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The CPT® Code 15003 refers to the surgical preparation or creation of a recipient site through the excision of open wounds, burn eschar, or scars, which may include the removal of subcutaneous tissues or the incisional release of scar contracture. This procedure is specifically applicable to areas on the trunk, arms, and legs. The code is utilized when the surgical preparation involves an area exceeding the initial 100 square centimeters or 1% of the body area in infants and children. It is important to note that this code is reported separately in addition to the primary procedure code. The common language description indicates that the physician may perform various actions, such as excising an open wound or burn eschar, removing an existing scar, or making an incision to alleviate skin contracture caused by a scar. The procedure may also involve simple debridement or the removal of granulation tissue to establish a healthy vascular tissue bed, which is essential for the successful placement of a skin graft. This preparation is crucial for repairing defects in the skin, and once the recipient site is adequately prepared, a separately reportable skin graft can be applied. For billing purposes, CPT® Code 15002 is used to report the surgical preparation of the first 100 square centimeters or 1% of body area in infants or children, while CPT® Code 15003 is used to report each additional 100 square centimeters or each additional 1% of body area for infants and children, or any number of additional square centimeters or percentage of the child's body area within those measured amounts.
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The procedure associated with CPT® Code 15003 is indicated for the following conditions:
The procedure for CPT® Code 15003 involves several key steps to ensure the effective preparation of the recipient site:
After the procedure associated with CPT® Code 15003, the patient may require specific post-operative care to ensure proper healing. This may include monitoring the recipient site for signs of infection, managing pain, and ensuring that the area remains clean and protected. The physician may provide instructions on wound care, including how to change dressings and when to follow up for further evaluation. The expected recovery time will vary based on the extent of the excision and the individual patient's healing process. Additionally, the physician may discuss the timing and method for the subsequent skin graft placement, if applicable.
| Short Descr | WOUND PREP ADDL 100 CM | Medium Descr | PREP SITE TRUNK/ARM/LEG ADDL 100 SQ CM/1PCT | Long Descr | Surgical preparation or creation of recipient site by excision of open wounds, burn eschar, or scar (including subcutaneous tissues), or incisional release of scar contracture, trunk, arms, legs; each additional 100 sq cm, or part thereof, or each additional 1% of body area of infants and children (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) | Status Code | Active Code | Global Days | ZZZ - Code Related to Another Service | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 0 - Physician Service Code | Multiple Procedures (51) | 0 - No 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) | 0 - 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 | Items and Services Packaged into APC Rates | ASC Payment Indicator | Packaged service/item; no separate payment made. | Type of Service (TOS) | 2 - Surgery | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | P1G - Major procedure - Other | MUE | 60 | CCS Clinical Classification | 172 - Skin graft |
This is an add-on code that must be used in conjunction with one of these primary codes.
| 15002 | MPFS Status: Active Code APC T ASC A2 CPT Assistant Article Illustration for Code Surgical preparation or creation of recipient site by excision of open wounds, burn eschar, or scar (including subcutaneous tissues), or incisional release of scar contracture, trunk, arms, legs; first 100 sq cm or 1% of body area of infants and children |
| GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | AS | Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery | 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. | 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. | 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.) | 80 | Assistant surgeon: surgical assistant services may be identified by adding modifier 80 to the usual procedure number(s). | 78 | Unplanned return to the operating/procedure room by the same physician or other qualified health care professional following initial procedure for a related procedure during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that another procedure was performed during the postoperative period of the initial procedure (unplanned procedure following initial procedure). when this procedure is related to the first, and requires the use of an operating/procedure room, it may be reported by adding modifier 78 to the related procedure. (for repeat procedures, see modifier 76.) | 76 | Repeat procedure or service by same physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was repeated by the same physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 76 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | CR | Catastrophe/disaster related | XU | Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service | RT | Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body) | GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition | AQ | Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa) | LT | Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body) | GV | Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider | 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 | XP | Separate practitioner, a service that is distinct because it was performed by a different practitioner | 82 | Assistant surgeon (when qualified resident surgeon not available): the unavailability of a qualified resident surgeon is a prerequisite for use of modifier 82 appended to the usual procedure code number(s). | GJ | "opt out" physician or practitioner emergency or urgent service | Q1 | Routine clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study | X5 | Diagnostic services requested by another clinician: for reporting services by a clinician who furnishes care to the patient only as requested by another clinician or subsequent and related services requested by another clinician; this modifier is reported for patient relationships that may not be adequately captured by the above alternative categories; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to, the radiologist's interpretation of an imaging study requested by another clinician | XS | Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure | 22 | Increased procedural services: when the work required to provide a service is substantially greater than typically required, it may be identified by adding modifier 22 to the usual procedure code. documentation must support the substantial additional work and the reason for the additional work (ie, increased intensity, time, technical difficulty of procedure, severity of patient's condition, physical and mental effort required). note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | 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). | 77 | Repeat procedure by another physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a basic procedure or service was repeated by another physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 77 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | E4 | Lower right, eyelid | ET | Emergency services | SG | Ambulatory surgical center (asc) facility service |
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| 2013-01-01 | Changed | Medium Descriptor changed. |
| 2011-01-01 | Changed | Short description changed. Guideline information changed. |
| 2009-01-01 | Changed | Code description changed |
| 2007-01-01 | Added | New code |
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