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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesTemporary CodesHCPCS hcpcs-q4261-tag-per-square-centimeter
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    HCPCS Level II Q4261: Tag, per Square Centimeter (Add-on)

    HCPCS Level II code Q4261 describes an add-on billing unit for a tag, billed per square centimeter, intended to be reported separately in addition to a primary procedure; the service is placement or application of a tagging device measured by surface area and the typical site of service is outpatient procedural settings or clinic-based wound care where tags are applied to wounds or devices requiring area-based billing.

    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

    A patient presenting for wound management following surgical debridement of a chronic non-healing ulcer requires placement of measurement tags to document wound area for ongoing care and billing. The clinical workflow begins with wound assessment by a podiatrist or wound care nurse, photographic documentation, and application of a Q4261 tag to mark a measured area in square centimeters. The tag is billed as an add-on item in addition to the primary wound procedure (for example debridement or excision). Typical settings include outpatient wound clinics, ambulatory surgery centers, hospital outpatient departments, and physician offices. The patient is commonly an older adult with comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus or peripheral vascular disease, undergoing serial wound assessments and treatment sessions where accurate area tagging supports clinical monitoring and reimbursement documentation.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    11042Debridement, subcutaneous tissue (eg, first 20 sq cm or less)Common primary procedure for which Q4261 may be reported to document tagged wound area when debriding chronic ulcers
    11043Debridement, muscle and/or fascia (eg, first 20 sq cm or less)Used for deeper debridement; tagging documents area size for billing and follow-up
    97597Removal of devitalized tissue from wound, selective debridement, without anesthesia (first 20 sq cm)Outpatient wound care procedure often performed with area tagging for serial measurement
    15271Application of skin substitute graft to trunk, arms, legs; first 100 sq cm or lessWhen advanced wound coverage/grafting is performed, tags document prepared wound area
    12001Repair, superficial wounds of scalp, neck, axillae, external genitalia, trunk and/or extremities; 2.5 cm or lessMinor wound repairs where area measurement tagging may be used to document size for add-on billing

    Related Modifiers

    9 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…
    23Modifier -23 (Unusual Anesthesia) is used on anesthesia service CPT codes when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia…- Use modifier -23 only on anesthesia CPT codes (00100–01999) when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia because of…
    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…
    56Modifier ‑56 indicates the reporting provider furnished only the preoperative management for a surgical procedure and did not perform the intraoperative or postoperative care. It is used in…- Use Modifier -56 when a provider performs only the preoperative management in a split‑care situation (one physician manages preop care while a different physician performs the intraoperative…
    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…
    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 CodeSpecialtyNotes
    208C00000XColon & Rectal Surgery PhysicianA colon and rectal surgeon is trained to diagnose and treat various diseases of the intestinal tract, colon, rectum, anal canal and perianal area by m…
    207L00000XAnesthesiology PhysicianAn anesthesiologist is trained to provide pain relief and maintenance, or restoration, of a stable condition during and immediately following an opera…
    207P00000XEmergency Medicine PhysicianAn emergency physician focuses on the immediate decision making and action necessary to prevent death or any further disability both in the pre-hospit…
    363LF0000XFamily Nurse PractitionerPhysician Assistants & Advanced Practice Nursing Providers · Nurse Practitioner
    207K00000XAllergy & Immunology PhysicianAn allergist-immunologist is trained in evaluation, physical and laboratory diagnosis, and management of disorders involving the immune system. Select…
    156FX1700XOcularistAn ocularist is a thoroughly trained professional skilled in the art of fitting, painting, and fabricating custom ocular prostheses. In addition to cr…
    103TS0200XSchool PsychologistA psychologist whose specialty is concerned with the science and practice of psychology with children, youth, families; learners of all ages; and the …
    335E00000XProsthetic/Orthotic SupplierAn organization that provides prosthetic and orthotic care which may include, but is not limited to, patient evaluation, prosthesis or orthosis design…

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Infectious Disease1 / 3

    10 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 Diagnosis of Active or Latent TuberculosisOscar Health2026-10-01
    Testing for Vector-Borne InfectionsOscar Health2026-10-01
    Coronavirus Testing in the Outpatient SettingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)blue cross blue shield - louisiana2026-09-15

    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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