CPT Code 97597: Complete 2025 Guide to Billing, Documentation & Denial Prevention
Summary: CPT 97597 codes selective debridement of non-contaminated wounds (e.g., DFUs, VLUs) up to 20 sq cm, reimbursing $50-100 per session. The 2025 guide covers documentation (pre/post measurements, technique), modifiers (e.g., -59 for distinct sites), and denial avoidance (medical necessity, bundling rules). With 30% denials from poor records, it recommends templates and audits to ensure compliance and maximize revenue in chronic wound care.
Key Highlights:
- Code: 97597 for <20 sq cm; 97598 for >20; selective (viable/non-viable tissue).
- Documentation: Wound description, debridement method, depth, post-care plan.
- Modifiers: -59 for multiple sites; -G0257 for non-selective (e.g., enzymatic).
- Denials: 30% from bundling; strategies: templates, prior auth, appeals.
- Reimbursement: $50-100; impacts DFU/VLU billing 20%.
Keywords: CPT 97597, debridement billing, denial prevention, DFU coding, modifiers