Dermatology Coding Alert
Bundle Tissue Transfer, Lesion Excision
Question: My dermatologist performed a lesion excision along with a tissue transfer. Which CPT codes should we report?
Kansas Subscriber
Answer: Based on your description, you should probably report 14040 (Adjacent tissue transfer or rearrangement, forehead, cheeks, chin, mouth, neck, axillae, genitalia, hands and/or feet; defect 10 sq cm or less) or 14041 (... defect 10.1 sq cm to 30.0 sq cm).
If the dermatologist performs a lesion excision along with an adjacent tissue transfer at the same site, you should not separately report the lesion excision, according to the September 1996 CPT Assistant.
"The guidelines of the Adjacent Tissue Transfer or Rearrangement section state that codes 14000-14300 include the excision (including lesion) and/or repair by adjacent tissue transfer or rearrangement," CPT Assistant states.
Dermatology Coding Alert
- CPT 2006 Update:
Get Ready--Next Year's Manual Shows a Lot More Skin--Skin Grafts, That Is
You'll have more options for reporting specific types of grafts, as well as their sizes [...] - You Be the Coder:
Lesion Excision Often Bundles Repair Codes
Question: I'm confused about the rules for coding wound repair with lesion removal. What codes [...] - E/M Update:
Say Goodbye to Claims for 'Second Opinions' in 2006
CPT consolidates confirmatory consult and inpatient consult coding
You may have fewer choices to make when [...] - Coding Quiz:
Avoid 3 Biopsy Misconceptions That Will Break Your Bank
Hint: Coding depends on how much of a lesion the dermatologist removes
When a dermatologist removes [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Check Global Period for Wart Freezing
Question: Eight days after an initial wart freezing, the patient returns, and the dermatologist again [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Bundle Tissue Transfer, Lesion Excision
Question: My dermatologist performed a lesion excision along with a tissue transfer. Which CPT codes [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Check Anatomy for Clark's Nevus Diagnosis
Question: The dermatologist's notes say that he removed a "Clark's nevus." What exactly is that? [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
'3-Year Rule' Applies to Practice, Not Physician
Question: A patient sees a dermatologist in our group practice. More than two years later, [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Call on G Code for Dermabond
Question: Which code should I use to report Dermabond? I know the status indicator for [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Choose Burn Treatment Code Based on Degree
Question: A patient with blisters on his shoulders from sunburn came into our office. The [...]
