Summary & Overview
HCPCS A6266: Sterile Impregnated Gauze, Per Linear Yard
HCPCS Level II code A6266 denotes sterile gauze impregnated with agents other than water, normal saline, or zinc paste, billed per linear yard. This supply code covers wound dressing materials used to deliver topical medications, manage exudate, and protect wounds across diverse care settings. Nationally, impregnated dressings are a common component of wound-management protocols and factor into supply cost, clinical workflows, and coverage policies.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context for A6266, typical sites of service where the product is used, and the supply-oriented nature of the code. The publication presents benchmark considerations and policy-relevant details such as payer coverage patterns and billing practice implications where available. It also outlines documentation elements and coding contexts that commonly accompany impregnated dressing supplies.
This summary supports clinicians, billing staff, and policy analysts seeking a clear, national-level reference for the use and billing of HCPCS Level II code A6266 in wound care supply management.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code A6266 describes sterile gauze impregnated with substances other than water, normal saline, or zinc paste, billed per linear yard. This item is typically used as an impregnated dressing material to provide localized medication, antimicrobial action, or moisture management as part of wound care.
Service Type: Wound care dressing supply
Typical Site of Service: Outpatient clinics, wound care centers, home health settings, and other ambulatory care locations where sterile dressing supplies are dispensed or applied
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult with a post-operative or traumatic superficial wound requiring a non-water, non-saline, medicated gauze dressing to promote hemostasis, provide antimicrobial action, or deliver topical agents. Example: a 62-year-old patient presents to an outpatient wound clinic five days after excision of a skin lesion on the lower leg. The incision exhibits moderate serous drainage and localized inflammation but no deep infection. The clinician selects an impregnated sterile gauze A6266 (per linear yard) to provide extended wound contact with an antimicrobial and absorptive layer during dressing changes performed in clinic or supplied for home use.
Clinical workflow: the physician or wound care nurse assesses the wound, documents size, drainage, and surrounding skin condition, and applies or dispenses A6266 gauze per linear yard. The encounter may include wound measurement, cleansing, application of topical agents, dressing application, and patient education on home dressing changes. Supplies are documented in the medical record with quantity (linear yards) and associated diagnosis. If provided in the outpatient clinic, the supply is billed using HCPCS A6266 with appropriate modifier(s) to reflect service context or professional component as required by payer policy.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|