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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesMedical And Surgical SuppliesHCPCS hcpcs-a6203-composite-sterile-wound-dressing-16sqin-or-less
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    HCPCS Level II A6203: Composite Sterile Dressing, ≤16 sq. in.

    HCPCS Level II code A6203 describes a sterile composite dressing with a pad size of 16 square inches or less and any size adhesive border, intended for wound coverage and protection; this item is typically used as a single-use dressing supplied to outpatient clinics, physician offices, wound care centers, and other ambulatory care settings for topical wound management and dressing changes.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Salivary Hormone Testing, Parathyroid Hormone, Phosphorus, Calcium, and Magnesium Testing, Bone Turnover Markers Testing.

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is an adult seen in an outpatient wound care clinic or primary care office for management of a superficial to partial-thickness skin wound such as a laceration, abrasion, minor surgical incision, partial-thickness pressure injury, or small donor site. The clinician (often a wound care nurse, physician assistant, or physician) performs wound assessment, cleansing, and hemostasis as needed, measures the wound, and selects a sterile composite dressing with a pad size of 16 square inches or less and an adhesive border (A6203) for coverage. The dressing is applied to provide an absorbent, nonadherent contact layer with an integrated adhesive border to secure the dressing without secondary tape. Documentation includes wound size, appearance, level of exudate, cleansing agents used, any debridement or hemostatic measures, patient tolerance, and instructions for dressing change frequency. Supplies are billed per dressing as A6203 when dispensed or applied during the visit; if multiple dressings are used, units are reported accordingly. Typical sites of service include outpatient clinic, physician office, ambulatory surgical center, and home health visits when a clinician supplies and applies the dressing.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    12001Simple repair of superficial wounds of scalp, neck, axillae, external genitalia, trunk and/or extremities; 2.5 cm or lessOften performed before application of A6203 when suturing a minor laceration; dressing applied after repair.
    97597Debridement, open wounds, selective debridement, without anesthesia; first 20 sq cm or lessUsed prior to A6203 application when selective debridement of devitalized tissue is required.
    11042Debridement, subcutaneous tissue (e.g., muscle/fascia), first 20 sq cm or lessPerformed for deeper wounds before placement of a composite dressing in more complex wound care.
    93970Duplex scan of extremity veins (noninvasive)Not directly related to dressing but may be used in evaluation of venous ulcers before wound care and dressing selection.
    G0463Hospital outpatient clinic visit for assessment and management of a patientClinic visit code that may accompany supply billing of A6203 when dressing is applied during the visit.

    Related Modifiers

    10 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    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…
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    23Modifier -23 (Unusual Anesthesia) is used on anesthesia service CPT codes when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia…- Use modifier -23 only on anesthesia CPT codes (00100–01999) when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia because of…
    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…
    56Modifier ‑56 indicates the reporting provider furnished only the preoperative management for a surgical procedure and did not perform the intraoperative or postoperative care. It is used in…- Use Modifier -56 when a provider performs only the preoperative management in a split‑care situation (one physician manages preop care while a different physician performs the intraoperative…
    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…
    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…
    80CPT® Modifier 80 (Assistant Surgeon) is appended to a surgical CPT code when a physician (MD or DO) provides full, continuous assistance throughout the operative procedure. It is intended only for…- Use CPT Modifier -80 when a physician (MD or DO) serves as an assistant surgeon and provides full, continuous assistance throughout the entire operative procedure; append -80 to the surgical CPT…
    82Modifier 82 is appended to a surgical CPT code to indicate that an attending physician acted as an assistant because a qualified resident surgeon was unavailable. In teaching hospitals it documents…- When to use: Append modifier 82 in teaching-hospital settings to indicate a physician served as an assistant surgeon because a qualified resident surgeon was unavailable (includes situations where…

    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…
    207L00000XAnesthesiology PhysicianAn anesthesiologist is trained to provide pain relief and maintenance, or restoration, of a stable condition during and immediately following an opera…
    208D00000XGeneral Practice PhysicianA physician who specializes in the general practice of diagnosing, treating, and managing patients with a variety of illnesses and conditions.
    111NX0800XOrthopedic ChiropractorChiropractic Orthopedics/Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine is defined as that branch of chiropractic medicine that includes the continued acquisition of k…
    2279P3900XNeonatal/Pediatric Registered Respiratory TherapistThe care and treatment of premature infants, newborns and children. This includes management of mechanical ventilation, assessment, diagnostics and g…
    172P00000XNaprapathNaprapathy means a branch of medicine that focuses on the evaluation and treatment of neuron-muscular conditions. Doctors of naprapathy are connectiv…
    207RI0001XClinical & Laboratory Immunology (Internal Medicine) PhysicianAn internal medicine physician who specializes in clinical and laboratory immunology disease management.
    273Y00000XRehabilitation Hospital UnitIn general, a distinct unit of a general acute care hospital that provides care encompassing a comprehensive array of restoration services for the dis…

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    25 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    A46Erysipelas
    B35.1Tinea unguium
    E10.621Type 1 diabetes mellitus with foot ulcer
    E11.621Type 2 diabetes mellitus with foot ulcer
    I83.813Varicose veins of bilateral lower extremities with pain
    I87.2Venous insufficiency (chronic) (peripheral)
    L03.115Cellulitis of right lower limb
    L03.116Cellulitis of left lower limb
    L08.9Local infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, unspecified
    L89.023Pressure ulcer of left elbow, stage 3

    Showing 1–10 of 25

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Endocrinology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Salivary Hormone TestingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Parathyroid Hormone, Phosphorus, Calcium, and Magnesium TestingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Bone Turnover Markers TestingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Testosterone — Coverage Criteria for Measurement and MonitoringOscar Health2026-10-01
    Diabetes Mellitus Testing — Coverage CriteriaOscar Health2026-10-01
    Thyroid Disease TestingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Thyroid Disease Testingblue cross blue shield - louisiana2026-09-15
    Thyroid Disease TestingBlue Cross Blue Shield - New Mexico2026-09-04
    Parathyroid Hormone, Phosphorous, Calcium and Magnesium TestingBlue Cross Blue Shield - New Mexico2026-09-04
    Testosterone laboratory testing and managementPremera Bluecross2026-09-04

    Related Codes

    HCPCS-A4206-STERILE-SYRINGE-1CC-NEEDLE

    HCPCS A4206: Syringe with Needle, 1 cc or Less, Sterile

    HCPCS-A4207-STERILE-2CC-SYRINGE-WITH-NEEDLE

    HCPCS Level II A4207: Syringe with Needle, Sterile 2 cc

    HCPCS-A4208-STERILE-3CC-SYRINGE-WITH-NEEDLE

    HCPCS Level II A4208: Syringe with Needle, Sterile 3 cc

    HCPCS-A4209-STERILE-SYRINGE-WITH-NEEDLE-5CC-OR-GREATER

    HCPCS Level II A4209: Syringe with Needle, Sterile 5 cc or Greater

    HCPCS-A4210-NEEDLE-FREE-INJECTION-DEVICE

    HCPCS Level II A4210: Needle-free Injection Device, Each

    HCPCS-A4211-SUPPLIES-SELF-ADMINISTERED-INJECTIONS

    HCPCS Level II A4211: Supplies for Self-Administered Injections

    HCPCS-A4212-NON-CORING-NEEDLE-STYLET-CATHETER-ACCESS-SUPPLY

    HCPCS Level II A4212: Non-coring Needle or Stylet with/without Catheter

    HCPCS-A4213-STERILE-SYRINGE-20CC-OR-GREATER

    HCPCS Level II A4213: Syringe, Sterile, 20 cc or Greater, Each

    HCPCS-A4215-STERILE-NEEDLE-SINGLE-EACH

    HCPCS Level II A4215: Needle, Sterile, Any Size

    HCPCS-A4216-STERILE-DILUENT-FLUSH-10ML

    HCPCS Level II A4216: Sterile Diluent/Flush, 10 ml

    Showing 1–10 of 633

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    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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