Removal of devitalized tissue down to and including bone, for the first 20 square centimeters of wound surface or less.

3 sources ↓

Medicare: $320.65
Work RVU: 4
Global, days: 0
Region: Multi-region

Drawn from CMS

Documentation requirements

What must appear in the operative or office note to support the claim.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in 3 cited references ↓

Wound size after debridement in sq cm
Statement that bone was removed, with description
Instrument used (rongeur, curette, saw)
Bone culture or pathology sent
Related diagnosis such as osteomyelitis
Plan of care and expected healing course

Applicable modifiers

Modifiers commonly billed with this code.

Source · AMA CPT modifier descriptors · CMS NCCI Policy Manual

25 Significant separate E/M 58 Staged or related 79 Unrelated during global 59 Distinct service XS Separate structure LT Left side RT Right side T1 Modifier T2 Modifier T3 Modifier T4 Modifier T5 Modifier T6 Modifier T7 Modifier T8 Modifier T9 Modifier TA Modifier

What this code covers

Source · Editorial summary grounded in 3 cited references ↓

11044 is debridement where bone is the deepest tissue removed, for the first 20 sq cm. Additional bone-depth area goes to 11047 in 20 sq cm units. It has a 0-day global.

In ortho and podiatry this is osteomyelitis care: a diabetic foot ulcer down to the metatarsal head, an exposed calcaneus, or an infected open fracture where dead bone is removed. Bone has to actually be removed. Exposed bone that is only cleaned does not qualify. Payers often expect a bone culture or pathology to back up the claim.

If a defined portion of bone is excised as an operation, such as a partial metatarsal head resection or partial calcanectomy, the specific bone excision code is usually more accurate than 11044. Same surface area rules as the rest of the family apply: total all wounds debrided to bone, measure after debridement, and do not split same-depth wounds with modifiers. This code draws record requests, so the note needs specific language about what bone was removed.

RVU & reimbursement

Component RVUs and Medicare national rate. Actual payment varies by GPCI locality.

Source · CMS Physician Fee Schedule, RVU26A · January 2026

Work RVU vs. total RVU

The work RVU (4) is the surgeon's own effort — the figure physician pay and productivity targets are built on. The total RVU (9.6) adds practice overhead and malpractice, and is what drives the Medicare payment below.

Work RVU	4
Practice expense RVU	4.96
Malpractice RVU	0.64
Total RVU	9.6
Medicare national rate	$320.65
Global period	0 days

Payment by site of service

Medicare pays different rates by setting. HOPD typically pays substantially more than ASC for the same procedure.

Source · CMS OPPS Addendum B·ASC HCPCS payment rates·2026

Setting	Medicare rate (national)
Office (PFS non-facility) Procedure performed in physician's office	$320.65
HOPD (APC 5072) Hospital outpatient department	$1,687.37
ASC (PI A2) Ambulatory surgical center (freestanding)	$742.04