Dermatology Coding Alert
READER QUESTIONS:
Report Warts as Benign Lesions
Published on Sat Nov 07, 2009
Question:
Colorado Subscriber
Answer:
Removing warts falls under the destruction of benign lesions, thus you should code 17110 (Destruction [e.g., laser surgery, electrosurgery, cryosurgery, chemosurgery, surgical curettement], of benign lesions other than skin tags or cutaneous vascular lesions; up to 14 lesions).Don't overlook:
Your physician's documentation should indicate medical necessity for removing the warts.As for the ICD-9 code, you have a few options: for itching, 698.9 (Unspecified pruritic disorder); for unspecified erythematous conditions, 695.9 (Other specified erythematous conditions; other); and for disturbance of skin sensation, 782.0 (Disturbance of skin sensation).
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