Free tool · Medicare
Medicare dressing quantity calculator
Pick a dressing, how often it's changed and how many wounds it covers. See the quantity — and how that frequency compares with Medicare's usual maximum, in the policy's own words.
LCD L33831 (R11) and Policy Article A54563 (R14)Checked
Calculate a dressing quantity
Result
Estimate for a 30-day supply
30dressings per 30 days
Calcium alginate 4×4 · suggested HCPCS A6196
Within the LCD's usual maximum (up to once per day)
How it adds up: 30 changes × 1 dressing per change × 1 wound = 30 dressings.
“Dressing change is up to once per day.”
LCD L33831 — Surgical Dressings(opens in a new tab) · Revision R11, effective January 1, 2024
Within the usual maximum still isn't an approval: the medical record has to support the dressing type, the amount used at each change and the change frequency.
Use this result
An estimate for planning and paperwork — not an order, an allowed quantity or a coverage decision.
For a patient's paperwork
Add it to the written order draft or copy the summary for your billing staff. Patient-direct supply itself goes through the separate Equipia workflow — no patient information here.
For practice stock
Sign in to the wholesale portal and choose SKUs, units and quantities there. This estimate is not carried into the portal and places no order.
Supply quantity: 30 each. Written order: 30 per 30 days, once a day, 1 wound.
- The LCD says “the product in contact with the wound determines the change frequency.”
- Estimate at the change frequency you chose — not an approved or allowed quantity.
- General information, not clinical advice.
- Confirm with your billing staff.
No patient information is asked for or stored. Your inputs stay in this page's link, so you can bookmark or share a result.
How it works
How Medicare dressing quantities work
Medicare's surgical dressing policy doesn't give most dressings a monthly allowance. For most dressing types it sets an “up to” change frequency, and the quantity follows from the plan of care.
Frequency × units × wounds
A quantity is the number of changes in the period, times the units used at each change, times the qualifying wounds. An alginate cover changed once a day on two wounds is 30 × 1 × 2 = 60 dressings for 30 days. That multiplication is ours: the LCD states frequencies, not monthly counts.
LCD L33831
The wound-contact dressing sets the pace
“The product in contact with the wound determines the change frequency.” The LCD adds: “It is not reasonable and necessary to use a combination of products with differing change intervals.”
LCD L33831
Wounds are counted per code
Modifiers A1–A9 report the qualifying wounds a specific dressing code is used on — “not the total number of wounds treated.” With A9 (nine or more), the claim must say how many.
Policy Article A54563
One month at a time
Regardless of utilization, “no more than a month's supply of dressings may be provided at one time,” unless documentation supports greater quantities in the home setting in an individual case.
LCD L33831
Hydrogel gel has a quantity cap
“Maximum utilization of code A6248 is 3 units (fluid ounces) per wound in 30 days.” The calculator applies it to hydrogel gel and prorates it for 7- and 14-day supplies.
LCD L33831
Some dressings have no usual maximum
The LCD states no change frequency for hydrogel-impregnated gauze, self-adherent wrap or tubular dressings. For collagen it gives a wear time — “They can stay in place up to 7 days.” The calculator says so instead of inventing a number.
LCD L33831
Quantities have to match the record
Medicare's documentation rules say the medical record must “substantiate the necessity for the type and quantity of items ordered and for the frequency of use or replacement.” The Policy Article says the clinical information behind the type and quantity must be updated “on a monthly basis,” and that a new order is needed “if a new dressing is added or if the quantity of an existing dressing to be used is increased.”
Standard Documentation Requirements A55426 · Policy Article A54563
Reference
LCD L33831 change frequencies for the dressings PCSS carries
The usual maximum for each dressing type, as the calculator uses it. The calculator shows the LCD's exact wording for whichever product you pick.
| Dressing type | HCPCS | Usual maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Collagen powderCollagen-based wound filler, dry formA6010 | A6010 | No usual maximum statedWear time, not a frequency: “can stay in place up to 7 days” |
| Collagen dressingCollagen dressing pad (A6021–A6023) or wound filler (A6024)A6021–A6024 | A6021–A6024 | No usual maximum statedWear time, not a frequency: “can stay in place up to 7 days” |
| Alginate coverAlginate or other fiber gelling dressing, wound coverA6196–A6198 | A6196–A6198 | Up to once per dayOne wound cover sheet, about the size of the wound, at each change. |
| Alginate ropeAlginate or other fiber gelling dressing, wound filler (rope)A6199 | A6199 | Up to once per dayUp to 2 units per change (1 unit = 6 inches of rope). |
| CompositeComposite dressingA6203–A6205 | A6203–A6205 | Up to 3 times per weekOne wound cover per change. |
| Foam cover, no borderFoam dressing, wound cover, without adhesive borderA6209–A6211 | A6209–A6211 | Up to 3 times per week |
| Foam cover, borderedFoam dressing, wound cover, with adhesive borderA6212–A6214 | A6212–A6214 | Up to 3 times per week |
| Foam fillerFoam dressing, wound fillerA6215 | A6215 | Up to once per day |
| Bordered gauzeGauze, non-impregnated, with adhesive borderA6219–A6221 | A6219–A6221 | Once per day |
| Impregnated gauzeGauze, impregnated with other than water, saline, hydrogel or zinc paste, without borderA6222–A6224 | A6222–A6224 | Up to once per day |
| Hydrogel gauzeGauze, impregnated with hydrogel, for direct wound contactA6231–A6233 | A6231–A6233 | No usual maximum statedHydrogel frequencies name only covers and fillers |
| Hydrocolloid, no borderHydrocolloid dressing, wound cover, without adhesive borderA6234–A6236 | A6234–A6236 | Up to 3 times per week |
| Hydrocolloid, borderedHydrocolloid dressing, wound cover, with adhesive borderA6237–A6239 | A6237–A6239 | Up to 3 times per week |
| Hydrogel cover, no borderHydrogel dressing, wound cover, without adhesive borderA6242–A6244 | A6242–A6244 | Up to once per day |
| Hydrogel cover, borderedHydrogel dressing, wound cover, with adhesive borderA6245–A6247 | A6245–A6247 | Up to 3 times per week |
| Hydrogel gelHydrogel dressing, wound filler, gelA6248 | A6248 | Up to once per dayCap: 3 fl oz per wound in 30 days |
| Super absorbent, no borderSpecialty absorptive dressing, wound cover, without adhesive borderA6251–A6253 | A6251–A6253 | Up to once per day |
| Super absorbent, borderedSpecialty absorptive dressing, wound cover, with adhesive borderA6254–A6256 | A6254–A6256 | Up to every other day |
| Transparent filmTransparent filmA6257–A6259 | A6257–A6259 | Up to 3 times per week |
| Wound cleanserWound cleanserA6260 | A6260 | Not coveredNot a dressing under the surgical dressing benefit |
| Conforming roll gauzeConforming bandage, non-elastic (roll gauze)A6446 | A6446 | No usual maximum statedFollows the dressing it holds in place |
| Cohesive wrapSelf-adherent bandage, elastic (cohesive wrap)A6454 | A6454 | No usual maximum stated |
| Unna bootZinc paste impregnated bandage (Unna boot)A6456 | A6456 | WeeklyVenous leg ulcers that are qualifying wounds |
| Tubular dressingTubular dressing, with or without elasticA6457 | A6457 | No usual maximum stated |
Codes are HCPCS ranges as the LCD groups them; PCSS's suggested code for each product is for reference only — confirm final coding with your billing staff.
FAQ
Questions about dressing quantities
Sources
- 1LCD L33831 — Surgical DressingsCMS Medicare Coverage Database (DME MACs) · Revision R11, effective January 1, 2024
- 2Policy Article A54563 — Surgical DressingsCMS Medicare Coverage Database (DME MACs) · Revision R14, effective December 5, 2024
- 3Policy Article A55426 — Standard Documentation Requirements for All Claims Submitted to DME MACsCMS Medicare Coverage Database (DME MACs) · Revision R28, effective January 1, 2024 (updated June 24, 2026)
Medicare details checked against CMS sources on October 6, 2026. Not billing, coding or legal advice.
How many dressings does Medicare allow per month?
For most dressings, Medicare's surgical dressing LCD (L33831) doesn't state a monthly number. For most dressing types it states an “up to” change frequency instead — for example, up to once per day for alginate covers and up to 3 times per week for foam covers. A monthly quantity is that frequency times the units used at each change and the number of qualifying wounds. Among the dressings in this calculator, the only stated quantity cap is for hydrogel gel (A6248): 3 fluid ounces per wound in 30 days.
Can a practice order more than a month's supply of dressings?
The LCD says that, regardless of utilization, “no more than a month's supply of dressings may be provided at one time,” unless there is documentation to support the necessity of greater quantities in the home setting in an individual case. That's why the calculator offers 7-, 14- and 30-day supplies.
What if a wound needs changes more often than the LCD's usual maximum?
Most usual maximums are written as “up to” limits, and neither the LCD nor the Policy Article describes an exception process for more frequent changes. Medicare's standard documentation requirements say the medical record must substantiate the necessity for the type and quantity of items ordered and for the frequency of use. Talk to your billing staff before ordering above the usual maximum.
How do I count wounds for the A1–A9 modifiers?
Count the qualifying wounds on which that specific dressing code is used — not the total number of wounds treated. A dressing used on two wounds is reported with A2, so its quantity covers both wounds. A9 means nine or more wounds, and the claim must then say how many.
Which dressing sets the change frequency when two are used together?
The LCD says “the product in contact with the wound determines the change frequency,” and that it is not reasonable and necessary to use a combination of products with differing change intervals. Run the calculator for the wound-contact dressing first.
Wholesale portal
Wholesale pricing and stock orders.
Sign in to view wholesale pricing and order supplies for your practice. New customers create an account and sign the Net-30 agreement online; PCSS countersigns to open ordering.
Help: (803) 422-2710Your practice’s wholesale account
View your catalog pricing, save business and ship-to details, and order once PCSS has countersigned your agreement. Patient-direct orders follow the separate Equipia route described in How to order.
How to order