Podiatry Coding & Billing Alert

Question: Are there any HCPCS Level II updates related to skin substitution codes coming in 2026? We use those codes quite a bit in our podiatry office.

Michigan Subscriber

Answer: Yes, the following skin substitute application codes are being discontinued in 2026:

• C5271 (Application of low cost skin substitute graft to trunk, arms, legs, total wound surface area up to 100 sq cm; first 25 sq cm or less wound surface area)
• C5272 (… each additional 25 sq cm wound surface area, or part thereof (list separately in addition to code for primary procedure))
• C5273 (… total wound surface area greater than or equal to 100 sq cm; first 100 sq cm wound surface area, or 1% of body area of infants and children)
• C5274 (… total wound surface area greater than or equal to 100 sq cm; each additional 100 sq cm wound surface area, or part thereof, or each additional 1% of body area of infants and children, or part thereof (list separately in addition to code for primary procedure))
• C5275 (Application of low cost skin substitute graft to face, scalp, eyelids, mouth, neck, ears, orbits, genitalia, hands, feet, and/or multiple digits, total wound surface area up to 100 sq cm; first 25 sq cm or less wound surface area)
• C5276 (… each additional 25 sq cm wound surface area, or part thereof (list separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
• C5277 (… total wound surface area greater than or equal to 100 sq cm; first 100 sq cm would surface area, or 1% of body area of infants and children)
• C5278 (… total wound surface area greater than or equal to 100 sq cm; each additional 100 sq cm wound surface area, or part thereof, or each additional 1% of body area of infants and children, or part thereof (list separately in addition to code for primary procedure).

The following skin substitute codes are being added:

• Q4431 (Pma skin substitute product, not otherwise specified (list in addition to primary procedure))
• Q4432 (510(k) skin substitute product, not otherwise specified (list in addition to primary procedure))
• Q4433 (361 hct/p skin substitute product, not otherwise specified (list in addition to primary procedure))

Make note: This is not a fully inclusive list of all HCPCS Level II updates for 2026, so please review that list as it becomes available to you.

Lindsey Bush, BA, MA, CPC, Production Editor, AAPC