K0744 HCPCS Reimbursement & Policy Benchmarks | OpenPayer

Summary & Overview

HCPCS K0744: Absorptive Wound Dressing for Home Suction Pump

HCPCS Level II code K0744 designates an absorptive wound dressing component for use with a portable, home-model suction pump, with pad size 16 square inches or less. This supply-level code is used to bill a disposable dressing intended for negative pressure wound therapy in the home setting, supporting patients who require ongoing suction-assisted wound care outside institutional facilities. Nationally, codes that capture home-use NPWT supplies are important for ensuring continuity of care, appropriate supply coverage, and consistent billing across payers.

Key payers in the analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of the clinical purpose of K0744, typical sites of service, and payers covered. The publication outlines benchmarks for coverage and utilization where available, highlights relevant policy considerations for home negative pressure wound therapy supplies, and summarizes clinical context for wound dressing selection and sizing. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicareK0744HCPCS Level IIwound carenegative pressure wound therapydurable medical equipmenthome healthmedical suppliesdressings

Billing Code Overview

HCPCS Level II code K0744 describes an absorptive wound dressing for use with suction pump, home model, portable, specified as a pad size 16 square inches or less. This code identifies a disposable dressing component designed to interface with a negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) device intended for home use.

Service Type: Durable medical supply / wound care accessory

Typical Site of Service: Home health / patient residence

Data not available in the input.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A typical patient is an adult with a chronic or complex wound managed at home who requires negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) using a portable suction pump. The dressing described by K0744 is an absorptive pad, 16 square inches or less, intended to interface between the wound bed and the NPWT canister/tubing on a home-model portable device. A realistic scenario: a 68-year-old patient with a stage 3 pressure ulcer on the sacrum following limited mobility is discharged from an acute care hospital with a portable NPWT system. A home health nurse visits to apply and secure the K0744 pad to the wound, connect tubing to the patient’s portable suction pump, educate the patient and caregiver on device alarms and dressing change frequency, monitor exudate and skin integrity, and document dressing changes in the home health record. Typical workflow steps include wound assessment, measurement and photography, dressing selection and application, device setup and verification of negative pressure, patient/caregiver teaching, and scheduled dressing change or as-needed evaluation for complications such as increased drainage or device malfunction. The typical site of service is the patient’s home or other domiciliary settings using a portable home suction pump. This service supports ongoing outpatient wound management and reduces the need for clinic-based NPWT when the patient is medically stable for home care.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use

Related Codes

HCPCS-K0019-ARM-PAD-REPLACEMENT

HCPCS K0019: Arm Pad, Replacement Only, Each

HCPCS-K0898-POWER-WHEELCHAIR-NOT-OTHERWISE-CLASSIFIED

HCPCS K0898: Power wheelchair, not otherwise classified

HCPCS-K0037-HIGH-MOUNT-FLIP-UP-FOOTREST

HCPCS K0037: High Mount Flip-Up Footrest, Each

HCPCS-K0869-POWER-WHEELCHAIR-GROUP-4-CAPTAINS-CHAIR-300LB-CAPACITY

HCPCS K0869: Power Wheelchair Group 4, Captain's Chair, ≤300 lb

HCPCS-K0040-ADJUSTABLE-ANGLE-FOOTPLATE

HCPCS K0040: Adjustable Angle Footplate, Each

HCPCS-K0857-POWER-WHEELCHAIR-GROUP-3-STANDARD-CAPTAINS-CHAIR-300LBS

HCPCS K0857: Power Wheelchair Group 3 Standard, Captain's Chair, ≤300 lb

HCPCS-K0607-REPLACEMENT-AED-GARMENT-BATTERY

HCPCS K0607: Replacement Battery for Garment-Style Automated External Defibrillator

HCPCS-K0828-POWER-WHEELCHAIR-EXTRA-HEAVY-DUTY-601-PLUS-LBS

HCPCS K0828: Power Wheelchair, Extra Heavy Duty, 601+ lb

HCPCS-K0005-ULTRALIGHTWEIGHT-WHEELCHAIR

HCPCS K0005: Ultralightweight Wheelchair

HCPCS-K0837-POWER-WHEELCHAIR-GROUP-2-HEAVY-DUTY-301-450-LB

HCPCS K0837: Heavy-Duty Power Wheelchair, 301–450 lb

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Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`163W00000X`	Wound Care (Physician)	Physicians specializing in wound care coordinate NPWT and supply selection.
`207L00000X`	General Surgery	General surgeons manage complex wounds and arrange home NPWT at discharge.
`363A00000X`	Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation	PM&R clinicians often manage pressure injuries and functional needs for home therapy.
`353L00000X`	Home Health Agency	Home health clinicians provide in-home dressing application and device management.
`253E00000X`	Nurse Practitioner	NPs in home health or wound clinics perform assessment and order supplies.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`L89.153`	Pressure ulcer of sacral region, stage 3	Common indication for home NPWT with small absorptive pads when wound area is limited.
`L97.214`	Non-pressure chronic ulcer of left lower leg with fat layer exposed, limited to breakdown of skin	Peripheral ulcers with moderate exudate may be managed with NPWT supplies like `K0744`.
`E11.621`	Type 2 diabetes mellitus with foot ulcer	Diabetic foot ulcers frequently require NPWT to manage exudate and promote granulation tissue.
`I83.019`	Varicose veins of unspecified lower extremity with ulcer, unspecified	Venous stasis ulcers with heavy drainage may need absorptive NPWT dressings in the home setting.
`S81.041A`	Open bite of right lower leg, initial encounter	Traumatic wounds with persistent drainage may use portable NPWT and small absorptive pads during recovery.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`97605`	Negative pressure wound therapy (e.g., vacuum-assisted drainage), including topical application(s), wound assessment, and instruction for use; total wound(s) surface area greater than 50 sq cm to 150 sq cm	Used in outpatient or home health settings when NPWT is provided and billed as a procedure; complements supply billing for `K0744` when services include wound care delivery.
`97606`	Negative pressure wound therapy (e.g., vacuum-assisted drainage), including topical application(s), wound assessment, and instruction for use; total wound(s) surface area greater than 150 sq cm	Applies when wound size exceeds the smaller NPWT thresholds; helps document procedural NPWT services when larger dressings are required.
`11042`	Debridement, subcutaneous tissue (includes local anesthesia, when performed)	Debridement procedures often precede NPWT application; relevant when surgical or sharp debridement is performed before placing the `K0744` dressing.
`11043`	Debridement, muscle and/or fascia	Used for deeper debridement prior to NPWT for complex wounds.
`97597`	Debridement (e.g., selective debridement, without anesthesia), open wounds, first 20 sq cm or less	Debridement commonly performed in outpatient/wound clinic settings prior to initiating NPWT; supports clinical necessity for supply use.