Wound Care Ultramist Billing

The Ultramist or Low Frequency, Non-Contact, Non-Thermal Ultrasound is a useful therapy in wound care. The Ultramist uses acoustic wave therapy to promote healing. It controls inflammation and reduces bacteria in the wound bed. It is noncontact and painless and can be used on a variety of different wounds. Ultramist can have 6 treatments and then must be re-evaluated. If the treatment is not working, the provider must complete a new plan of care. If it is working, then 18 treatments in a 6 week period can be done. Medicare guidelines are listed below.

This is billed with CPT code 97610 and is typically only covered by Medicare.

Medicare considers this wound therapy when provide for the following: 

• Wounds and ulcers which are too painful for sharp or excisional debridement and have failed conventional debridement with documentation supporting the same.

• Wounds and ulcers meeting Medicare coverage for debridement but with documented contraindications to sharp or excisional debridement.

• Wounds and ulcers meeting Medicare coverage for debridement where the normal process of healing has not progressed as expected at 30 days.

• It is considered reasonable and necessary when provided two to three times per week. The length of individual treatments will vary per wound size.

• Observable, documented improvements in the wound(s) should be evident after six treatments. Improvements include documented reduction in pain, necrotic tissue, or wound size, or improved granulation tissue.

• No more than 18 services within a six week period will be considered reasonable and necessary.

• One 97610 service per day is allowable for a qualifying wound. CPT Code 97610 is not separately reportable for treatment of the same wound on the same day as other active wound care management CPT codes (97597-97606) or wound debridement CPT codes (e.g., CPT codes 11042-11047, 97597, 97598).