Summary & Overview
HCPCS Level II C9285: Lidocaine 70 mg/Tetracaine 70 mg Patch
HCPCS Level II code C9285 designates a single lidocaine 70 mg/tetracaine 70 mg topical anesthetic patch. This code is used for billing administration of a combination topical numbing agent applied to the skin to provide localized anesthesia for minor dermatologic procedures or superficial pain control. Nationally, the code matters because topical anesthetic options affect outpatient procedure workflows, cost of care for minor procedures, and payer coverage decisions for non-invasive analgesia.
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 use of a lidocaine/tetracaine patch, common sites of service where the product is applied, and the billing considerations associated with HCPCS Level II code C9285.
The publication provides benchmarks and coverage context, summarizes typical billing practices, and outlines policy-relevant points that influence reimbursement and utilization for topical anesthetic patches. Data not available in the input prevents presentation of specific utilization metrics, allowed amounts, or payer-specific policy language in this summary.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code C9285 represents a topical anesthetic patch containing lidocaine 70 mg and tetracaine 70 mg, supplied per patch. The service involves application of a combination local anesthetic patch intended to provide topical numbing for dermatologic or superficial procedural pain control.
Service Type: Topical anesthetic application
Typical Site of Service: Outpatient clinic, physician office, ambulatory surgical center, or dermatology practice
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 45-year-old patient with localized superficial dermatologic pain from procedures such as laser therapy, biopsy, or photodynamic therapy presents to an outpatient dermatology clinic. The clinician applies a topical anesthetic patch containing lidocaine 70 mg/tetracaine 70 mg (C9285) to the intact skin at the treatment site prior to the procedure. Typical workflow: patient registration and allergy check, informed consent for topical anesthesia, measurement and cleansing of the application area, application of the C9285 patch for the manufacturer-recommended dwell time (commonly 20–60 minutes depending on procedure and protocol), removal of the patch, assessment of anesthesia effectiveness, and performance of the dermatologic procedure. Monitoring for local skin reactions occurs during and after use, and documentation includes product code C9285, application site, dwell time, amount/number of patches used, patient response, and any adverse events.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | No modifier — standard billing | Use when no special circumstances apply to the encounter. |