Summary & Overview
HCPCS A6217: Non-sterile Gauze Pad >16–48 sq in
HCPCS Level II code A6217 identifies a non-impregnated, non-sterile gauze pad measuring greater than 16 square inches up to 48 square inches, without an adhesive border. This supply code is used nationally to bill for individual disposable dressings commonly applied to surgical sites, wounds, and other superficial skin lesions where an adhesive border is not required. Supply codes like A6217 matter because they affect outpatient supply management, reimbursement for wound care, and billing consistency across clinical settings.
Key payers covered in the analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of the clinical context for this dressing, expected sites of service, and the payer landscape addressed. The publication summarizes typical billing considerations, common modifiers associated with supply lines, and where to find related HCPCS guidance. It also highlights national relevance for supply utilization, documentation expectations tied to dressing use, and where limitations in the input data exist.
Data not available in the input for associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, related codes, and detailed payer-specific reimbursement benchmarks.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code A6217 describes gauze, non-impregnated, non-sterile, pad size more than 16 sq. in. but less than or equal to 48 sq. in., without adhesive border, each dressing. This item is a disposable wound dressing intended for covering and absorbing exudate from surgical or other open wounds.
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Service type: Disposable wound dressing supply
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Typical site of service: Outpatient clinics, physician offices, ambulatory surgery centers, home health visits, and other non-inpatient settings where sterile technique is not required for the product itself.
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient scenario involves an adult with a superficial wound or post-procedural dressing need in an outpatient or ambulatory setting. For example, a 56-year-old patient presents to a community clinic after a minor skin laceration was sutured in the emergency department. At the follow-up visit the clinician cleans the site and applies a non-sterile, non-impregnated gauze pad larger than 16 sq. in. but ≤48 sq. in. to cover the suture line and absorb exudate. The clinical workflow includes wound assessment, cleansing with saline or antiseptic, selection of an appropriately sized dressing, application of the A6217 gauze pad, and documentation of dressing size, quantity, and condition of the wound. Typical sites of service include outpatient clinics, physician offices, urgent care centers, and community health centers. The service type is supply/dressing application for wound care; the item is billed as a HCPCS Level II durable medical supply under A6217. Common clinical indications include postoperative incision dressing, abrasions, superficial lacerations, and dressing changes for low-risk, non-infected wounds.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | No modifier - standard billing | Use as the default when no additional circumstances apply |