2025 CPT code 15157
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Surgery - Surgical Procedures on the Integumentary System Surgery Feed
Additional tissue-cultured epidermal autograft placement; each additional 100 sq cm or 1% body area in infants/children.
Modifier 59 may be used if this service is distinct from another procedure performed during the same operative session.
Medical necessity is established by the presence of a significant full-thickness burn or wound that requires the extensive coverage provided by a tissue-cultured autograft.The size of the affected area will determine the number of units billed.
Surgical preparation and placement of tissue-cultured epidermal autograft.This includes any necessary wound preparation and graft fixation techniques.
In simple words: This code covers extra skin grafts when a patient needs more than the initial amount.The skin is grown in a lab from the patient's own skin and used to cover a large burn or wound.This code is only used along with another code for the first part of the treatment.
This CPT code, 15157, reports the placement of each additional 100 square centimeters (sq cm) or 1% of body surface area (for infants and children under 10 years old) of a tissue-cultured epidermal autograft.This is an add-on code and must be used in conjunction with CPT code 15156 (initial 100 sq cm or 1% of body surface area autograft). The autograft is cultivated from the patient's own skin and is used for covering burns or wounds on various body parts, including the face, scalp, eyelids, mouth, neck, ears, orbits, genitalia, hands, feet, and multiple digits.The procedure may involve reopening a temporarily closed area (e.g., with an acellular dermal replacement matrix) before autograft placement.Sutures or staples may be used for graft fixation.Harvesting of the autologous skin graft is included.
Example 1: A patient sustains severe burns to their face and neck, requiring a tissue-cultured epidermal autograft. The initial graft covers 100 sq cm, coded as 15156.Subsequent grafts are necessary, covering an additional 200 sq cm. Two units of 15157 are billed., A child has a large wound on their leg due to a severe accident requiring multiple tissue-cultured autografts.The initial graft covers 1% of their body surface area (coded as 15156).A second graft of 1% is needed, necessitating the use of 15157., A patient undergoes an orbitectomy followed by skin replacement surgery utilizing a tissue-cultured epidermal autograft to cover the defect.Code 15156 is used for the initial autograft.Additional autografts exceeding 100 sq cm would require the use of 15157, coded separately.
Precise measurement of the grafted area (in sq cm or percentage of body surface area for children under 10).Details of the underlying wound or burn (diagnosis, depth, size, location).Documentation of the type of autograft used and the method of fixation (e.g., sutures, staples).Preoperative and postoperative photos are helpful.Records of the tissue culture process and handling of the autograft.
** This code is an add-on code and should not be used independently.Always refer to the most current CPT manual for accurate coding and billing guidelines.Consider the use of modifiers as necessary.
- Revenue Code: P1G (MAJOR PROCEDURE - OTHER)
- Payment Status: Active
- Modifier TC rule: Not applicable.
- Specialties:Plastic Surgery, Burns Surgery
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center