CPT 97606: Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy with Durable Medical Equipment >50 cm2

Medicare pays $52 on average nationally for this procedure.

CPT code 97606 describes negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) using durable medical equipment applied around a wound via a sealed dressing to remove fluids and infectious material and promote healing for wounds with a total surface area greater than 50 square centimeters; the service is application and management of controlled subatmospheric pressure using DME and the typical site of service is outpatient wound care settings, home health, or facility-based wound clinics where durable NPWT systems are applied and monitored.

For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Home Health, Skilled, and Custodial Care Services (for Idaho Only), Private Duty Nursing Services (for Florida Only), Private Duty Nursing Services.

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CPT 97606: Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy with Durable Medical Equipment >50 cm2

Medicare pays $52 on average nationally for this procedure.

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Sign up for cpt 97606 policy alerts

Get alerted when payer policies referencing 97606 are released or updated.

Monitor payer policy activity

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Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 67-year-old male with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes and a chronic full-thickness left lower extremity wound measuring approximately 75 square centimeters presents to an outpatient wound clinic for ongoing management. The wound shows moderate serosanguinous drainage, macerated edges, and slough on the base despite standard moist wound care and debridement. The provider elects to apply negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) using a durable NPWT device configured for continuous subatmospheric pressure, secured with a sealed dressing and tubing to a canister-based suction unit.

The clinical workflow includes: a focused wound assessment (size, depth, exudate, signs of infection), measurement and photography, appropriate wound bed preparation (sharp or enzymatic debridement if indicated), application of a sterile NPWT foam or gauze dressing cut to wound dimensions, placement of an occlusive adhesive drape to create a seal, connection to the NPWT device, verification of negative pressure function, patient/caregiver education on device alarms and canister management, and documentation of wound measurements, rationale for NPWT, device settings, and planned follow-up. Dressing change frequency and device duration are determined by wound response and payer policy. This scenario corresponds to NPWT applied to a wound with total surface area greater than 50 square centimeters, consistent with billing using 97606 for the application of durable subatmospheric pressure therapy in the outpatient setting.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`11042`	Debridement, subcutaneous tissue (eg, fat) — first 20 sq cm or less	Sharp debridement frequently performed prior to NPWT application to optimize wound bed.
`11043`	Debridement, muscle and fascia — first 20 sq cm or less	Deeper debridement codes used when NPWT is applied after removal of necrotic muscle or fascia.
`97597`	Debridement (eg, high-pressure waterjet, sharp debridement) with or without topical application; selective debridement, without anesthesia	Debridement services preceding NPWT to prepare wound bed; often part of the same visit.
`29580`	Application of short leg walking cast, posterior and anterior	Occasionally used in conjunction with NPWT for offloading when lower extremity wounds require immobilization.
`99070`	Supplies and materials (eg, dressings, bandages) used directly by the physician in the office	Billed for additional non-inventoried supplies used during NPWT application when allowed by payer policies.

Related Modifiers

6 rows

Modifier	Description	When to Use
25	CPT 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.,…
52	Modifier ‑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…
53	Modifier 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…
59	Modifier 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…
76	Modifier -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…
77	Modifier 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…

Related Provider Taxonomies

8 rows

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207L00000X	Anesthesiology Physician	An anesthesiologist is trained to provide pain relief and maintenance, or restoration, of a stable condition during and immediately following an opera…
207P00000X	Emergency Medicine Physician	An emergency physician focuses on the immediate decision making and action necessary to prevent death or any further disability both in the pre-hospit…
207Q00000X	Family Medicine Physician	Family 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…
208000000X	Pediatrics Physician	A pediatrician is concerned with the physical, emotional and social health of children from birth to young adulthood. Care encompasses a broad spectru…
261QF0400X	Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC)	Ambulatory Health Care Facilities · Clinic/Center
2084S0012X	Sleep Medicine (Psychiatry & Neurology) Physician	A Psychiatrist or Neurologist who practices Sleep Medicine is certified in the subspecialty of sleep medicine and specializes in the clinical assessme…
347D00000X	Train	An organization or business licensed to provide passenger train service, including light rail, subway, and traditional services.
207QP0002X	Physician Nutrition Specialist (Family Medicine)	A physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of primary nutritional diseases (e.g., undernutrition, overnutrition, and genetic or acquir…

Related Payer Policy Updates

Specialty: Home Health & Hospice1 / 3

10 rows

Policy	Payer	Effective Date
Home Health, Skilled, and Custodial Care Services (for Idaho Only)	UnitedHealthcare	2026-08-01
Private Duty Nursing Services (for Florida Only)	Colorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans	2026-08-01
Private Duty Nursing Services	Colorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans	2026-08-01
Private Duty Nursing Services (for New Jersey Only)	UnitedHealthcare	2026-08-01
Private Duty Nursing Services (for New Mexico Only)	UnitedHealthcare	2026-08-01
Private Duty Nursing Services (for Kentucky Only)	UnitedHealthcare	2026-08-01
Private Duty Nursing Services	Colorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans	2026-08-01
Private Duty Nursing Services (for Kansas Only)	UnitedHealthcare	2026-08-01
Home Health, Skilled, and Custodial Care Services (for Ohio Only)	UnitedHealthcare	2026-08-01
Home Health, Skilled, and Custodial Care Services	Colorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans	2026-07-01

CPT 97597: Selective Debridement of Open Wound ≤20 cm²

CPT-97598-ADDITIONAL-SELECTIVE-WOUND-DEBRIDEMENT-20CM2

CPT 97598: Selective Debridement, Additional 20 cm2

CPT-97602-NON-SELECTIVE-WOUND-DEBRIDEMENT

CPT 97602: Nonselective Debridement of Wound, Per Session

CPT-97605-NEGATIVE-PRESSURE-WOUND-THERAPY-SMALL-WOUND

CPT 97605: Negative Pressure Wound Therapy for Small Wounds

CPT-97607-NEGATIVE-PRESSURE-WOUND-THERAPY-SMALL-WOUNDS

CPT 97607: Negative Pressure Wound Therapy for Small Wounds

CPT-97608-NEGATIVE-PRESSURE-WOUND-THERAPY-DISPOSABLE-NPWT-OVER-50CM2

CPT 97608: Negative Pressure Wound Therapy, Wounds >50 cm2

CPT-97610-LOW-FREQUENCY-ULTRASOUND-WOUND-HEALING

CPT 97610: Low-Frequency Ultrasound Therapy for Wound Healing

Frequently Asked Questions

References

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.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.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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Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`11042`	Debridement, subcutaneous tissue (eg, fat) — first 20 sq cm or less	Sharp debridement frequently performed prior to NPWT application to optimize wound bed.
`11043`	Debridement, muscle and fascia — first 20 sq cm or less	Deeper debridement codes used when NPWT is applied after removal of necrotic muscle or fascia.
`97597`	Debridement (eg, high-pressure waterjet, sharp debridement) with or without topical application; selective debridement, without anesthesia	Debridement services preceding NPWT to prepare wound bed; often part of the same visit.
`29580`	Application of short leg walking cast, posterior and anterior	Occasionally used in conjunction with NPWT for offloading when lower extremity wounds require immobilization.
`99070`	Supplies and materials (eg, dressings, bandages) used directly by the physician in the office	Billed for additional non-inventoried supplies used during NPWT application when allowed by payer policies.

Related Modifiers

6 rows

Modifier	Description	When to Use
25	CPT 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.,…
52	Modifier ‑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…
53	Modifier 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…
59	Modifier 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…
76	Modifier -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…
77	Modifier 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…

Related Provider Taxonomies

8 rows

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207L00000X	Anesthesiology Physician	An anesthesiologist is trained to provide pain relief and maintenance, or restoration, of a stable condition during and immediately following an opera…
207P00000X	Emergency Medicine Physician	An emergency physician focuses on the immediate decision making and action necessary to prevent death or any further disability both in the pre-hospit…
207Q00000X	Family Medicine Physician	Family 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…
208000000X	Pediatrics Physician	A pediatrician is concerned with the physical, emotional and social health of children from birth to young adulthood. Care encompasses a broad spectru…
261QF0400X	Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC)	Ambulatory Health Care Facilities · Clinic/Center
2084S0012X	Sleep Medicine (Psychiatry & Neurology) Physician	A Psychiatrist or Neurologist who practices Sleep Medicine is certified in the subspecialty of sleep medicine and specializes in the clinical assessme…
347D00000X	Train	An organization or business licensed to provide passenger train service, including light rail, subway, and traditional services.
207QP0002X	Physician Nutrition Specialist (Family Medicine)	A physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of primary nutritional diseases (e.g., undernutrition, overnutrition, and genetic or acquir…

Related Payer Policy Updates

Specialty: Home Health & Hospice1 / 3

10 rows

Policy	Payer	Effective Date
Home Health, Skilled, and Custodial Care Services (for Idaho Only)	UnitedHealthcare	2026-08-01
Private Duty Nursing Services (for Florida Only)	Colorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans	2026-08-01
Private Duty Nursing Services	Colorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans	2026-08-01
Private Duty Nursing Services (for New Jersey Only)	UnitedHealthcare	2026-08-01
Private Duty Nursing Services (for New Mexico Only)	UnitedHealthcare	2026-08-01
Private Duty Nursing Services (for Kentucky Only)	UnitedHealthcare	2026-08-01
Private Duty Nursing Services	Colorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans	2026-08-01
Private Duty Nursing Services (for Kansas Only)	UnitedHealthcare	2026-08-01
Home Health, Skilled, and Custodial Care Services (for Ohio Only)	UnitedHealthcare	2026-08-01
Home Health, Skilled, and Custodial Care Services	Colorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans	2026-07-01

CPT 97597: Selective Debridement of Open Wound ≤20 cm²

CPT-97598-ADDITIONAL-SELECTIVE-WOUND-DEBRIDEMENT-20CM2

CPT 97598: Selective Debridement, Additional 20 cm2

CPT-97602-NON-SELECTIVE-WOUND-DEBRIDEMENT

CPT 97602: Nonselective Debridement of Wound, Per Session

CPT-97605-NEGATIVE-PRESSURE-WOUND-THERAPY-SMALL-WOUND

CPT 97605: Negative Pressure Wound Therapy for Small Wounds

CPT-97607-NEGATIVE-PRESSURE-WOUND-THERAPY-SMALL-WOUNDS

CPT 97607: Negative Pressure Wound Therapy for Small Wounds

CPT-97608-NEGATIVE-PRESSURE-WOUND-THERAPY-DISPOSABLE-NPWT-OVER-50CM2

CPT 97608: Negative Pressure Wound Therapy, Wounds >50 cm2

CPT-97610-LOW-FREQUENCY-ULTRASOUND-WOUND-HEALING

CPT 97610: Low-Frequency Ultrasound Therapy for Wound Healing

Frequently Asked Questions

References

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.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.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.

Published by

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CPT 97606: Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy with Durable Medical Equipment >50 cm2

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CPT 97606: Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy with Durable Medical Equipment >50 cm2

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Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

Related Modifiers

Related Provider Taxonomies

Related Payer Policy Updates

Related Codes

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

Related Modifiers

Related Provider Taxonomies

Related Payer Policy Updates

Related Codes

References

CPT 97606: Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy with Durable Medical Equipment >50 cm2

Sign up for cpt 97606 policy alerts

CPT 97606: Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy with Durable Medical Equipment >50 cm2

Sign up for cpt 97606 policy alerts

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

Related Modifiers

Related Provider Taxonomies

Related Payer Policy Updates

Related Codes

What clinical scenario and service does CPT 97606 represent?

Which modifiers are commonly used with 97606 and when are they applied?

What other CPT codes are commonly billed in conjunction with 97606?

Which payers commonly cover CPT 97606 and does coverage vary?

What documentation elements are highlighted as important when billing 97606?

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

Related Modifiers

Related Provider Taxonomies

Related Payer Policy Updates

Related Codes

What clinical scenario and service does CPT 97606 represent?

Which modifiers are commonly used with 97606 and when are they applied?

What other CPT codes are commonly billed in conjunction with 97606?

Which payers commonly cover CPT 97606 and does coverage vary?

What documentation elements are highlighted as important when billing 97606?

References