2025 CPT code 10061
Effective Date: N/A Surgery - Surgical Procedures on the Integumentary System Feed
Incision and drainage of abscess (eg, carbuncle, suppurative hidradenitis, cutaneous or subcutaneous abscess, cyst, furuncle, or paronychia); complicated or multiple.
Modifiers may be applicable to indicate specific circumstances, such as increased procedural services (modifier 22), multiple procedures (modifier 51), or reduced services (modifier 52). Refer to current CPT guidelines for modifier usage.
Medical necessity for 10061 is established when the abscess is complex, involves multiple sites or pockets of pus, or requires more extensive treatment than a simple I&D.
The physician performs the incision and drainage, cleans the wound, packs it, and may place a drain. The physician is responsible for post-operative care and dressing changes.
In simple words: This procedure involves draining a skin abscess that is complex or involves multiple pockets of pus.The doctor will make one or more cuts to drain the pus, clean the wound, and pack it to help it heal.A drain might be placed to help with continued drainage. This procedure is more complex than a simple drainage.
This code describes a complicated incision and drainage of an abscess, which may involve multiple incisions, drain placements, extensive packing, and a more complex wound closure.The procedure typically involves incision around the abscess, deepening the incision to the abscess cavity, draining the pus, excising inflamed and necrotic tissue, and packing the wound.A drain may be placed for continued drainage.This is a more complex procedure than a simple I&D (10060).
Example 1: A patient presents with a large, complex carbuncle on their back requiring multiple incisions and drain placement., A patient with suppurative hidradenitis requires incision and drainage of multiple interconnected abscesses., A patient has a deep subcutaneous abscess that requires extensive packing and a complex wound closure after drainage.
Documentation should include the size and location of the abscess, the complexity of the procedure (e.g., multiple incisions, drain placement, extensive packing), the type of anesthesia used, and any associated complications.
- Revenue Code: P6A (MINOR PROCEDURES - SKIN)
- Specialties:General Surgery, Dermatology, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine
- Place of Service:Office, Outpatient Hospital, Emergency Room - Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center, Inpatient Hospital (if required for complex cases)