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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesTemporary CodesHCPCS hcpcs-q4281-barrera-dressing-per-square-centimeter
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    HCPCS Q4281: Barrera skin repair, per square centimeter

    Medicare pays $133 on average nationally for this procedure.

    HCPCS Level II code Q4281 describes an add-on skin repair product identified as Barrera SL or Barrera DL billed per square centimeter for use in surgical or wound care procedures; this represents a dermal/skin substitute product provided as an adjunct to a primary procedure, typically used in operative or outpatient surgical settings where topical or implanted wound coverage is required.

    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 with a chronic or complex wound (for example a diabetic foot ulcer or post-surgical nonhealing wound) presents to an outpatient wound clinic. The treating clinician (often a wound care specialist, podiatrist, or plastic surgeon) determines that placement of a Barrera skin substitute (split-thickness or dermal layer product billed with Q4281 per square centimeter as an add-on) is appropriate as part of advanced wound management after debridement and optimization of the wound bed. Typical workflow: initial evaluation and documentation of wound size and depth; wound bed preparation including sharp or enzymatic debridement; measurement and reporting of surface area in square centimeters; selection and application of the Barrera product sized to the wound; fixation and dressing; post-procedure instructions and wound care follow-up visits for dressing changes and assessment of graft take. The procedure is performed in an ambulatory surgery center or outpatient wound clinic procedure room; in select cases it may occur in an inpatient operating room when performed concurrently with other surgical procedures. Billing uses Q4281 as an add-on per square centimeter in addition to the primary procedure code describing the graft or wound treatment.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    11042Debridement, subcutaneous tissue, first 20 sq cm or lessOften performed immediately prior to application of a dermal substitute to prepare the wound bed.
    15271Placement of a biologic implant (e.g., skin substitute), for wounds; 16 sq cm to 35 sq cm, first layerCPT code commonly used to report placement of a skin substitute product as a primary procedure when applicable; Q4281 is billed as an add-on per square centimeter in addition to the primary graft code.
    15275Placement of a biologic implant (e.g., skin substitute), complex, each additional 100 sq cmUsed when larger surface areas are treated; complements per-square-centimeter add-on billing for product quantity.
    97597Removal of devitalized tissue from wound(s), first 20 sq cm or less, without anesthesiaUsed for non-surgical wound debridement in clinic prior to product placement.
    11043Debridement, muscle and/or fascia, first 20 sq cm or lessUsed when deeper surgical debridement is required before application of a dermal substitute.

    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
    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…
    208000000XPediatrics PhysicianA pediatrician is concerned with the physical, emotional and social health of children from birth to young adulthood. Care encompasses a broad spectru…
    2084P0800XPsychiatry PhysicianA Psychiatrist specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders, emotional disorders, psychotic disorders, mood disorders, …
    363L00000XNurse Practitioner(1) A registered nurse provider with a graduate degree in nursing prepared for advanced practice involving independent and interdependent decision mak…
    246QC1000XChemistry Pathology Specialist/TechnologistTechnologists, Technicians & Other Technical Service Providers · Specialist/Technologist, Pathology
    364SP0813XGeropsychiatric Psychiatric/Mental Health Clinical Nurse SpecialistPhysician Assistants & Advanced Practice Nursing Providers · Clinical Nurse Specialist
    305S00000XPoint of ServiceThis product may also be called an open-ended HMO and offers a transition product incorporating features of both HMOs and PPOs. Beneficiaries are enro…
    253J00000XFoster Care AgencyA Foster Care Agency is an agency that provides foster care as defined in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) as "24-hour substitute care for childr…

    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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