Summary & Overview
HCPCS A4455: Adhesive Remover or Solvent, Per Ounce
HCPCS Level II code A4455 denotes an adhesive remover or solvent billed per ounce, used to dissolve tape, medical cement, or other skin adhesives. As a supply-level HCPCS code, A4455 is relevant across outpatient, home health, and ambulatory wound-care settings where frequent dressing changes or device removals occur. Nationally, supplies such as adhesive removers support safe device and dressing management and can affect per-encounter supply costs and documentation workflows.
Key payers in this overview include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise explanation of the clinical use and typical sites of service, how the code is categorized within HCPCS Level II, and practical benchmarking context. The publication also summarizes common billing modifiers associated with supply codes and highlights implementation considerations for charge capture, documentation, and bundling with related services.
This resource serves clinicians, revenue cycle managers, and policy analysts seeking a clear, national-level briefing on coding, billing context, and operational implications for HCPCS Level II code A4455. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code A4455 describes an adhesive remover or solvent (for tape, cement or other adhesive), per ounce. This item is a topical supply used to dissolve or loosen adhesive products applied to skin or medical materials.
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Service type: Supply for adhesive removal
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Typical site of service: Outpatient clinics, home health settings, wound care centers, and other ambulatory care environments where tape, dressings, or adhesive devices are applied and removed
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient scenario involves a clinic or outpatient wound care center removing adhesive residues after dressing changes, ostomy appliance changes, or removal of medical-grade tapes and cement. A 68-year-old patient with chronic venous stasis ulcers returns for routine dressing change. After cleansing the wound and removing the previous dressing and tape, residual adhesive remains on periwound skin. The clinician applies an adhesive remover solution (A4455 billed per ounce) to dissolve and lift the adhesive without damaging fragile skin. The workflow includes assessment of the wound and surrounding skin, selection of an appropriate adhesive solvent, application to adhesive areas, gentle removal with sterile gauze, and reapplication of a skin protectant or new dressing. Typical sites of service include outpatient wound care clinics, physician offices, home health visits, and long-term care facilities where frequent dressing or ostomy appliance changes occur.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
22 | Increased procedural services | Use when the procedure requires substantially greater work than usual, such as difficult adhesive removal on fragile skin requiring extended time. |
23 |