CPT 2010:
Keep the 'Skin' in Integumentary -- Let Origins Show You How
Published on Wed Jan 06, 2010
Upcoding every skin lesion to soft tissue tumor could bring fraud charges. Think every large lesion that extends deeper than the dermis is a soft tissue tumor? Think again. Don't make an upcoding error that could land your practice in hot water. Follow these tips to ensure that you distinguish new CPT 2010 musculoskeletal soft tissue tumor codes from procedures better described by integumentary entries. Take a Hint From Cancer Source Soft tissue tumor excision codes and skin cancer treatment codes aren't interchangeable based on size or even depth of excision. With rare exceptions, you should use integumentary codes for skin cancers, and save the new 20000 series soft tissue tumor codes for lesions that do not arise in the dermis. Origin is key: To use the new excision codes, the tumor should stem from the musculoskeletal system, extend through the white fat subcutaneous layer, and not be a tumor [...]
