Dermatology Coding Alert
You Be the Coder:
Multiple Skin Tags
Published on Sun Nov 14, 2010
Question:
Answer:
You should report 11200 (Removal of skin tags, multiple fibrocutaneous tags, any area; up to and including 15 lesions) for the first 15 tags and then code two units of 11201 (... each additional ten lesions or part thereof [List separately in addition to code for primary procedure]) for the next 20 skin tags.Explanation:
The first code (11200) refers to the first 15 lesions. The next code (11201) refers to the next 10 skin tags which sums to 25 lesions. Finally, to cover the last five lesions for a total sum of 30 lesions, you should report 11201 a second time because even though there aren't 35 lesions, reporting 11201 a second time includes the last five. This is correct coding, but insurers usually consider removal of skin tags medically unnecessary.Other Articles in this issue of
Dermatology Coding Alert
- Lesion Removal:
11443 or 11441? Measure Correctly and Add $54 to This Excision Claim
Timing is everything for coding accuracy.Waiting for the pathologist to measure an excised lesion could [...] - CPT 2011 Update:
11042-11047 vs. 97597-97602: Focus on One Thing, Not Factors
Hint: Reserve debridement codes for deeper wound care.Confused about when to choose a debridement code [...] - Diagnosis Coding:
6 Steps Pave the Way to Audit-Hardy Coding
Precise coding doesn't require an overly-detailed coding policy.An ICD-9 coding policy can help keep your [...] - News You Can Use:
Congress Boosts Conversion Factor Through Dec. 31
Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rate won't be cut 23 percent.Although the government appeared poised to [...] - You Be the Coder:
Multiple Skin Tags
Question: Patient has 30 skin tags. Should we report 11200 for the first 15 lesions [...] - Reader Questions:
Avoid Modifiers With +17003
Question: Our dermatologist removed three lesions from a patient's left arm. Should we code the [...] - Reader Questions:
99441-99443: The Hard Truth about Phone Call Pay
Question: Another physician told my dermatologist that he's receiving payment from his contractor for telephone [...] - Reader Questions:
Count Supply Cost in In-Office Procedure Pay
Question: My doctors want me to bill for supplies, such as surgical trays, that they [...] - Reader Questions:
Stick With 11600 for Repeat Excision
Question: My dermatologist removed a malignant mole last week, which I reported with 11600. The [...] - Reader Questions:
Look to Cause for Bruises
Question: What is the ICD-9 code for "easy bruising"?Answer: Easy bruising is not a diagnosis, [...] - Reader Questions:
Don't Bill Under Another Provider's ID
Question: A physician in my office wants to bill services under another physician's tax ID [...] - Reader Questions:
Face Time Is Essential to Established Patient
Question: Our practice performed a test on a patient who was referred to us by [...]
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