CMS Expands RECELL Coverage for Non-Burn Wounds, Boosts Hospital Reimbursement
Starting October 1, 2025, U.S. hospitals can receive additional reimbursement for using RECELL to treat non-burn, full-thickness acute wounds resulting from trauma or surgery. This new policy, effective until September 30, 2026, is part of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) New Technology Add-on Payment (NTAP) program.
The RECELL System, approved by the FDA for treating thermal burn and trauma wounds, will now also be covered for acute, non-burn trauma and surgical full-thickness wounds. This approval expands the range of applications for RECELL, which is already used internationally for promoting skin healing in various wound types.
RECELL offers several advantages over standard skin grafting. It requires less donor skin, reducing donor site complications. In a multicenter trial, it achieved wound closure as effectively as standard grafting but used 27% less donor skin. This could lead to improved patient outcomes and reduced healthcare costs.
The NTAP designation for RECELL will remain in effect until September 30, 2026. Hospitals can now receive up to $4,875 in added reimbursement for each use of RECELL in treating eligible acute wounds. This change reflects CMS's commitment to supporting innovative wound care treatments.
