2025 CPT code 15101
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Surgical Procedures on the Integumentary System - Integumentary System Surgery Feed
Split-thickness autograft, trunk, arms, legs; each additional 100 sq cm, or each additional 1% of body area of infants and children (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure).
This code is an add-on code, meaning modifiers are generally not applicable.
Medical necessity for this code must be supported by documentation that clearly indicates the clinical need for the additional split-thickness autograft beyond the initial area covered by 15100. This could include the extent and depth of the wound or burn, failed conservative treatments, and the anticipated functional and cosmetic outcomes.
The physician harvests a split-thickness skin graft (containing both epidermis and dermis) using a dermatome. The graft is 0.01 to 0.015 inches deep and 100 cm2 in area (or 1% of body area for infants and children). It's transplanted from the patient's donor site to a burn or wound site on the same patient.
In simple words: A split-thickness skin graft is a procedure where a thin layer of skin is taken from one area of the body (like the trunk, arms, or legs) and placed onto another area that needs to be covered, such as a burn or wound. This code is used when additional skin grafts are needed, beyond the initial area covered, and is always reported in addition to the main procedure code for the skin graft.
This procedure involves a split-thickness autograft taken from the trunk, arms, or legs. The code is used for each additional 100 sq cm or each additional 1% of body area in infants and children (or part thereof). It is listed separately in addition to the code for the primary procedure (15100).
Example 1: A patient has a large burn wound on their back requiring multiple split-thickness skin grafts. 15100 is reported for the first 100 sq cm and 15101 is reported for each additional 100 sq cm., An infant with a 5% body surface area burn requires multiple grafts. 15100 is reported for the first 1% and 15101 is reported four times for the additional 4%., A patient undergoes a surgical procedure resulting in a large wound requiring skin grafting. If the total graft area is 250 sq cm, 15100 would be reported once and 15101 would be reported twice.
Documentation should include the size and location of the wound, the donor site location, the type of graft used (split-thickness), the total area of skin grafted, and the primary procedure necessitating the graft.
** This code is always used in conjunction with 15100 and is reported for each additional 100 sq cm or 1% of body surface area (or part thereof) requiring a split-thickness autograft from the trunk, arms, or legs. It is important to accurately measure and document the total graft area for correct coding.
- Payment Status: Active
- Modifier TC rule: Not applicable.
- Specialties:Plastic Surgery, General Surgery, Burn Surgery, Dermatology
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center