Dermatology Coding Alert
READER QUESTIONS:
Apply 2 Units Only With Drugs or Timed Codes
Published on Sat Nov 07, 2009
Question: Can I bill 17250 with two units?
Massachusetts Subscriber
Answer: You may not use units greater than 1 for any surgical procedure, or any procedure that does not come as a quantity distribution like timed codes or drugs.
What happens: In 17250 (Chemical cauterization of granulation tissue [proud flesh, sinus or fistula]), the physician applies a small amount of silver nitrate stick over the lesion's tip and destroys the lesion with a cauterizing device. A common diagnostic example for the code is pyogenic granuloma of toe.
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