to foot)Alternative temporary immobilization before definitive 29445 TCC application or between cast changes.
    29540Strapping; ankle and/or footAdjunctive stabilization or when full TCC is not indicated.
    11044Debridement; muscle and/or fascia, first 20 sq cmMore extensive debridement that may precede TCC application in complex ulcers.

    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.,…
    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…
    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…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    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…
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207N00000X
    207L00000X
    2080P0006X
    208D00000X
    363L00000X
    235500000X
    2251E1200X
    363LN0000X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    27 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    E10.51Type 1 diabetes mellitus with diabetic peripheral angiopathy without gangrene
    E10.621Type 1 diabetes mellitus with foot ulcer
    E10.622Type 1 diabetes mellitus with other skin ulcer
    E11.40Type 2 diabetes mellitus with diabetic neuropathy, unspecified
    E11.51Type 2 diabetes mellitus with diabetic peripheral angiopathy without gangrene
    E11.610Type 2 diabetes mellitus with diabetic neuropathic arthropathy
    E11.621Type 2 diabetes mellitus with foot ulcer
    E11.622Type 2 diabetes mellitus with other skin ulcer
    E11.65Type 2 diabetes mellitus with hyperglycemia
    G62.0Drug-induced polyneuropathy

    Showing 1–10 of 27

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Emergency & Medical Transportation1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Medical Necessity Guidelines Non-Emergency TransportationMass General Brigham Health Plan2026-11-01
    Non-Emergent Transportation Medical PolicyHealth-New-England2026-11-01
    Non-Emergency Facility to Facility Transfershap_caresource_mi_coordinated_health2026-11-01
    Ambulance and Medical Transport Services (Ground, Air and Water) Corporate Medical Policybcbsvermont2026-10-01
    Emergency Air/Water Ambulance Services Medical GuidelineWPS Health Insurance2026-10-01
    Non-Emergent Ambulance ServicesConnectiCare2026-09-11
    Fixed Wing Air Ambulance TransportCigna2026-08-15
    Air AmbulanceAmbetter Georgia2026-08-01
    Ambulance Services (for New Mexico Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-08-01
    Ambulance Services (for Tennessee Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-08-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-29305-HIP-SPICA-BODY-CAST-TRUNK-AND-ONE-LEG

    CPT 29305: Hip Spica Body Cast for Trunk and One Leg

    CPT-29325-HIP-SPICA-BODY-CAST-APPLICATION

    CPT 29325: Hip Spica Cast Application for Hip/Thigh Immobilization

    CPT-29345-LONG-LEG-CAST-APPLICATION-IMMOBILIZATION

    CPT 29345: Long Leg Cast Application, Knee and Leg Immobilization

    CPT-29355-LONG-LEG-AMBULATORY-CAST-APPLICATION

    CPT 29355: Long Leg Ambulatory Cast Application

    CPT-29358-LONG-LEG-BRACE-CAST-FEMUR-FRACTURE-IMMOBILIZATION

    CPT 29358: Long Leg Brace-Type Cast with Knee Motion for Femur Fracture

    CPT-29365-CYLINDER-CAST-LEG-KNEE-IMMOBILIZATION-FRACTURE

    CPT 29365: Thigh-to-Lower-Leg Cylinder Cast Immobilization

    CPT-29405-SHORT-LEG-CAST-LOWER-LEG-FRACTURE-ANKLE-SPRAIN

    CPT 29405: Short Leg Cast for Lower Leg Fracture or Severe Ankle Sprain

    CPT-29425-LOWER-LEG-CAST-APPLICATION-TIBIA-FIBULA-ANKLE

    CPT 29425: Lower Leg Cast Application with Walking Accommodation

    CPT-29435-WALKING-CAST-LOWER-LEG-TIBIA-FIBULA-FRACTURE

    CPT 29435: Lower Leg Walking Cast for Tibia/Fibula Shaft Fracture

    CPT-29440-REMOVABLE-WALKER-OR-HEEL-PAD-FOR-LEG-CAST

    CPT 29440: Removable Walker or Heel Pad Added to Leg Cast

    Showing 1–10 of 11

    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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