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MIR-2006-9A, September 2006
Local Coverage Determinations (LCD) Summary
Providers: If you wish to obtain the full text of the LCDs (and articles) described in this section, they are available on the Empire Medicare Services Web site at: http://www.empiremedicare.com/PartA/parta_lcd.cfm.
Read and accept the CPT License for Use, then click on the “Policies in Notice Period” link or write to:
Empire Medicare Services
P.O. Box 4846
Syracuse, NY 13221-4846
Attention: Coordination Department
Or call the Empire Medicare Services Provider Inquiries Department at 1-888-855-4356.
To receive notification when new policies or updates are posted to our Web site, subscribe to the Empire Medicare Services Local Coverage Determination (LCD) mailing list from the EMS Web site at: http://www.empiremedicare.com/servlist/listservformindex.htm.
Local Coverage Determination
Local Coverage Determination (LCD) Title: Debridement Services
Medicare Coverage Database Contractor’s Determination Number: L637
Notice Period : August 16, 2006 through September 29, 2006
Effective Date: September 30, 2006
LCD Description:
Debridement is the removal of infected, contaminated, damaged, devitalized, necrotic, or foreign tissue from a wound. The codes in this policy cover debridement of skin, subcutaneous tissue, fascia, muscle, bone, and removal of foreign material. Debridement promotes wound healing by reducing sources of infection and other mechanical impediments to healing. Its goal is to cleanse the wound, reduce bacterial contamination, and provide an optimal environment for wound healing or possible surgical intervention. The usual end point of debridement is removal of pathological tissue and/or foreign material until healthy tissue is exposed. Debridement techniques include, among others, sharp and blunt dissection, curettement, scrubbing, and forceful irrigation. Surgical instruments may include a scrub brush, irrigation device, electrocautery, laser, sharp curette, forceps, scissors, burr, or scalpel. Prior to debridement, determination of the extent of an ulcer/wound may be aided by the use of blunt probes to determine wound/ulcer depth and to disclose abscess and sinus tracts.
This policy does not apply to debridement of burned surfaces. For debridement of burned surfaces, CPT codes 16000-16036 apply. Regulations concerning the use of these codes are not addressed in this policy.
Local Coverage Determination
Local Coverage Determination (LCD) Title: Incision and Drainage Services
Medicare Coverage Database Contractor’s Determination Number : L694
Notice Period: August 23, 2006 through October 6, 2006
Effective Date: October 7, 2006
LCD Description:
Incision and drainage or puncture aspiration describes the mechanical task of introducing a sharp sterile instrument into a discrete subcutaneous collection of pus, blood, or other fluid for the purpose of removing from the lesion said pus, bacteria, blood, necrotic tissue, or other toxins, to promote resolution of infection, inflammation, and pain to obtain material for diagnostic analysis.
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