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HCPCS Level II · Alginate and other fiber gelling dressings

A6198: alginate dressing, pad more than 48 sq. in.

A sterile alginate or other fiber gelling wound cover, pad more than 48 sq. in., billed per dressing.

Illustration of an alginate dressing pad and a coil of alginate ropeIllustration, not the exact product

At a glance

Billing unit
Each (per dressing)
Size band
Pad more than 48 sq. in.
Adhesive border
Not part of the descriptor
PCSS products
2 lines, 2 sizes

Official CMS descriptor

How CMS describes A6198

“Alginate or other fiber gelling dressing, wound cover, sterile, pad size more than 48 sq. in., each dressing”

Long descriptor, verbatim, from the CMS October 2026 Alpha-Numeric HCPCS File (updated September 23, 2026). Level II HCPCS codes and descriptors are maintained by CMS.
HCPCS Quarterly Update(opens in a new tab)
Code
A6198
Short descriptor
Alginate dressing > 48 sq in
Code added
January 1, 1997
Action effective date
January 1, 2009
Status in this file
Active (no termination date)

PCSS products

What PCSS carries under A6198

PCSS suggests A6198 as the typical HCPCS category for these product sizes.

PCSS's suggested HCPCS categories (July 2026) are for reference only, based on product type and pad size. It's a reference, not a coding determination. Confirm final coding with your billing staff.

General product information, not clinical advice.

Size band

Pad size sets the band

CMS splits this dressing type into 3 bands: pad 16 sq. in. or less, pad more than 16 up to 48 sq. in. and pad more than 48 sq. in. Multiply the pad's length by its width: a 8×8 in. pad is 64 sq. in., which falls in A6198's band (more than 48 sq. in.).

Codes in this series by size band
Size bandCode
Pad 16 sq. in. or lessA6196PCSS carries
Pad more than 16 up to 48 sq. in.A6197PCSS carries
Pad more than 48 sq. in.A6198 (this page)

Usual change frequency (LCD L33831)

Alginates & gelling fibers
Up to once per day.

Listed for the PCSS product group, in PCSS's plain-words summary of the LCD.

LCD L33831(opens in a new tab)

Medicare notes for A6198

Silver and honey formats

We list silver (Ag) and honey products by their base dressing type. Medicare's surgical dressing LCD lists silver and honey among materials whose safety and effectiveness “have not been established,” and classifies dressings by their clinically predominant component — one made predominantly of such materials isn't considered reasonable and necessary. Code each product by its PDAC listing; choose products on clinical judgment.

LCD L33831(opens in a new tab)

Medicare details checked against CMS sources on October 6, 2026. Not billing, coding or legal advice.

Questions

A6198: common questions

Answers draw on the CMS descriptor, PCSS's suggested codes and the Medicare notes on this page.

What is HCPCS code A6198?

A6198 is a Level II HCPCS code. Its CMS long descriptor reads “Alginate or other fiber gelling dressing, wound cover, sterile, pad size more than 48 sq. in., each dressing”, and its short descriptor is “Alginate dressing > 48 sq in” (October 2026 Alpha-Numeric HCPCS File, CMS).

What does PCSS suggest A6198 for?

PCSS suggests A6198 as the typical HCPCS category for Calcium alginate (10×10); Calcium alginate, silver (8×8). PCSS's suggested HCPCS categories (July 2026) are for reference only, based on product type and pad size. Confirm final coding with your billing staff.

How often are alginates & gelling fibers usually changed under Medicare?

Under LCD L33831, the usual change frequency for alginates & gelling fibers: Up to once per day.

What size range does A6198 cover?

A6198 covers a pad of more than 48 sq. in. In the same series, A6196 covers a pad of 16 sq. in. or less and A6197 covers a pad of more than 16 up to 48 sq. in.

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