ARS Device Reimbursement

2022 Coding and Reimbursement Guidelines for
ASRD and SUTUREGARD® ISR Devices

FDA Regulatory Clearance:

The ASRD and SUTUREGARD® ISR devices are both FDA registered as suture retention devices (21 CFR § 878.4930).

The ASRD device is intended to support a retention suture in a wound closure and be retained up to two weeks postoperatively.

The SUTUREGARD® ISR device is intended to support a retention suture intraoperatively to facilitate skin relaxation and be retained up to 2 hours (though, most effect is seen within 30 minutes).

Value Analysis Significance:

In multiple clinical trials, adhesive suture retention device (ASRD) has been shown to reduce post-operative wound dehiscence by 79-89%. For many orthopedic, vascular, and general surgery procedures, dehiscence can be a devastating and costly complication. In amputations, adoption of ASRD for all cases resulted in a cost savings of $9940 per case. ASRD has also been shown to reduce postoperative dehiscence in the setting of orthopedic trauma, where dehiscence results in exposed hardware and potential costly return to the OR.

A typical Facility surgical case involving ASRD would have 3-6 units (pouches) of ASRD per case. There are TWELVE (12) pouches per box, meaning that 2-4 surgical cases could be performed using a single box of ASRD.

Coding Considerations:

Coders provide a uniform language for describing services rendered by health providers. The selection of codes depends on the precise details and necessity of the surgical procedure. It is the sole responsibility of the health care provider to correctly prepare claims submitted to insurance companies and other payers.

Physician’s Professional Fee:

Fulfilling complex repair requirements is possible with the ASRD and SUTUREGARD® ISR devices when the devices are used to place a retention suture and all other requirements are met. The ASRD and SUTUREGARD® ISR are classified by the U.S. Food & Drug as suture retention devices (Sec. 878.4930).

Complex repair (CPT® codes 13100 to 13160) includes the repair of wounds that, in addition to the requirements for intermediate repair, require at least one of the following: exposure of bone, cartilage, tendon, or named neurovascular structure; debridement of wound edges (e.g., traumatic lacerations or avulsions); extensive undermining (defined as distance equal to or greater than the maximum width of the defect, measured perpendicular to the closure line along at least one entire edge of the defect); involvement of free margins of helical rim, vermilion border, or nostril rim; placement of retention sutures. Necessary preparation includes creation of a limited defect for repairs or the debridement of complicated lacerations or avulsions. Complex repair does not include excision of benign (11400-11446) or malignant (11600-11646) lesions, excisional preparation of a wound bed (15002-15005), or debridement of an open fracture or open dislocation.