Debridement, bone (includes epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue, muscle and/or fascia, if performed); first 20 sq cm or less

CPT 11044 is the billing code for "Debridement, bone (includes epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue, muscle and/or fascia, if performed); first 20 sq cm or less". For debridement extending to bone in wounds up to 20 sq cm

Medicare pays approximately $301.15 for CPT 11044 (national average). Actual payment varies by geographic location due to GPCI adjustments. Hospital and commercial insurance rates are typically 2-4x higher than Medicare rates.

CPT 11044 has a total RVU of 12.22, broken down as: Work RVU 5.20, Practice Expense RVU 6.50, and Malpractice RVU 0.52. RVUs (Relative Value Units) determine Medicare reimbursement rates.

Key documentation requirements for CPT 11044 include: Location and size of debrided area; Depth of debridement (bone); Type of bone tissue removed; Viability of remaining bone. Missing or incomplete documentation is a leading cause of claim denials for this code.

Bundling considerations for CPT 11044: Includes debridement of bone. Includes overlying soft tissue if removed Use an NCCI bundling checker to verify specific code combinations before billing.

Common modifiers for CPT 11044 include: 51 (Multiple procedures performed same session), 59 (Distinct procedural service if performed separately), LT (Left side procedure). Modifiers indicate special circumstances and can affect reimbursement or prevent claim denials.

The typical time requirement for CPT 11044 is 30-50 minutes typical procedure time. Time-based codes require documentation of the actual time spent providing the service.