Clinical Policy Title: Topical oxygen therapy
Policy contains:
Clinical Policy Number: 16.02.05
Effective Date:
Initial Review Date:
Most Recent Review Date:
Next Review Date:
January 1, 2016
August 19, 2015
August 17, 2016
August 2017
Related policies:
CP# 16.03.01
CP# 16.02.02
CP# 16.03.03
CP# 18.02.01
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Chronic wound care.
Pressure ulcer.
Diabetic foot ulcer.
Venous ulcer.
Topical hyperbaric oxygen.
Bioengineered skin substitutes for ulcers and wound care
Growth factors for wound healing
Negative pressure wound therapy
Full body hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)
ABOUT THIS POLICY: Select Health of South Carolina has developed clinical policies to assist with making coverage determinations. Select
Health of South Carolina’s clinical policies are based on guidelines from established industry sources, such as the Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS), state regulatory agencies, the American Medical Association (AMA), medical specialty professional societies, and peerreviewed professional literature. These clinical policies along with other sources, such as plan benefits and state and federal laws and regulatory
requirements, including any state- or plan-specific definition of “medically necessary,” and the specific facts of the particular situation are
considered by Select Health of South Carolina when making coverage determinations. In the event of conflict between this clinical policy and
plan benefits and/or state or federal laws and/or regulatory requirements, the plan benefits and/or state and federal laws and/or regulatory
requirements shall control. Select Health of South Carolina’s clinical policies are for informational purposes only and not intended as medical
advice or direct treatment. Physicians and other health care providers are solely responsible for the treatment decisions for their patients. Select
Health of South Carolina’s clinical policies are reflective of evidence-based medicine at the time of review. As medical science evolves, Select
Health of South Carolina will update its clinical policies as necessary. Select Health of South Carolina’s clinical policies are not guarantees of
payment.
Coverage policy
Select Health of South Carolina considers the use of topical oxygen therapy to be investigational and,
therefore, not medically necessary.
Limitations:
All other uses of topical oxygen therapy are not medically necessary.
Alternative covered services:
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Debridement of necrotic tissue.
Revascularization surgery.
Mechanical offloading.
Blood glucose management.
Foot care education.
Mechanical compression.
Limb elevation.
Saline-moistened cotton gauze (wet-to-moist) dressing.
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Advanced dressings (e.g., hydrocolloid, foam, film, alginate, hydrofiber, hydrogel
sheets, and collagen-based dressings).
Full-body hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Background
Chronic wounds represent a significant and growing health burden in the U.S., affecting approximately
6.5 million patients and costing in excess of 25 billion dollars annually (in 2009 dollars). Increasing health
care costs, an aging population, and a sharp rise in the incidence of diabetes and obesity worldwide are
the main contributors to this increasing burden (Sen, 2009).
When healthy tissue is wounded, acute wounds generally proceed through an orderly reparative process
that results in a durable restoration of anatomic and functional integrity (Sen, 2009). However, various
physiologic and mechanical factors may impair the healing response, resulting in a chronic wound that
fails to proceed through the usual process, or persists despite appropriate care. The most common
culprits are local infection, trauma, foreign bodies, systemic problems such as diabetes mellitus,
malnutrition, immunodeficiency, certain medications, and hypoxia (Sen, 2009).
The presence of oxygen is necessary for normal wound healing. A disrupted or compromised vasculature
surrounding the wound can limit the oxygen supply and increase oxygen demands used to fight infection
and repair tissue. This can lead to extreme tissue hypoxia. Non-invasive measurement of transcutaneous
oxygen pressure (PtcO2) applied to the skin of adjacent areas of a wound is used to estimate the oxygen
tension of the wound. Tissue hypoxia is defined as a PtcO2 <40 mm Hg (Schreml, 2010; Fife, 2009).
Common chronic skin and soft tissue wounds include diabetic foot ulcers, pressure ulcers, and venous
stasis ulcers of the lower extremity. Other chronic wounds include radiation ulcers caused by the acute
or chronic effects of ionizing radiation. The injury may involve the skin, underlying soft tissue, and even
deep structures, such as bone.
Treatment of chronic wounds
Wound care comprises nonsurgical and surgical methods and depends on the type and stage of the
wound. According to the Association for the Advancement of Wound Care (AAWC), successful medical
management relies on addressing the underlying cause of the wound and the following key principles
(AAWC, 2010 a and b):
 Adequate debridement of necrotic and devitalized tissue.
 Control of infection.
 Wound dressing to promote a clean, healing wound with granulation tissue.
 Pain management.
 Nutritional supplementation.
When ulcers fail to respond adequately to standard treatment, advanced interventions are available
depending on ulcer type. They include: electrical stimulation, negative pressure wound therapy,
therapeutic ultrasound, ultraviolet (UV) light or multi-wavelength phototherapy, growth factors,
infrared or monochromatic light stimulation, and split-thickness skin grafting or bioengineered skin
(Gottrup, 2012; AAWC, 2010 a and b).
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Oxygen has been offered as a therapeutic modality to assist and hasten wound healing. Introduced in
the 1960s, systemic hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) increases the concentration of dissolved oxygen
in the blood plasma, thereby enhancing the amount of oxygen perfusion in body tissues. HBOT delivers
100 percent oxygen at two to three atmospheres of pressure over the course of 60 – 120 minutes, in a
specialized patient chamber. The number of treatments may range from 10 – 30. The evidence suggests
some effectiveness of HBOT for treating chronic wounds, although confirmation from comparative
effectiveness research is needed (Hoggan, 2014; Stoekenbroek, 2014; O’Reilly, 2013; Greer, 2013). The
availability of HBOT facilities, contraindications to its use, patient transfer requirements, and the risk of
undesired systemic side effects limit its use. Pressurized topical oxygen therapy was introduced to
address these limitations.
Topical oxygen therapy:
Topical oxygen therapy (TO2) administers pure oxygen to the wound area using a portable inflatable
device that encases the limb at a pressure slightly greater than atmospheric pressure. Unlike HBOT, the
effectiveness of TO2 is independent of the wound's microcirculation. Other advantages are lower costs,
a potentially lower risk of oxygen toxicity, and the possibility of home treatment.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies TO2 as a topical oxygen chamber for extremities
(TOCE), which is intended to surround a patient's limb and apply humidified oxygen topically. This is
performed at a pressure slightly greater than atmospheric pressure to aid in the healing of chronic skin
ulcers. It is designated as a class II device with special controls, i.e., premarket notification (510k)
requirements (U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, 21CFR878.5650).
Searches
Select Health of South Carolina searched PubMed and the databases of:
 UK National Health Services Centre for Reviews and Dissemination.
 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s National Guideline Clearinghouse and other
evidence-based practice centers.
 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
We conducted searches on August 1, 2016. Search term was "topical oxygen therapy.”
We included:
 Systematic reviews, which pool results from multiple studies to achieve larger sample sizes and
greater precision of effect estimation than in smaller primary studies. Systematic reviews use
predetermined transparent methods to minimize bias, effectively treating the review as a
scientific endeavor, and are thus rated highest in evidence-grading hierarchies.
 Guidelines based on systematic reviews.
 Economic analyses, such as cost-effectiveness, and benefit or utility studies (but not simple cost
studies), reporting both costs and outcomes — sometimes referred to as efficiency studies —
which also rank near the top of evidence hierarchies.
Findings
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We identified three systematic reviews (Greer, 2012; CADTH, 2012; Hayes, 2002), six evidence-based
guidelines (Qaseem, 2015; O’Donnell, 2014; Lipsky, 2012; Bakker, 2012; AAWC, 2010a and b) and no
economic analyses for this policy.
There are also several controlled studies comparing outcomes for patients treated with TO2 and with
another therapy. One early study showed that slower healing occurred in patients given TO2 (Leslie,
1988). More recent controlled trials found superior outcomes in TO2 patients, in terms of proportion of
patients with completely healed wounds, speed of wound healing, and low number of wound
recurrences. These include a study of wound patients comparing TO2 to hyperbaric oxygen therapy
(Gordillo, 2008), a study of refractory venous ulcers comparing TO2 to compression dressing (Tawfick,
2009), and a study of diabetic foot ulcer patients comparing TO2 to silver containing dressing changes
(Blackman, 2010). Other observational reports found positive outcomes in patients treated with TO2,
although they are not compared to subjects receiving other therapies (Landau, 1998; Heng, 2000;
Kalliainen, 2003).
There may be variations of TO2 therapy that can more effectively improve treatments in the future. One
report examined oxygen-generating wound dressings using sodium percarbonate (SPO) and calcium
peroxide (CPO) as chemical oxygen sources, with positive early results (Chandra, 2015).
The overall quality of the evidence is low with a high risk of bias because of small sample sizes, the
inclusion of different wound types and patient ages, additionally applied wound care regimens, nonstandardized treatment protocols, and a poor evaluation of comorbidities.
The current evidence is insufficient to support the effectiveness of TO2 for the treatment of chronic
wounds. According to the Undersea Hyperbaric Medicine Society (UHMS), mechanisms of action for
HBOT and TO2 are not similar and the mechanisms of action whereby TO2 might be effective or toxic
have not been clearly defined (Feldmeier, 2005). Systematic reviews noted incomplete reporting of
adverse effects, but when reported, adverse effects were rare. Evidence of TO2 toxicity included
endothelial cell damage and reduced vascularization, due to extended topical exposure to pure gaseous
oxygen. Both adverse effects reversed spontaneously after cessation of therapy, and the potential for
the pressurized bag sealed around the extremity to exert a tourniquet-like effect on perfusion.
The evidence is inconclusive regarding the healing effects of TO2 on chronic wounds of any type. While
most observational studies reported some evidence of improved wound healing with TO2, evidence
from the most completely randomized trial did not demonstrate a beneficial effect for TO2 in patients
with diabetic foot ulcers. Evidence-based guidelines either do not support or mention the use of TO2 in
advanced wound care. Unlike systemic HBOT, where a large body of supportive basic and clinical
research has been conducted, there is no similar body of background research for TO2. Large, welldesigned randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with standardized protocols are needed to determine if
TO2 provides any benefit to patients with chronic wounds, either alone or as an adjunct to standard
wound care.
Policy updates:
A review of the peer-reviewed medical literature resulted in the addition of 14 new references, three of
which were added to the summary of clinical evidence section.
Summary of clinical evidence:
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Citation
Greer (2012)
Content, methods, recommendations
Key points:
For VA Quality
Enhancement Research
Initiative (QUERI)
CADTH (2012)
 Systematic review of advanced wound care therapy RCTs.
 No RCTs for TO2 found.
 Insufficient evidence of effectiveness.
Key points:
Systematic review of
studies comparing TO2
to HBOT or standard
care
Blackman (2010)
Comparing topical
oxygen therapy with
silver containing
dressing changes
Tawflick (2009)
Comparing topical
oxygen therapy with
compression dressings
Gordillo (2008)
Comparing topical
oxygen therapy with
hyperbaric oxygen
therapy
Hayes (2002)
Systematic review of
three studies comparing
TO2 to other treatments
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Three observational studies (2006 – 11), including one prospective controlled
single-center study and two parallel observational studies
 Overall quality: low with high risk of bias. No randomization or blinding.
 Observational studies show TO2 healed ~80% of diabetic foot ulcers (DFU),
refractory venous ulcers (RVU), and chronic wounds without recurrence. No direct
comparisons between TO2 or HBOT or standard care. No evidence of costeffectiveness.
Key points:
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Prospective controlled study of 28 outpatients with diabetic foot ulcers.
17 treated with topical oxygen therapy, 11 with silver containing dressing changes.
In oxygen group, more healed completely (82.4% vs. 45.5%) and quicker (average
56 days vs. 93 days).
 No adverse events observed, no recurrence at ulcer site after 24 months.
Key points:
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83 patients with refractory venous ulcers.
46 patients given topical oxygen therapy, 37 given compression dressings.
At 12 weeks, more oxygen patients fully healed (80% vs. 35%)
After one year follow-up, none of healed oxygen patients had recurrence; five of
13 compression dressing patients had recurrence.
Key points:
 1,854 patients screened in outpatient wound clinic.
 25 given portable topical oxygen therapy, 32 given hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
 Topical group had significantly improved wound size vs. hyperbaric group.
 Topical oxygen group associated with higher expression in healing wounds among
the three oxygen-sensitive genes.
Key points:
 One small RCT of TO2 as an adjunct to standard wound care; one incomplete
RCT of TO2 as a primary therapy, and one uncontrolled study.
 Overall quality: low with high risk of bias.
 TO2 is generally safe. Reported complications: endothelial cell damage and
reduced vascularization due to extended topical exposure to pure gaseous
oxygen, which reversed spontaneously after cessation of therapy; pressurized bag
sealed around an extremity can exert a tourniquet-like effect.
 Possible beneficial effect but inconclusive evidence that TO2 enhances the rate of
wound healing in patients with chronic, necrotic, or gangrenous wounds.
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Glossary
Debride (or debridement) — To surgically excise dead, devitalized, or contaminated tissue; remove
foreign matter from a wound.
Diabetic foot ulcer — An open sore or wound that occurs in approximately 15 percent of patients with
diabetes and is commonly located on the bottom of the foot.
Granulation — Minute red granules of new capillaries formed on the surface of a wound in healing.
Granulation tissue — Highly vascularized tissue that replaces the initial fibrin clot in a wound.
Chronic wounds — Wounds that have failed to proceed through an orderly and timely reparative
process to produce anatomic and functional integrity of the injured site.
Pressure ulcer — Also called decubitus ulcer or pressure sore, this is an area of unrelieved pressure over
a defined area, usually over a bony prominence, resulting in ischemia, cell death, and tissue necrosis. It
is common among patients hospitalized in acute and chronic care facilities.
Venous ulcer — Also called venous insufficiency ulceration, stasis ulcers, stasis dermatitis, varicose
ulcers, or ulcus cruris. A chronic wound caused by inadequate blood flow through the veins, usually of
the legs. They are the major occurrence of chronic wounds, occurring in 70 percent to 90 percent of leg
ulcer cases.
References
Professional society guidelines/other:
Association for the Advancement of Wound Care (AAWC) Venous Ulcer Guideline. Malvern, PA: AAWC.
2010a. http://aawconline.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/AAWC-Venous-Ulcer-GuidelineUpdate+Algorithm-v28.pdf. Accessed August 1, 2016.
Association for the Advancement of Wound Care (AAWC) Guideline of Pressure Ulcer Guidelines.
Malvern, PA: AAWC. 2010b. http://aawconline.org/wpcontent/uploads/2015/11/AAWCPressureUlcerGuidelineofGuidelinesAug11.pdf. Accessed August 1,
2016.
Bakker K, Apelqvist J, Schaper NC. Practical guidelines on the management and prevention of the
diabetic foot 2011. Diabetes-Metab Res Rev. 2012;28 Suppl 1:225 — 31.
Feldmeier JJ, Hopf HW, Warriner RA 3rd, Fife CE. UHMS position statement: topical oxygen for chronic
wounds. Undersea Hyperbar M. 2005;32(3):157 — 68.
Lipsky BA, Berendt AR, Cornia PB, et al. Infectious Diseases Society of America clinical practice guideline
for the diagnosis and treatment of diabetic foot infections. Clin Infect Dis. 2012;54(12):e132 — 73.
New York State Medicaid Topical Oxygen wound Therapy Guidelines. March 2008. Available at:
http://www.emedny.org/ProviderManuals/DME/PDFS/2008-
6
4_New%20York%20State%20Medicaid%20Topical%20Oxygen%20Wound%20Therapy%20Guidelines.pdf
Accessed August 1, 2016.
O'Donnell TF, Jr., Passman MA, Marston WA, et al. Management of venous leg ulcers: clinical practice
guidelines of the Society for Vascular Surgery (R) and the American Venous Forum. J Vasc Surg. 2014;60
(2 Suppl):3s — 59s.
Qaseem A, Humphrey LL, Forciea MA, Starkey M. Treatment of pressure ulcers: a clinical practice
guideline from the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med. 2015;162(5):370 — 79.
Peer-reviewed references:
Blackman E, Moore C, Hyatt J, Railton R, Frye C. Topical wound oxygen therapy in the treatment of
severe diabetic foot ulcers: a prospective controlled study. Ostomy Wound Manage. 2010;56(6):24 —
31.
Cahn A, YK. A novel approach to the treatment of diabetic foot abscesses – a case series. J Wound Care.
2014;23(8):394, 396 — 99.
Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH). Rapid Response Report. Topical Oxygen
Treatment for Wound Healing: A Review of Clinical and Cost-Effectiveness.
http://www.rxfiles.ca/rxfiles/uploads/documents/ltc/Diabetes/Topical%20oxygen%20treatment%20for
%20Diabetic%20wound%20healing%202012.pdf. Published January 2012. Accessed August 1, 2016.
Chandra PK, Ross CL, Smith LC, et al. Peroxide-based oxygen generating topical wound dressing for
enhancing healing of dermal wounds. Wound Repair Regen. 2015;23(6):830 — 41.
Edsberg LE, Brogan MS, Jaynes CD, Fries K. Topical hyperbaric oxygen and electrical stimulation:
exploring potential synergy. Ostomy Wound Manage. 2002;48:42 — 50.
Fife CE, Smart DR, Sheffield PJ, Hopf HW. Transcutaneous oximetry in clinical practice: consensus
statements from an expert panel based on evidence. Undersea Hyperbar M. 2009;36(1):43 — 53.
Gordillo GM, Roy S, Khanna S, et al. Topical oxygen therapy incudes vascular endothelial growth factor
expression and improves closure of clinically presented chronic wounds. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol.
2008;35(8):957 — 64.
Gottrup F, Apelqvist J. Present and new techniques and devices in the treatment of DFU: a critical review
of evidence. Diabetes-Metab Res Rev. 2012;28 Suppl 1:64 — 71.
Greer N, Foman NA, MacDonald R, et al. Advanced wound care therapies for non-healing diabetic,
venous, and arterial ulcers: a systematic review. Ann Intern Med. 2013; 159(8): 532 — 42.
Hayes, Inc. Hayes Medical Technology Report. Topical Oxygen Therapy for Chronic Wound Healing.
Lansdale, Pa. Hayes Inc.; Published 2002. Updated 2007. Archived 2008.
https://www.hayesinc.com/subscribers/displayShortSummary.do?articleId=2140. Accessed August 1,
2016.
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Heng MC, Harker J, Bardakjian VB, Ayvazian H. Enhanced healing and cost-effectiveness of low-pressure
oxygen therapy in healing necrotic wounds: a feasibility study of technology transfer. Ostomy Wound
Manage. 2000;46(9):52 — 60, 62.
Heng MRY. Topical hyperbaric therapy for problem skin wounds. J Dermatol Surg Oncol. 1993;19:784 —
93.
Hoggan BL, Cameron AL. Systematic review of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the treatment of nonneurological soft tissue radiation-related injuries. Support Care Cancer. 2014; 22(6): 1715 — 26.
Kalliainen LK, Gordillo GM, Schlanger R, Sen CK. Topical oxygen as an adjunct to wound healing: a clinical
case series. Pathophysiology. 2003;9(2):81 — 87.
Landau Z. Topical hyperbaric oxygen and low energy laser for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. Arch
Orthop Trauma Surg. 1998;117:156 — 58.
Leslie CA, Sapico FL, Ginunas VJ, Adkins RH. Randomized controlled trial of topical hyperbaric oxygen for
treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. Diabetes Care. 1988;11:111 — 15.
O'Reilly D, Pasricha A, Campbell K, et al. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for diabetic ulcers: systematic
review and meta-analysis. Int J Technol Assess. 2013;29(3):269 — 81.
Rao C, Xiao L, Liu H, et al. Effects of topical oxygen therapy on ischemic wound healing. J Phys Ther Sci.
2016;28(1):118 — 23.
Rodriguez PG, Felix FN, Woodley DT, Shim EK. The role of oxygen in wound healing: a review of the
literature. Dermatol Surg. 2008;34(9):1159 — 69.
Schreml S, Szeimies RM, Prantl L, Karrer S. Oxygen in acute and chronic wound healing. Brit J Dermatol.
2010; 163(2):257 — 68.
Sen CK, Gordillo GM, Roy S, et al. Human skin wounds: a major and snowballing threat to public health
and the economy. Wound Repair Regen. 2009;17(6):763 — 71.
Stoekenbroek RM, Santema TB, Legemate DA, Ubbink DT. Hyperbaric oxygen for the treatment of
diabetic foot ulcers: a systematic review. Eur J Vasc Endovasc. 2014;47(6):647 — 55.
Tawfick W, Sultan S. Does topical wound oxygen (TWO2) offer an improved outcome over conventional
compression dressings (CCD) in the management of refractory venous ulcers (RVU)? A parallel
observational comparative study. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2009;38(1):125 — 32.
U.S. Code of Federal Regulations. 21CFR878.5650. Topical oxygen chamber for extremities.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/21/878.6560. Accessed August 1, 2016.
Clinical trials:
Searched clinicaltrials.gov on June 10, 2016 using term “topical oxygen therapy.” | Open Studies. Four
studies found, one relevant.
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Ohio State University. Topical Oxygen Therapy for Diabetic Foot Ulcers. ClinicalTrials.gov website.
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02313428?term=%22topical+oxygen+therapy%22&recr=Open&r
ank=1. Last updated January 15, 2016. Accessed August 1, 2016.
CMS National Coverage Determination (NCDs):
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (20.29). No Medicare coverage is made for application of topical oxygen.
Available at: http://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/details/ncddetails.aspx?NCDId=12&ncdver=3&SearchType=Advanced&CoverageSelection=Both&NCSelection=NCD
%7cMEDCAC%7cTA%7cMCD&PolicyType=Final&s=All&KeyWord=oxygen&KeyWordLookUp=Doc&KeyW
ordSearchType=And&CptHcpcsCode=A4575&kq=true&bc=IAAAABAAAAAAAA%3d%3d&. Accessed
August 1, 2016.
Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs):
Hyperbaric Oxygen (HBO) Therapy. LCD Number 35021. Effective April 11, 2016. Revised July 5, 2016.
https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/details/lcddetails.aspx?LCDId=36504&ver=13&CoverageSelection=Both&ArticleType=All&PolicyType=Final&s=All&
KeyWord=hyperbaric+oxygen+therapy&KeyWordLookUp=Title&KeyWordSearchType=And&bc=gAAAAB
AAAAAAAA%3d%3d&. Accessed August 1, 2016.
Hyperbaric Oxygen (HBO) Therapy. LCD Number 36021. Effective October 1, 2015. Revised July 1, 2016.
https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/details/lcddetails.aspx?LCDId=35021&ver=77&CoverageSelection=Both&ArticleType=All&PolicyType=Final&s=All&
KeyWord=hyperbaric+oxygen+therapy&KeyWordLookUp=Title&KeyWordSearchType=And&bc=gAAAAB
AAAAAAAA%3d%3d&. Accessed August 1, 2016.
Commonly submitted codes
Below are the most commonly submitted codes for the service(s)/item(s) subject to this policy. This is
not an exhaustive list of codes. Providers are expected to consult the appropriate coding manuals and
bill accordingly.
CPT Code
Description
Comment
ICD-10 Code
Description
Comment
E11.622
I83.009
L89.90
Type II DM with skin ulcer
Varicose vein, lower extremity with ulcer, site unspecified
Pressure ulcer unspecified site, unspecified stage
Use additional code for site
HCPCS Level
II
Description
Comment
A4575
Topical hyperbaric chamber, disposable
E0446
Topical Oxygen Delivery System, not otherwise specified, includes all
supplies and accessories
N/A
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