CPT code 11043: Wound debridement, muscle or fascia, initial area2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $239.48 for 11043 nationally in the office and $138.28 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $213.28–$303.46.

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

What 11043 covers

This service involves removing devitalized tissue from a wound down into muscle and/or fascia; overlying skin, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue may also be removed. Surgeons, podiatrists, and wound-care physicians may perform it for complex chronic ulcers or traumatic and surgical wounds when muscle or fascia is actually debrided, rather than simply visible. Services may occur in an office wound clinic or a facility.

Select this code when the deepest tissue removed is muscle or fascia and the treated area is up to 20 square centimeters. Report 11046 for each additional 20 square centimeters or part. Document the wound site, tissue level removed, area treated, technique, and clinical need. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.

Where 11043 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

11043 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

How the 11043 rate is calculated

Each of 11043’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.

Payment rules and modifiers for 11043

The CMS indicators that decide how 11043 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 51

11043 compared with similar codes

How to choose

11042Wound debridementSubcutaneous tissue, first 20 sq cm

11042 is selected when subcutaneous tissue is the deepest layer debrided. Choose 11043 when muscle or fascia is actually reached and removed.

11044Wound debridementBone, first 20 sq cm

11044 is for debridement extending into bone. Use 11043 when the deepest tissue removed is muscle or fascia.

11046Wound debridementEach additional 20 cm²

11046 reports additional treated area beyond the initial 20 square centimeters at the muscle or fascia level; it is an add-on to 11043.

Codes related to 11043

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Where these rates come from

FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.

CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates