11044 Wound debridement Medicare reimbursement rates in California

11044 represents operative wound-bed debridement that reaches and removes devitalized bone, with more superficial layers included when removed during the same service. It is commonly used for pressure injuries, diabetic foot ulcers, or other chronic wounds with nonviable bone, including cases involving osteomyelitis. Surgeons, podiatrists, and other clinicians qualified to perform wound debridement may report it in office or facility settings. Exposed bone alone is not enough; the procedure must actually debride bone.

Select the code by the deepest tissue actually removed and the total debrided surface area, not by wound appearance or planned depth. This base code covers up to 20 sq cm; report 11047 for each additional 20 sq cm or portion, and document tissue level, sites, and area. For multiple wounds, aggregate areas treated to the same depth; keep different depths at their corresponding levels. The 0-day global 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 service; co-surgeon and team-surgery billing are not permitted. Do not append modifier 50.