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 |
22 | Increased procedural services | Rarely used; when additional work relates to complex wound dressing requiring significantly more time or complexity than typical |
52 | Reduced services | Use when a partial or reduced dressing supply is provided compared to the full expected service |
53 | Discontinued procedure | Use if the dressing application was started but discontinued due to patient condition or other valid reason |
62 | Two surgeons | Use when two surgeons are concurrently involved in overall care and both contribute to wound management that requires this dressing |
80 | Assistant surgeon | Use when an assistant surgeon participates in the procedure and documentation supports separately reportable assistance |
82 | Assistant surgeon (when qualified resident not available) | Use as alternative to 80 when hospital or facility policy and documentation support usage |
A1 | Skilled nursing facility provider | Use when the supplying provider is a skilled nursing facility billing for the dressing |
NU | New equipment, not refurbished | Use if billing distinguishes new, non-refurbished supply status for inventory or payer requirements |
QX | CLIA waived test performed by non-laboratory personnel (modifier often used in Medicare Part B environments) | Use when a waived point-of-care test is performed in conjunction with wound care and reporting requires this modifier (applicability varies by payer) |
QY | Services furnished under a supervision of a physician or non-physician practitioner | Use when the supply is provided under such supervisory arrangements per payer rules |
UE | Reporting employer-related emergency | Use in occupational health contexts when employer/worker’s compensation requires special reporting |
CO | Managed care organization/managed care denial (payer-specific) | Use to indicate a contractual or administrative denial reason on remittance when required by payer |
| Taxonomy Code | Specialty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
207P00000X | Family Medicine | Commonly performs wound assessment and dressing application in outpatient settings |
208D00000X | General Practice | Provides basic wound care and supplies in clinic and urgent care environments |
208000000X | Internal Medicine | Manages postoperative and chronic wound follow-up in ambulatory care |
363L00000X | Wound Care Specialist | Focused specialty for complex dressing selection and wound management |
331K00000X | Nurse Practitioner | Frequently supplies and applies dressings during office or home visits |
Related Diagnoses
| ICD-10 Code | Description | Clinical Relevance |
|---|---|---|
Laceration codes not provided | Data not available in the input. | Data not available in the input. |
S01.81XA | Data not available in the input. | Data not available in the input. |
S21.01XA | Data not available in the input. | Data not available in the input. |
T81.4XXA | Data not available in the input. | Data not available in the input. |
Z48.00 | Data not available in the input. | Data not available in the input. |
Related CPT Codes
| CPT Code | Description | Relationship to This Procedure |
|---|---|---|
99213 | Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient, typically 15 minutes | Common visit code for wound evaluation and dressing change where A6217 is applied during the visit |
12001 | Simple repair of superficial wounds of the scalp, neck, axillae, external genitalia, hands, feet and/or multiple digits; 2.5 cm or less | May occur before application of the dressing when laceration repair is performed and A6217 is used as the post-repair dressing |
15830 | Secondary closure of surgical wound or delayed primary closure | Used when wound management includes secondary closure and a large gauze pad like A6217 is applied post-procedure |
99070 | Supplies and materials (except spectacles), provided by the physician over and above those usually included with the office visit | Used to report the supply cost of dressings such as A6217 when payer policies require separate supply reporting |
29540 | Strapping; ankle and/or foot | Example of a procedure that may be accompanied by large gauze pads (A6217) for padding before strapping |