DecisionHealth, DecisionHealth - 2026 Issue 6 (June)

Q&A: To report sham incision procedures, check wound repair codes

Question: We have a patient that needs a total knee replacement. This patient has a large skin graft covering where the incision needs to be made. My surgeon is concerned about the healing process of the incision if he performs a total knee and would like to make a “sham” incision. This would be a staged procedure, the first stage being just the incision and reclosure of the graft site to monitor the healing process. I am not sure how this should be coded. Would it be appropriate to use an integumentary surgical prep code like 15002?

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