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The CPT® Code 12015 refers to the simple repair of superficial wounds located on the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, and/or mucous membranes, specifically for wounds measuring between 7.6 cm and 12.5 cm. This procedure involves a straightforward approach to wound closure, which is essential for ensuring proper healing and minimizing scarring. During the procedure, the wound is first cleansed to reduce the risk of infection, and a local anesthetic is administered to ensure patient comfort. The healthcare provider then inspects the wound to confirm that it is superficial, meaning it only affects the epidermis, dermis, or subcutaneous tissue without penetrating deeper layers or exhibiting heavy contamination. The closure of the wound is performed using a simple, one-layer technique, which may involve sutures, staples, or tissue adhesive. These methods can be utilized individually or in combination, including the potential use of adhesive strips to enhance the closure. However, it is important to note that certain methods, such as chemical cautery, electrocautery, or the use of adhesive strips alone, do not qualify as a simple repair closure and should be reported as part of an evaluation and management service instead. This code is part of a series that categorizes wound repairs based on size, with specific codes designated for different wound lengths, ensuring accurate coding and billing for the services rendered.
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The procedure associated with CPT® Code 12015 is indicated for the treatment of superficial wounds that occur on the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, and/or mucous membranes. These wounds may arise from various causes, including but not limited to, lacerations, abrasions, or minor trauma. The specific indications for performing a simple repair include:
The procedure for CPT® Code 12015 involves several key steps to ensure effective wound repair. The steps are as follows:
After the completion of the simple repair procedure, the patient may be provided with specific post-procedure care instructions. These instructions typically include guidance on how to care for the wound to promote healing and prevent infection. Patients may be advised to keep the area clean and dry, monitor for any signs of infection such as increased redness, swelling, or discharge, and to follow up with their healthcare provider as needed. The expected recovery time will vary depending on the individual and the nature of the wound, but generally, superficial wounds tend to heal relatively quickly with proper care.
| Short Descr | RPR F/E/E/N/L/M 7.6-12.5 CM | Medium Descr | SIMPLE REPAIR F/E/E/N/L/M 7.6CM-12.5 CM | Long Descr | Simple repair of superficial wounds of face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips and/or mucous membranes; 7.6 cm to 12.5 cm | Status Code | Active Code | Global Days | 000 - Endoscopic or Minor Procedure | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 0 - Physician Service Code | Multiple Procedures (51) | 2 - Standard payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply. | Bilateral Surgery (50) | 0 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures does NOT apply. | Physician Supervisions | 09 - Concept does not apply. | Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) | 1 - Statutory payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure... | Co-Surgeons (62) | 0 - Co-surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Team Surgery (66) | 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Diagnostic Imaging Family | 99 - Concept Does Not Apply | APC Status Indicator | STV-Packaged Codes | ASC Payment Indicator | Non office-based surgical procedure added in CY 2008 or later; payment based on OPPS relative payment weight. | Type of Service (TOS) | 2 - Surgery | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | P6A - Minor procedures - skin | MUE | 1 | CCS Clinical Classification | 171 - Suture of skin and subcutaneous tissue |
| 59 | Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25. | 51 | Multiple procedures: when multiple procedures, other than e/m services, physical medicine and rehabilitation services or provision of supplies (eg, vaccines), are performed at the same session by the same individual, the primary procedure or service may be reported as listed. the additional procedure(s) or service(s) may be identified by appending modifier 51 to the additional procedure or service code(s). note: this modifier should not be appended to designated "add-on" codes (see appendix d). | 58 | Staged or related procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was: (a) planned or anticipated (staged); (b) more extensive than the original procedure; or (c) for therapy following a surgical procedure. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 58 to the staged or related procedure. note: for treatment of a problem that requires a return to the operating/procedure room (eg, unanticipated clinical condition), see modifier 78. | 79 | Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: the individual may need to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was unrelated to the original procedure. this circumstance may be reported by using modifier 79. (for repeat procedures on the same day, see modifier 76.) | AQ | Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa) | CR | Catastrophe/disaster related | E1 | Upper left, eyelid | E2 | Lower left, eyelid | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | GV | Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider | GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition | GY | Item or service statutorily excluded, does not meet the definition of any medicare benefit or, for non-medicare insurers, is not a contract benefit | LT | Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body) | Q6 | Service furnished under a fee-for-time compensation arrangement by a substitute physician or by a substitute physical therapist furnishing outpatient physical therapy services in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area | RT | Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body) | SA | Nurse practitioner rendering service in collaboration with a physician | X4 | Episodic/focused services: for reporting services by clinicians who provide focused care on particular types of treatment limited to a defined period and circumstance; the patient has a problem, acute or chronic, that will be treated with surgery, radiation, or some other type of generally time-limited intervention; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to, the orthopedic surgeon performing a knee replacement and seeing the patient through the postoperative period | XP | Separate practitioner, a service that is distinct because it was performed by a different practitioner | XS | Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure | XU | Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service |
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| 2013-01-01 | Changed | Description Changed |
| Pre-1990 | Added | Code added. |
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