Part A vs Part B for wound supplies
Who pays for a resident's wound supplies depends on the resident's Medicare status at the time:
During a covered Part A stay
Under SNF consolidated billing, the facility is paid for the whole package of care and must furnish the supplies and equipment for the stay. Medicare does not pay a supplier separately for most items during the stay.
Residents not in a Part A stay
Medicare's DME contractor lists a limited set of supply categories that can be billed for residents of a SNF or nursing facility who are not in a covered Part A stay. Surgical dressings, ostomy supplies, urinary incontinence supplies and lymphedema compression items are on that list. Items outside those categories are not covered this way.
Surgical dressings: the main rules
- Dressings must be for a wound caused or treated by a surgical procedure, or one that needs debridement (surgical, mechanical, chemical or autolytic).
- Generally no more than a one-month supply at a time without extra documentation.
- Coverage details are in LCD L33831 and policy article A54563.
Sources: CMS, SNF Consolidated Billing; Noridian JA DME, Consolidated Billing and Surgical Dressings; CMS Medicare Coverage Database, LCD L33831 and Article A54563. Read October 2026; rules change, so check the current versions.
Whether we bill Medicare Part B directly for eligible residents: [TBD: confirm Part B billing, accreditation and supplier enrollment].