ACC13033 Pr#7 1/3/2005 2:45 PM Page 1
MB and MW Codes
February 2005
MW =
MB =
Wound Management
Burns and Abrasions Management
There is a full explanation of the MB and MW codes in Appendix 2 of the ACC Treatment Provider Handbook, which is
available from the ACC website at www.acc.co.nz. It is important to use MB and MW codes when making claims for
payments. Following is the procedure for claiming for MB and MW codes. Note it is important to first determine that the
procedure is necessary and appropriate.
MB codes
Migration between codes:
MB codes should be used when you are managing a:
Migration between codes can occur where you:
• burn
• significant abrasion or
• wound that can’t be closed but requires significant
cleaning and/or dressing.
Examples of the MB codes are:
Initial: Major work cleaning the wound – removing skin,
stones, dirt, burnt skin etc plus dressings as required.
The time taken to complete the cleaning etc is part of
the procedure. At this point, where significant time is
required to deal with the wound, the dressing does not
have to be significant to allow the procedure to be
claimed. The appropriate MB code can be charged.
Follow-up: Significant time taken using tools –
debriding/cleaning the wound and/or using significant
dressings according to the definition in Appendix 2.
The appropriate MB code can be charged.
Follow-up: Limited time taken to clean/review wound.
Significant dressings according to the definition in
Appendix 2. The appropriate MB code can be charged.
Follow up: Limited time taken, wound check and simple
dressing. Consultation only can be charged.
After this, all further reviews of wound etc and dressing
changes are built into the consultation rate.
MW codes:
You can only claim MW codes when a wound is closed using
a material such as glue, steri strip or sutures. This code
includes any required cleaning and/or anaesthetising of
the wound prior to closure.
ACC2136
Composite
Have charged ACC for management of a specific wound
using a specific procedure, e.g. MW and
Where, at a later consultation, you move to another
procedure type to manage the same wound and you
charge ACC for this.
For example:
The size-appropriate MB code should be charged (not a
further MW code) when a wound for which an MW code
has previously been claimed:
becomes infected or problematic in some way and
requires necessary and appropriate opening and
significant cleaning/dressing.
The guidelines for MB charging then apply.
Some examples of when to apply MW and
MB codes:
Skin flap closed with steri strips = MW
The skin flap becomes infected and the flap dies
Removal of necrotic tissue and application of dressings
= MB code
Wound check and application of significant dressing =
MB code
Wound check and simple dressing = Consultation fee
only.
If a wound is not healing as a result of co-morbidity issues
that are identified as the primary cause of the ongoing
problem, the ACC claim should stop.