🦴 CPT 11044 — Debridement, Bone (Includes Epidermis, Dermis, Subcutaneous Tissue, Muscle and/or Fascia, if Performed); First 20 sq cm or Less
Quick Reference
wRVU: 4.96 (NF) / 4.00 (Fac) ⚠️ verify CY2026 | Global Period: 000 (same day) | Assistant Payable: ⚠️ Verify against CMS MPFS assistant-at-surgery indicator | Bilateral Indicator: 0 — not a paired-organ code; separate wounds are billed with laterality/distinct-site modifiers rather than -50
📋 Clinical Description
CPT 11044 describes excisional surgical debridement of bone — the most extensive tier in the depth-based debridement code family. The code descriptor bundles any epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue, muscle, and/or fascia that must also be removed to access and debride the bone, so those shallower layers are never separately reported when bone is the deepest tissue excised. Code selection is driven strictly by the deepest tissue layer actually removed with a cutting instrument, not by the depth of the wound itself or by bone merely being visible in the wound bed.
CPT 11044 sits at the top of the 11042-11047 family: 11042 reports debridement to subcutaneous tissue, 11043 reports debridement to muscle and/or fascia, and 11044 reports debridement to bone. Each has a matching add-on code for additional 20-sq-cm increments — 11045, 11046, and 11047 respectively — and only one base code plus its own add-on is reported per wound per session, based on the single deepest layer treated.
Bone debridement most often treats osteomyelitis or a chronic wound (pressure ulcer, diabetic foot ulcer, or venous/arterial ulcer) that has progressed to expose and involve underlying bone. Untreated, infected or necrotic bone drives ongoing sepsis risk, delayed wound healing, and eventual need for more extensive resection or amputation. When the wound is a surgical or traumatic wound with acute contamination rather than a chronic ulcer, the same depth-based code family still applies, but the ICD-10-CM code set driving medical necessity shifts to injury/complication codes (Chapter 19/T-codes) rather than the L89/L97 chronic ulcer series.
This procedure may be performed in the following clinical contexts:
- Diabetic foot ulcer with osteomyelitis — debridement of infected/necrotic calcaneal, metatarsal, or phalangeal bone in a neuropathic foot ulcer, often staged with IV antibiotics.
- Stage 4 pressure ulcer — sacral, hip, or heel pressure injuries that have progressed to full-thickness loss with exposed, nonviable bone.
- Chronic venous or arterial ulcer with bone involvement — less common than diabetic/pressure etiologies but coded identically once bone is the deepest debrided layer.
- Post-surgical or post-traumatic wound infection — infected orthopedic hardware sites or open fractures with devitalized bone requiring excisional debridement, often preceding or accompanying irrigation and hardware codes separately reportable elsewhere.
- Recurrent/serial debridement in the same wound — repeat sessions across multiple encounters, each independently coded per session per LCD frequency standards (see NCD/LCD section below).
🔬 Anatomical & Procedural Considerations
| Modality/Approach | Mechanism | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sharp excisional debridement | Scalpel, curette, rongeur, or scissors used to sharply excise nonviable bone down to bleeding, viable margins | The standard technique supporting 11044; documentation must state the bone was tangibly debrided to bleeding/healthy margins, not merely exposed |
| Combined multi-layer excision | Skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscle, and/or fascia are excised in the same session to gain access to and expose the bone | All shallower-layer work is bundled into 11044 — none of it is separately reportable, even if extensive |
| Serial/staged debridement | Repeated sessions over the treatment course as the wound is progressively cleared of nonviable tissue | Each session is coded independently by that day’s deepest layer and surface area; LCDs impose frequency review thresholds (see below) |
Clinical Pearl
Per Medicare LCD guidance, “bone visible” in the wound bed is not sufficient to support 11044 — the operative note must document that nonviable bone was tangibly excised down to bleeding, healthy bone margins. Pathology confirmation of the excised bone fragment is strongly recommended for audit defense on high-value, high-scrutiny codes like this one.
✅ Procedure Includes
- Debridement (excision) of nonviable, infected, or contaminated bone down to viable, bleeding margins.
- Excision of any overlying epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue, muscle, and/or fascia necessary to access the bone, regardless of the extent of that shallower-layer work.
- Local or topical anesthesia and irrigation of the wound bed as part of the surgical field prep.
- Intraoperative assessment of tissue viability and extent of bone involvement.
- Hemostasis and dressing/wound-care application at the conclusion of the procedure.
- Documentation of total wound surface area in sq cm, tissue layers removed, and explicit confirmation of bone-level excision — required to support code selection, not merely to describe the encounter.
❌ Excludes / Do Not Report Together
| Code | Description | Relationship to 11044 |
|---|---|---|
| 11043 | Debridement, muscle and/or fascia; first 20 sq cm or less | Mutually exclusive for the same wound at the same session — code selection is based on the single deepest layer actually excised; if bone is debrided, 11043 is not separately reported even if muscle/fascia were also removed |
| 11042 | Debridement, subcutaneous tissue; first 20 sq cm or less | Same mutual-exclusivity logic — subsumed into 11044 when bone is the deepest layer treated |
| 97597 | Debridement, open wound, selective, first 20 sq cm or less | Non-billable pairing for this scenario — 97597 describes non-surgical active wound care of superficial/devitalized tissue only and is not reported for the same wound/session where surgical excisional bone debridement (11044) is performed |
| E/M codes (992xx / 990xx) | Office/inpatient visit, any level | Separately reportable only when modifier -25 is appended to the E/M code, documenting a significant, separately identifiable evaluation beyond the routine pre-procedure assessment |
Bundling Alert — Global Period is 000, Not 010 or 090
With a 000 global period, only the day of the procedure is bundled — there is no post-operative follow-up window to track for 11044, unlike major surgical codes. However, because these are serial/repeat-billed codes, the compliance risk is not global-period leakage but frequency abuse: payers apply LCD-based medical necessity review once debridement sessions exceed defined thresholds per wound per year (see NCD/LCD section). Modifier -76 (repeat procedure, same physician) may be appropriate for a same-day repeat, but same-day repeat bone debridement is uncommon; most repeat sessions occur on separate dates and require no repeat-procedure modifier, only clear documentation that each session addressed ongoing nonviable tissue.
📜 Coverage Determinations (NCD/LCD)
Applicable LCDs
LCD L34032 (Debridement Services) and LCD L34587 (GSURG051 — Wound Care, CPT 97597/97598/11042-11047) govern medical necessity for 11044. Key coverage points: (1) debridement services are billed by total body surface area of debrided tissue, not per individual ulcer/wound — multiple wounds of the same depth debrided in the same session are summed and billed as one line; (2) diabetic foot ulcer debridement performed more frequently than once every 7 days for longer than 3 months may be considered not reasonable and necessary absent documented comorbid justification; (3) services beyond the fifth surgical debridement per wound per patient per year (11043/11046 and/or 11044/11047) may trigger medical review of the treatment plan; (4) photographic documentation immediately before/after debridement is recommended for prolonged or repetitive bone-level debridement; (5) the record must document evaluation for infection/osteomyelitis (culture, imaging) and evidence of measurable wound improvement (commonly ≥10-20% size reduction within 30 days) to support continued treatment. There is no applicable National Coverage Determination (NCD) specific to surgical wound debridement; coverage is governed at the MAC/LCD level, so the specific LCD ID and jurisdiction must be confirmed for the rendering provider’s MAC.
🌳 Code Tree — Surgery: Integumentary System, Repair (Excision — Debridement)
CPT 11000-11047 Surgery: Integumentary System — Debridement
│
├── 11000-11001 Debridement of Extensive Eczematous or Infected Skin
│ ├── 11000 Debridement of extensive eczematous or infected skin; up to 10% of body surface
│ └── 11001 each additional 10% of the body surface (add-on)
│
├── 11004-11008 Debridement, Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infection
│ ├── 11004 Debridement of skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscle and fascia for necrotizing soft tissue infection; external genitalia and perineum
│ └── 11005-11006 abdominal wall / additional area(s)
│
├── 11042-11047 Debridement, Subcutaneous Tissue Through Bone
│ ├── 11042 Debridement, subcutaneous tissue; first 20 sq cm or less (Global: 000)
│ ├── +11045 each additional 20 sq cm, or part thereof (add-on to 11042)
│ ├── 11043 Debridement, muscle and/or fascia; first 20 sq cm or less (Global: 000)
│ ├── +11046 each additional 20 sq cm, or part thereof (add-on to 11043)
│ ├── ▶▶ 11044 ◀◀ Debridement, bone; first 20 sq cm or less ← YOU ARE HERE (Global: 000)
│ └── +11047 each additional 20 sq cm, or part thereof (add-on to 11044)
│
└── 97597-97598 Active Wound Care Management (Non-Surgical, Selective Debridement)
├── 97597 Debridement, open wound, selective; first 20 sq cm or less
└── 97598 each additional 20 sq cm, or part thereof (add-on)💰 RVU & Reimbursement Profile
| Component | Value |
|---|---|
| Work RVU (wRVU) | 4.96 (non-facility) / 4.00 (facility) (⚠️ historical CY2022 CMS MPFS value — CONFIRM current figure against the CY2026 CMS MPFS Final Rule/Addendum B, as CMS finalized a -2.5% work RVU “efficiency adjustment” that may apply to this code for CY2026) |
| Global Period | 000 (same day) |
| Bilateral Indicator | 0 — not subject to bilateral payment reduction rules; this is a unit/surface-area-based code, not a paired-organ code |
| Assistant Surgeon | ⚠️ Verify current MPFS assistant-at-surgery indicator — not confidently known for this code |
| Co-Surgeon | ❌ Not typically applicable |
| Team Surgery | ❌ Not typically applicable |
| PC/TC Split | ❌ No — procedure code only (Indicator 0) |
| Modifier -51 Exempt | No |
| Anesthesia | Local/topical infiltration typically used in office/ASC setting; general or regional anesthesia may be used for extensive inpatient bone debridement, separately billable under the 00XXX anesthesia series when performed by a separate anesthesia provider |
Bilateral / Multi-Site Billing
CPT 11044 does not use modifier -50 for bilateral presentations because it is an area-based, not a paired-organ, code. When bone debridement is performed on two separate, distinct wounds (e.g., right and left heel), each wound is billed as its own line with -RT/-LT and modifier -59 or -XS appended to the second line to document a distinct anatomic site, rather than combining them under -50. Surface area from separate wounds of the same depth on the same anatomic structure may instead be summed per LCD guidance and billed as a single line — the distinction is separate wounds/sites vs. one larger wound, and documentation must make that distinction explicit.
🏷️ Modifier Reference
| Modifier | Name | When to Apply |
|---|---|---|
| -RT | Right Side | Procedure performed on a right-sided anatomic structure (e.g., right heel, right hip) |
| -LT | Left Side | Procedure performed on a left-sided anatomic structure |
| -25 | Significant, Separately Identifiable E/M | Applied to the E/M code — not 11044 — when a distinct evaluation (e.g., new wound assessment, infection workup) is performed and documented separately from the routine pre-procedure assessment on the same date |
| -51 | Multiple Procedures | When 11044 is performed alongside other surgical procedures at the same session; applied to the lower-valued code |
| -59 | Distinct Procedural Service | When payers inappropriately bundle debridement of a separate, distinct wound/site in the same session; documents that the second site is anatomically distinct from the first |
| -76 | Repeat Procedure by Same Physician | Applied on the rare occasion bone debridement is repeated at the same wound on the same date by the same provider; document the clinical reason for the same-day repeat |
| -77 | Repeat Procedure by Another Physician | Same concept as -76 when a different physician performs the repeat same-day procedure |
| -78 | Unplanned Return to OR | Applied when an unplanned return to the OR for a related complication occurs; less relevant given the 000 global period but may still apply for facility/hospital billing rules |
| -79 | Unrelated Procedure During Postoperative Period | Applied when an unrelated procedure is performed shortly after 11044; limited practical relevance given the 000 global window |
| -XS | Separate Structure | HCPCS-level modifier documenting that a second debridement was performed on a separate organ/structure; an alternative to -59 preferred by many MACs |
| -XE | Separate Encounter | Documents that a service was a distinct encounter from another procedure billed the same day |
| -XU | Unusual Non-Overlapping Service | Documents that the service does not overlap the usual components of another procedure billed the same day |
🩺 Common ICD-10-CM Pairings
Non-Pressure Chronic Ulcer With Bone Involvement (Diabetic/Vascular Etiology)
| ICD-10 Code | Description | HCC? | Clinical Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| L97.414 | Non-pressure chronic ulcer of right heel and midfoot with bone involvement without evidence of necrosis | ❌ No | Most specific right-sided code supporting bone-level debridement of the heel; pairs with etiology code (e.g., diabetes) as an additional diagnosis |
| L97.424 | Non-pressure chronic ulcer of left heel and midfoot with bone involvement without evidence of necrosis | ❌ No | Left-sided equivalent |
| L97.404 | Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified heel and midfoot with bone involvement without evidence of necrosis | ❌ No | Use only when laterality is entirely absent from documentation; query the provider whenever possible |
| L97.514 | Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of right foot with bone involvement without evidence of necrosis | ❌ No | Use for right forefoot/metatarsal/toe wounds not classified to heel/midfoot |
| L97.524 | Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of left foot with bone involvement without evidence of necrosis | ❌ No | Left-sided equivalent |
Pressure Ulcer, Stage 4 (Bone/Tendon/Muscle Exposure)
| ICD-10 Code | Description | HCC? | Clinical Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| L89.154 | Pressure-induced deep tissue damage of sacral region, unstageable — (confirm exact 5th-character stage-4 code against current sacral subcategory before finalizing; sacral stage-4 code is L89.154 only if documentation supports full-thickness loss with exposed bone) | ❌ No | Stage 4 pressure ulcers by definition involve exposed/palpable bone, muscle, tendon, or cartilage, directly supporting bone-level debridement |
| L89.214 | Pressure ulcer of right hip, stage 4 | ❌ No | Right-sided hip pressure injury with bone exposure |
| L89.314 | Pressure ulcer of left hip, stage 4 | ❌ No | Left-sided equivalent |
Underlying Etiology / Complication Codes
| ICD-10 Code | Description | HCC? | Clinical Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| M86.9 | Osteomyelitis, unspecified | ❌ No | Report as an additional diagnosis when bone infection is the clinical driver for debridement and a more specific osteomyelitis subtype/site code cannot be supported by documentation; query for site/chronicity when possible for greater specificity |
| E11.621 | Type 2 diabetes mellitus with foot ulcer | ✅ HCC 38 (Diabetes with Chronic Complications) | Report as an additional diagnosis alongside the specific L97 ulcer code whenever the ulcer is diabetes-related; this pairing is frequently required by payers to establish medical necessity for surgical (not just active) debridement |
Coding Specificity Reminder
The single most commonly missed specificity element on debridement claims is the 5th-character depth indicator on L97/L98 codes (1=skin breakdown only, 2=fat exposed, 3=muscle necrosis, 4=bone necrosis, 5=muscle without necrosis, 6=bone without necrosis) — this depth character must match the CPT-level tissue depth actually debrided or the claim is at high denial risk. Laterality is the second most common gap. Never default to an unspecified or “without bone involvement” code when the operative note documents bone-level excision; query the provider rather than downcoding the diagnosis to match an incomplete note.
🏥 MS-DRG Considerations (Inpatient)
Inpatient Coding Reminder
CPT 11044 is reportable in both outpatient and inpatient facility settings, and inpatient bone debridement is clinically common for infected pressure ulcers and diabetic foot osteomyelitis requiring admission. When the principal diagnosis is a skin ulcer or cellulitis with bone involvement (e.g., L97.414, L89.214), the ICD-10-PCS excision code groups to MDC 9 (Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue & Breast), DRG family 573-575 (Skin Graft and/or Debridement Except Hand, for Skin Ulcer or Cellulitis, with MCC / with CC / without CC-MCC). When the principal diagnosis is osteomyelitis (e.g., M86.9 or a more specific M86 subtype), the case instead groups to MDC 8 (Musculoskeletal System & Connective Tissue), DRG family 539-541 (Osteomyelitis, with MCC / with CC / without CC-MCC). Correct principal diagnosis sequencing between the ulcer and the osteomyelitis — per ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines and any applicable Coding Clinic guidance — is the single largest DRG-weight driver on these admissions, so the underlying clinical documentation must clearly establish which condition was the primary reason for admission.
🔧 ICD-10-PCS Equivalents (Inpatient Facility Coding)
Note
Inpatient PCS coding for bone debridement is common and materially affects DRG assignment (see above). The root operation is Excision (B) — cutting out/off, without replacement, a portion of a body part — not Destruction, since viable tissue margins are physically removed and could theoretically be sent for pathology. Approach is typically External (X) because excisional debridement of a chronic open wound is performed directly through the existing wound bed rather than via a newly created surgical opening; if the surgeon creates a new open incision to access non-exposed bone, Open (0) approach applies instead and must be selected based on the operative note.
| PCS Code | Full Description | Applicable Modality |
|---|---|---|
0QBMXZZ | Excision of Right Tarsal Bone (calcaneus/heel), External Approach, No Device, No Qualifier | Debridement via existing open wound bed, heel/calcaneus |
0QBNXZZ | Excision of Left Tarsal Bone (calcaneus/heel), External Approach, No Device, No Qualifier | Debridement via existing open wound bed, heel/calcaneus |
0QBPXZZ | Excision of Right Metatarsal, External Approach, No Device, No Qualifier | Debridement via existing open wound bed, forefoot |
0QB1XZZ | Excision of Sacrum, External Approach, No Device, No Qualifier | Debridement via existing open wound bed, sacral pressure ulcer |
PCS Character Analysis — 0QBMXZZ
| Position | Character | Value | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Section | 0 | Medical and Surgical |
| 2 | Body System | Q | Lower Bones |
| 3 | Root Operation | B | Excision (cutting out/off, without replacement, a portion of a body part) |
| 4 | Body Part | M | Tarsal, Right (includes calcaneus/heel) |
| 5 | Approach | X | External — performed directly through the existing open wound, not via a newly created surgical opening |
| 6 | Device | Z | No Device |
| 7 | Qualifier | Z | No Qualifier |
PCS Root Operation: Excision vs. Extraction
- Use Excision (B) for the standard scenario — sharp/surgical removal of nonviable bone tissue, which is the technique 11044 describes.
- Use Extraction (D) only if the procedure pulls/strips out a bone fragment or structure without cutting it, which is not typical of 11044-level debridement and would be an unusual documentation scenario requiring provider query before code assignment.
- When bilateral or multi-site bone debridement is performed, assign a separate PCS code line for each distinct body part treated — PCS has no bilateral modifier equivalent.
📝 Coding Examples
Example 1 — Office/ASC: Diabetic Heel Ulcer With Bone Debridement
Clinical Scenario: A 64-year-old male with type 2 diabetes presents to the outpatient wound clinic with a chronic right heel ulcer. Examination and probe-to-bone testing confirm exposed, nonviable calcaneal bone measuring 15 sq cm. The physician performs sharp surgical debridement, excising nonviable bone down to bleeding, healthy margins along with the overlying devitalized skin and subcutaneous tissue. No separately identifiable E/M service is documented beyond the routine pre-procedure assessment.
| Field | Code | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| CPT | 11044-RT | Bone-level excisional debridement, first 20 sq cm or less (15 sq cm falls under the threshold), right-sided anatomic structure |
| PDx | L97.414 | Non-pressure chronic ulcer of right heel and midfoot with bone involvement without evidence of necrosis — most specific code supporting bone-level debridement |
| SDx | E11.621 | Type 2 diabetes mellitus with foot ulcer — establishes the underlying etiology and supports medical necessity |
Note
No modifier -25 is billed here since no separately identifiable E/M was documented; the pre-procedure assessment is bundled into the 000 global period.
Example 2 — Inpatient: Sacral Pressure Ulcer With Osteomyelitis, Larger Surface Area
Clinical Scenario: A 78-year-old female is admitted with a stage 4 sacral pressure ulcer complicated by confirmed osteomyelitis on MRI and bone culture. During the inpatient stay, the surgical team performs excisional debridement of the sacral wound, totaling 45 sq cm of bone-level tissue removed. A separately identifiable infectious disease consultation E/M is documented the same day to manage IV antibiotic therapy.
| Field | Code | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| CPT 1 | 11044 | First 20 sq cm of bone-level debridement |
| CPT 2 | 11047 x2 | Add-on code reported twice for the remaining 25 sq cm (one unit for the next 20 sq cm, one unit for the final 5 sq cm, per whole/part-thereof billing rules) |
| PDx | M86.9 | Osteomyelitis, unspecified — sequenced as principal diagnosis given it was confirmed as the primary reason for admission and drove the treatment course; query provider for a more specific M86 subtype/site code if available |
| SDx | L89.154 | Sacral pressure ulcer, stage 4 — additional diagnosis documenting the wound source of the infection |
Warning
Confirm the principal diagnosis sequencing between the osteomyelitis and the pressure ulcer against the physician’s documentation of the primary reason for admission — this directly determines whether the case groups to the MDC 8 osteomyelitis DRG family or the MDC 9 skin ulcer/debridement DRG family, a significant weight and reimbursement difference.
Example 3 — Office: Serial Debridement Exceeding LCD Frequency Threshold
Clinical Scenario: A 58-year-old male with a chronic diabetic forefoot ulcer with bone involvement returns for his sixth surgical bone debridement session within the calendar year. The wound has shown slow but measurable improvement (12% size reduction since the prior session), and the physician documents ongoing nonviable bone requiring excision, along with updated culture and imaging results ruling out worsening osteomyelitis.
| Field | Code | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| CPT | 11044-LT | Sixth bone-level debridement session, left forefoot |
| PDx | L97.524 | Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of left foot with bone involvement without evidence of necrosis |
| SDx | E11.621 | Type 2 diabetes mellitus with foot ulcer — supports ongoing medical necessity |
Global period reminder
The 000 global period means no post-op follow-up days are bundled, so each session bills independently by date of service. The compliance exposure here is not the global period but the LCD’s fifth-debridement frequency review threshold — documentation must explicitly show measurable wound improvement, ongoing infection surveillance, and updated imaging/culture to defend medical necessity for this and any subsequent session.
⚠️ Common Coding Pitfalls
-
Coding to visible bone instead of debrided bone: Documentation stating bone is merely “visible” or “exposed” in the wound bed does not support 11044. The operative note must state that nonviable bone was tangibly excised down to bleeding, healthy margins; absent that language, the claim should be downcoded to 11043 (muscle/fascia) based on the actual deepest tissue removed.
-
Reporting 11043 and 11044 together for the same wound: These are mutually exclusive for a single wound/session — code selection reflects only the single deepest layer removed. Billing both for the same wound at the same session is a compliance and overpayment risk; only 11044 should be reported when bone was the deepest layer debrided, regardless of how extensively muscle or fascia was also removed to get there.
-
Missing surface-area and photographic documentation for repeat sessions: LCD guidance recommends photographic documentation immediately before or after debridement for prolonged/repetitive bone-level debridement, and requires total wound surface area in sq cm to be explicitly stated. Absent this, claims — especially beyond the fifth session per wound per year — are at high risk of medical review denial.
-
Exceeding LCD frequency thresholds without medical necessity justification: Diabetic foot ulcer debridement more frequently than every 7 days for longer than 3 months, or any wound exceeding five surgical debridement sessions per year, requires explicit documentation of comorbid factors, infection status, and measurable wound progress to avoid a “not reasonable and necessary” denial.
-
Confusing surgical (11042-11047) with active (97597/97598) wound care codes: 97597/97598 describe non-surgical selective removal of superficial devitalized tissue and are billed by non-physician and physician providers alike for routine wound care; 11042-11047 describe surgical excisional debridement requiring cutting instruments and are appropriate only when tissue is truly excised down through the stated layer. Using the surgical family for routine superficial wound care is a common upcoding audit finding.
-
Using modifier -50 for bilateral wound debridement: 11044 is not structured as a paired-organ bilateral code. Two separate, distinct wounds on opposite sides of the body should each be billed on their own line with -RT/-LT and -59/-XS, not combined under a -50 bilateral modifier, which does not apply to this code family.
📎 Sources
AMA CPT 2026 Professional Edition · CMS CY2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule (CMS-1832-F) · CMS RVU26 Relative Value Files (confirm against Addendum B) · CMS LCD L34032 — Debridement Services · CMS LCD L34587 — GSURG051, Wound Care (CPT 97597, 97598, 11042-11047) · ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting FY2026 · ICD-10-PCS Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting FY2026 · CMS IPPS FY2026 Final Rule / MS-DRG v43.0 Definitions Manual · AAPC Codify — CPT 11044 Coding Reference · AHIMA/ACDIS Coding Clinic Guidance — Wound Debridement and Osteomyelitis Sequencing
Sources listed reflect FY2026/CY2026 guidance current as of this note’s creation date; wRVU and assistant-surgeon indicator values are flagged above for confirmation against the live CMS MPFS file, as exact CY2026 figures were not independently verifiable at time of writing.
Sources listed above correspond to superscript citations throughout this note. Verify all Medicare payment figures against your current CMS PFS Lookup tool and applicable MAC LCD prior to claim submission. Please use the latest AAPC/AHIMA Coding Books to verify each code within this note.