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Billing code

Z080A — Debride wound or ulcer to s.c tissue 10 min 1

Debridement of one wound

Bill for debriding one wound or ulcer into subcutaneous tissue, with at least 10 minutes of debridement done personally.

Watch for: Not payable with laceration repair; chart the debridement time, and add E542 outside hospital.

Code

Z080A

Description

Debride wound or ulcer to s.c tissue 10 min 1

FHO+ basket

Not in the FHO+ base rate basket (Schedule 2 or 2B).

Effective date

Apr 1, 2026

Termination date

No end date

Explanation

Updated October 26, 2026

Debridement of one wound or ulcer into subcutaneous tissue. Needs at least 10 minutes of debridement done personally by the physician.

What it covers

Z080 is debridement of one wound or ulcer extending into subcutaneous tissue (M10). Two, three and four or more wounds are Z081, Z082 and Z083; wounds reaching tendon, ligament, bursa or bone are Z084 (one) and Z085 (two or more) (M10).

It includes applying any necessary dressing (M10). As a Z code it is an independent operative procedure, payable in addition to an assessment (GP4).

Billing rules

• Only payable when the physician performs at least 10 minutes of debridement, personally. Debridement can't be delegated, although wound dressings may be under the delegation rules (M10, GP62).
• The chart must record the time spent debriding and support the debridement of each separate lesion claimed (M10).
• Not payable with laceration repair (Z154, Z175, Z176, Z177, Z179, Z190, Z191, Z192) or complex laceration repair (Z187, Z188, Z189) (M10).
• Not payable in addition to a surgical procedure unless complications need care beyond the usual post-operative care (M10).
• Add E542 when performed outside hospital (M10).
• If you did the major pre-operative visit in the previous 12 months, only a minor assessment (GP/FP) or partial assessment (specialist) is payable before the debridement that day (SP4).

Often billed with

• E542 when the debridement is done in the office (M10).
• A007 intermediate assessment at the visit where the decision to debride is made, or for an unrelated, significant problem in another body system (GP4, SP4).
• Not Z176: laceration repair isn't payable with a debridement service (M10).

Related codes: Z081, Z082, Z083, Z084, Z085, E542

Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Integumentary System Surgical Procedures, Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue, Wound and ulcer debridement, page M10; Surgical Preamble SP4

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