In simple words: The doctor prepares an area of skin for a skin graft. This could involve cleaning a wound, removing dead tissue from a burn, or cutting a scar to make it less tight. This is done on areas like the face, head, eyelids, mouth, neck, ears, eye sockets, genitals, hands, feet, or fingers and toes.The code is used for the first 100 square centimeters in adults and older children, or 1% of the body area in babies and younger children.

The provider prepares the skin of a body part with an open wound, burn eschar, or scar contracture to receive a skin graft. This procedure helps in repairing areas of the face, scalp, eyelids, mouth, neck, ears, orbits, genitalia, hands, feet, or multiple digits. Apply this code to the first 100 cm2 for adults and children 10 and older, or to the first 1 percent of body area for infants and children under 10.

Example 1: A patient has a large burn on their hand. The surgeon prepares the burned area to receive a skin graft by removing the dead tissue (eschar) and ensuring a clean wound bed. The area of the burn is 80 sq cm. Code 15004 is reported., A child with a scar contracture on their eyelid undergoes surgery. The surgeon incises and releases the contracture to improve eyelid function and prepare the site for a skin graft. The affected area is less than 1% of the child's body area. Code 15004 is used., A patient has a deep wound on their foot following a traumatic injury. The surgeon prepares the wound for a skin graft by excising the open wound and the underlying subcutaneous tissue, creating a clean recipient site. The area is 60 sq cm. Code 15004 is appropriate.

Documentation should include the size and location of the wound, burn, or scar contracture, the method used to prepare the recipient site (excision, incisional release, etc.), and the percentage of body area involved (for infants and children younger than 10).