Internal Medicine Coding Alert
Cut Through a Trio of Lesion-Excision Codes
Question: Our internist saw a patient with lesions on his face and cheek. He excised a 2.6-centimeter benign lesion on the patient's chin and a 3.1-centimeter benign lesion from the patient's cheek. The internist then closed the wounds with a layered closure. How should I report this visit? Answer: You would report a trio of codes. For the lesion excisions, report 11443 (Excision, other benign lesion including margins [unless listed elsewhere], face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, mucous membrane; excised diameter 2.1 cm to 3.0 cm) and 11444 ( ... excised diameter 3.1 cm to 4.0 cm). Code the layer closure with 12053 (Layer closure of wounds of face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips and/or mucous membranes; 5.1 cm to 7.5 cm).
California Subscriber
Most lesion removals require suture closure, and the surgical package includes simple closures. But if the physician performs a layered closure, you can report it separately.
Report the layer closures by adding the lengths of the two closures together and using the appropriate code.
If the lesions were excised in different anatomic areas and both required layered closure, you would report two separate codes for the closures.
Internal Medicine Coding Alert
- Real-Life Solutions:
Here's How to Simplify Your Diabetes Coding
Hint: The fourth digit is key to payment To submit solid diabetes claims, you should [...] - 5 Examples Tie Diabetes Complications to ICD-9 Codes
- You Be The Coder:
Cut Through a Trio of Lesion-Excision Codes
Question: Our internist saw a patient with lesions on his face and cheek. He excised [...] - Get a Grip on Coding In-Office Coumadin Monitoring
Do you know the different payer requirements for accurate reporting? You should understand two crucial [...] - Want to Earn an Extra $30 in Deserved E/M Payments?
Why you should value your internist's medical decision-making When internal medicine coders don't know how [...] - Reader Question:
2 HH-Services Criteria Your Carrier May Impose
Question: What type of documentation does Medicare require from a physician in addition to the [...] - Reader Question:
Append Modifier -91 for Multiple Glucose Tests
Question: When we billed three blood glucose tests (82947, Glucose; quantitative, blood [except reagent strip]), [...] - Reader Question:
End Your Nursing-Facility Misconceptions - Reader Question:
Expect Denials? Use Modifiers -GY and -GZ
Question: What are the -GY and -GZ modifiers, and how should I use them?
Oregon Subscriber [...] - Reader Question:
2 Days of Critical Care Require 2 Codes
Question: The internist began to provide critical care at 11 p.m., and the service continued [...]
