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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesTemporary CodesHCPCS hcpcs-q4038-short-leg-fiberglass-cast-supplies-adult
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    HCPCS Level II Q4038: Cast Supplies, Short Leg Cast, Adult (Fiberglass)

    HCPCS Level II code Q4038 describes cast supplies for a short leg cast intended for adults (age 11 and older) using fiberglass materials; the service represents provision of casting supplies used to fabricate or apply a short leg cast and is typically associated with orthopedic/splinting supply services provided in outpatient clinic, emergency department, or ambulatory surgical center settings where immobilization for lower extremity injuries is performed.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: B-Hemolytic Streptococcus Testing, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) — Coverage Criteria for Testing and Resistance Assays, Hepatitis Testing (A, B, C, D) Coverage Criteria.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    An adult patient (age 18+) presents to an orthopedic clinic or urgent care after acute ankle injury from a fall while playing recreational sports. The clinician performs a focused musculoskeletal history and physical exam, documents point tenderness and limited weight bearing, and obtains plain radiographs to exclude displaced fracture. Imaging shows a nondisplaced distal tibia or fibula fracture or a severe ankle sprain requiring immobilization. The clinician applies a short leg fiberglass cast using supplies billed under Q4038 for adult short leg fiberglass cast materials. The clinical workflow includes assessment, imaging, reduction if needed (closed), cast application by an orthopedist, physician assistant, or cast technician, patient education on cast care and activity restrictions, and scheduling of follow-up for cast check and possible radiographic reassessment.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    29125Application of short-leg cast (below knee to toes)Directly corresponds to application of a short leg cast; supplies billed via Q4038 may accompany this service
    29515Application of lower leg walking boot (prefabricated)Alternative to a short leg cast for some ankle/foot injuries; considered in the same clinical decision-making pathway
    25600Closed treatment of distal radial fracture; without manipulationExample of a closed treatment code for a different extremity — included for workflow context when closed management is performed instead of or with casting
    11042Debridement; skin, subcutaneous tissue (simple)May be performed prior to casting if wound care is required on the limb before immobilization
    99070Supplies and materials (except spectacles), noncovered items or services; billed when not included in other servicesMay be used by some payers when specific cast supply HCPCS codes are not accepted, though Q4038 is the specific supply code for fiberglass short leg cast

    Related Modifiers

    7 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    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…
    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…
    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…
    80CPT® Modifier 80 (Assistant Surgeon) is appended to a surgical CPT code when a physician (MD or DO) provides full, continuous assistance throughout the operative procedure. It is intended only for…- Use CPT Modifier -80 when a physician (MD or DO) serves as an assistant surgeon and provides full, continuous assistance throughout the entire operative procedure; append -80 to the surgical CPT…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy CodeSpecialtyNotes
    207L00000XAnesthesiology PhysicianAn anesthesiologist is trained to provide pain relief and maintenance, or restoration, of a stable condition during and immediately following an opera…
    208M00000XHospitalist PhysicianHospitalists are physicians whose primary professional focus is the general medical care of hospitalized patients. Their activities include patient ca…
    363A00000XPhysician AssistantA physician assistant is a person who has successfully completed an accredited education program for physician assistant, is licensed by the state and…
    163W00000XRegistered Nurse(1) A registered nurse is a person qualified by graduation from an accredited nursing school (depending upon schooling, a registered nurse may receive…
    207YX0901XOtology & Neurotology PhysicianAn otolaryngologist who treats diseases of the ear and temporal bone, including disorders of hearing and balance. The additional training in otology a…
    207RH0005XHypertension Specialist PhysicianA Hypertension Specialist is a physician who concentrates on all aspects of the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension.
    261QR0207XMobile Mammography Clinic/CenterAmbulatory Health Care Facilities · Clinic/Center
    207ZB0001XBlood Banking & Transfusion Medicine PhysicianA physician who specializes in blood banking/transfusion medicine is responsible for the maintenance of an adequate blood supply, blood donor and pati…

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Infectious Disease1 / 3

    9 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    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
    Testing for Vector-Borne InfectionsOscar Health2026-10-01
    Coronavirus Testing in the Outpatient SettingOscar 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-Q4256-AREA-BASED-PROCEDURAL-ADD-ON-PER-SQ-CM

    HCPCS Q4256: MLG-complete Skin Graft Material, Per Sq Cm

    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

    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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