A6455 Self-adherent Bandage - HCPCS Reimbursement | OpenPayer

Summary & Overview

HCPCS A6455: Self-adherent Elastic Bandage, ≥5 in, Per Yard

HCPCS Level II code A6455 denotes a self-adherent, elastic, non-knitted/non-woven bandage at least five inches wide, billed per yard. Such bandages serve as external dressings for wound care, provide compression and soft-tissue support, and are commonly used across outpatient clinics, home health, and long-term care settings. Nationally, supplies like A6455 are important for managing wounds, preventing dressing displacement, and supporting mobility in ambulatory and post-acute populations.

Key payers addressed in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The publication provides a concise overview of coverage considerations, utilization benchmarks, typical sites of service, and coding context for A6455 to inform billing and administrative workflows.

Readers will learn what A6455 represents, where it is typically used, and which major payers are relevant for coverage discussions. The piece also outlines common operational and documentation themes associated with billing this supply. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicareA6455HCPCS Level IIwound caremedical suppliesself-adherent bandageoutpatient carehome healthbilling guidancedurable medical equipment

Billing Code Overview

HCPCS Level II code A6455 describes a self-adherent elastic bandage that is non-knitted/non-woven, with a width greater than or equal to five inches, billed per yard. This supply is used as an external dressing or compression bandage for wound care, soft-tissue support, and securement of primary dressings.

Service type: Durable medical/supply item for wound care and external compression
Typical site of service: Outpatient clinics, home health settings, long-term care facilities, and other ambulatory care locations where wound care or dressing securement is provided.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A typical patient is an adult presenting to an outpatient wound clinic or primary care office with a large lower-extremity venous ulcer or post-operative edema requiring broad-area compression and securement. After wound assessment and cleansing, the clinician selects a self-adherent, elastic, non-knitted/non-woven bandage at a width of five inches or greater to provide conforming compression and secure dressings over the large surface area. The bandage is measured and dispensed by the yard; the clinician documents length used in the procedure note and on the supply record. Typical workflow includes wound measurement, dressing application, layering with this elastic self-adherent bandage for retention and compression, patient education on care and return precautions, and documentation of units (yards) supplied for billing with A6455.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`00`	Unspecified	Use only when no other modifier applies and a payer requires a modifier field; avoid if possible.
`11`	Primary procedure	When this supply is the primary billed item in an encounter under payor rules that accept this modifier.

HCPCS A4724: Dialysate Solution for Peritoneal Dialysis, 4000–4999 cc

HCPCS-A4223-INFUSION-SUPPLIES-NON-PUMP-CASSETTE-BAG

HCPCS A4223: Infusion Supplies for Non‑Pump Cassette or Bag

HCPCS-A6011-COLLAGEN-WOUND-FILLER-GEL-PASTE-PER-GRAM

HCPCS A6011: Collagen Wound Filler, Gel/Paste, Per Gram

HCPCS-A7010-CORRUGATED-TUBING-LARGE-VOLUME-NEBULIZER-100FT

HCPCS Level II A7010: Corrugated Tubing for Large Volume Nebulizer, 100 ft

HCPCS-A6512-COMPRESSION-BURN-GARMENT-SCAR-MANAGEMENT

HCPCS A6512: Compression Burn Garment, Not Otherwise Classified

HCPCS-A4382-URINARY-OSTOMY-POUCH-FACEPLATE-HEAVY-PLASTIC

HCPCS A4382: Urinary Ostomy Pouch for Faceplate, Heavy Plastic

HCPCS-A4593-NEUROMODULATION-CONTROLLER-REHABILITATION-ADJUNCT

HCPCS A4593: Neuromodulation Stimulator Controller, Rehabilitation Adjunct

HCPCS-A6258-TRANSPARENT-FILM-DRESSING-17-48-SQ-IN

HCPCS A6258: Transparent Sterile Film Dressing, 17–48 sq. in.

HCPCS-A6242-HYDROGEL-WOUND-DRESSING-16-SQ-IN-OR-LESS

HCPCS A6242: Hydrogel Wound Dressing, Sterile, ≤16 sq. in.

HCPCS-A7044-ORAL-INTERFACE-POSITIVE-AIRWAY-PRESSURE-DEVICE

HCPCS A7044: Oral Interface for Positive Airway Pressure Device, Each

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Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`207Q00000X`	Family Medicine	Primary care clinicians commonly apply and dispense large self-adherent bandages for wounds and edema.
`207L00000X`	Emergency Medicine	ED clinicians use wide elastic self-adherent bandages for large traumatic dressings and splint retention.
`208000000X`	General Surgery	Surgeons apply and order large elastic retention wraps post-operatively.
`2086S0126X`	Wound Care/Podiatry	Wound care specialists and podiatrists manage venous/diabetic wounds requiring wide self-adherent bandages.
`213E00000X`	Physical Therapy	Physical therapists may use elastic self-adherent bandages for lymphedema and compression adjuncts under scope of practice.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`I83.10`	Varicose veins of unspecified lower extremity with ulceration	Large elastic self-adherent bandage used to secure dressings and provide compression for venous ulcers.
`I87.2`	Venous insufficiency (chronic)	Compression and wide elastic bandaging are core treatments for chronic venous insufficiency.
`L97.909`	Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of lower leg, unspecified severity	Wide self-adherent bandage secures dressings over large chronic ulcers.
`L89.909`	Pressure ulcer of unspecified site, unspecified stage	Large-area self-adherent bandages used for retention of dressings on extensive pressure injuries.
`T81.4XXA`	Infection following a procedure, initial encounter	Post-operative dressings may require wide elastic wraps to hold dressings in place after infection management.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`97597`	Debridement of open wound(s), selective debridement, without anesthesia; first 20 sq cm or less	Often performed prior to application of large retention bandaging for wound management.
`11042`	Debridement, subcutaneous tissue (includes epidermis and dermis, if performed); first 20 sq cm	Deep debridement that may precede dressing and wide self-adherent bandage application.
`29580`	Application of multi-layer compression system; lower limb	Multi-layer compression is frequently paired with wide self-adherent elastic bandage for venous disease.
`29540`	Strapping, other than elastic therapeutic tape, not for fracture or dislocation	Related for large-area support; `A6455` may be used as adjunctive elastic securing layer.
`97018`	Paraffin bath, topical application; whole limb	Modalities used in lymphedema or wound care episodes where large elastic wraps are applied afterward.

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