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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesTemporary CodesHCPCS hcpcs-level-ii-q4256-area-based-procedural-add-on-per-sq-cm
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    HCPCS Q4256: MLG-complete Skin Graft Material, Per Sq Cm

    Medicare pays $133 on average nationally for this procedure.

    HCPCS Level II code Q4256 denotes billing for MLG-complete skin graft material priced per square centimeter as an add-on supply used in wound or surgical reconstruction procedures; service type is graft/material supply and the typical site of service is an operating room or procedure suite where grafting or wound reconstruction is performed.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Long-Acting Injectable Antiretroviral Agents for HIV, B-Hemolytic Streptococcus Testing, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) — Coverage Criteria for Testing and Resistance Assays.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is an adult undergoing soft tissue tumor resection or extensive wound debridement requiring placement of a matrix graft material measured and billed by area. The service is provided in an operating room or outpatient surgical center and billed as an add-on per square centimeter for coverage of the matrix material component. Workflow: preoperative evaluation documents wound or defect size and indication for matrix graft; intraoperative measurement of the grafted area in square centimeters is recorded; primary procedure CPT code for the surgical resection or debridement is reported, and the add-on billing code Q4256 is appended for the matrix material used, with relevant modifier(s) as indicated by intraoperative circumstances; operative report and supply documentation include square centimeter measurement, product type, and clinical rationale for use; postoperative note documents graft integration and planned follow-up.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    11042Debridement, subcutaneous tissue, first 20 sq cm or lessOften performed prior to placement of graft material; primary debridement CPT may be reported with add-on material billing Q4256 for matrix per sq cm
    14001Adjacent tissue transfer or rearrangement, trunk; first 25 sq cm or lessReconstructive procedure that may accompany use of biologic matrix material billed separately per area
    15271Application of skin substitute graft to trunk, arms, legs; first 100 sq cmAlternate method of wound coverage; if a separate matrix product is used and billed per sq cm, Q4256 may be reported as an add-on to the primary reconstructive or grafting CPT
    15732Muscle, myocutaneous, or fasciocutaneous flap with microvascular anastomosisComplex reconstruction that may use additional matrix materials billed per square centimeter in conjunction with the primary flap procedure
    97597Debridement (eg, high-pressure waterjet, sharp), open wound, selective debridement without anesthesia, first 20 sq cm or lessOutpatient wound debridement that may precede graft placement; matrix material billed separately per area with Q4256

    Related Modifiers

    8 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    54Modifier ‑54 (“Surgical care only”) is appended to a CPT surgical procedure when the reporting surgeon performs the intraoperative (surgical) component but does not furnish the preoperative and/or…- Use modifier -54 when the reporting surgeon provided only the intraoperative (surgical) component of a procedure and preoperative and/or postoperative management has been or will be provided by…
    55Modifier –55 indicates the billing provider furnished only postoperative management for a procedure that has a global surgical period. According to AAPC, this modifier is appended to the same CPT…- Use modifier -55 when billing the same CPT surgical code that has a 10- or 90-day global period and you, as a provider other than the original surgeon, furnished ONLY postoperative management (no…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    73Modifier 73 indicates a facility-level outpatient hospital or ASC procedure that was discontinued after the patient was prepared and taken to the procedure/operating room but before any anesthesia…- When to use: Apply CPT modifier 73 on the FACILITY (outpatient hospital or ASC) claim when the patient has been fully prepared and physically taken into the procedure/operating room but the…
    78CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    363A00000X
    207L00000X
    207X00000X
    208600000X
    103G00000X
    261QM0801X
    2278P1005X
    225X00000X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    24 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    I83.019Varicose veins of right lower extremity with ulcer of unspecified site
    I83.813Varicose veins of bilateral lower extremities with pain
    L03.116Cellulitis of left lower limb
    L08.9Local infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, unspecified
    L89.119Pressure ulcer of right upper back, unspecified stage
    L89.219Pressure ulcer of right hip, unspecified stage
    L89.329Pressure ulcer of left buttock, unspecified stage
    L89.519Pressure ulcer of right ankle, unspecified stage
    L92.0Granuloma annulare
    L92.8Other granulomatous disorders of the skin and subcutaneous tissue

    Showing 1–10 of 24

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Infectious Disease1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Long-Acting Injectable Antiretroviral Agents for HIVColorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans2026-10-01
    B-Hemolytic Streptococcus TestingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) — Coverage Criteria for Testing and Resistance AssaysOscar Health2026-10-01
    Hepatitis Testing (A, B, C, D) Coverage CriteriaOscar Health2026-10-01
    Lyme Disease Testing Coverage CriteriaOscar Health2026-10-01
    Pathogen Panel TestingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Diagnostic Testing of Common Sexually Transmitted InfectionsOscar Health2026-10-01
    Coronavirus Testing in the Outpatient SettingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Testing for Vector-Borne InfectionsOscar Health2026-10-01
    Testing for Diagnosis of Active or Latent TuberculosisOscar Health2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-Q4139-INJECTABLE-AMNIOMATRIX-BIODMATRIX-1-CC

    HCPCS Q4139: Amniomatrix or Biodmatrix, Injectable, 1 cc

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-Q5132-ADALIMUMAB-AFZB-ABRILADA-10MG-INJECTION

    HCPCS Level II Q5132: Injection, adalimumab-afzb (Abrilada), 10 mg

    HCPCS-Q0035-CARDIOKYMOGRAPHY-CARDIAC-MOTION-RECORDING

    HCPCS Level II Q0035: Cardiokymography

    HCPCS-Q0081-INFUSION-THERAPY-NON-CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC-PER-VISIT

    HCPCS Level II Q0081: Infusion Therapy, Non‑Chemotherapeutic, Per Visit

    HCPCS-Q0083-CHEMOTHERAPY-NON-INFUSION-ADMINISTRATION

    HCPCS Q0083: Chemotherapy Administration, Non-Infusion Methods

    HCPCS-Q0084-CHEMOTHERAPY-INFUSION-ADMINISTRATION-PER-VISIT

    HCPCS Q0084: Chemotherapy Infusion Administration, Per Visit

    HCPCS-Q0085-CHEMOTHERAPY-INFUSION-PLUS-OTHER-TECHNIQUES-PER-VISIT

    HCPCS Q0085: Chemotherapy Infusion Plus Other Technique(s), Per Visit

    HCPCS-Q0091-PAP-SMEAR-SPECIMEN-COLLECTION-TRANSPORT

    HCPCS Q0091: Screening Papanicolaou Smear Collection and Transport

    HCPCS-Q0092-PORTABLE-XRAY-EQUIPMENT-SETUP

    HCPCS Q0092: Set-up Portable X-ray Equipment

    HCPCS-Q0111-WET-MOUNT-VAGINAL-CERVICAL-SKIN-SPECIMENS

    HCPCS Q0111: Wet Mount Preparations of Vaginal, Cervical, or Skin Specimens

    Showing 1–10 of 629

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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