Q: We also have pre-malignant codes (17000-17004). When are they used?
A: The code set 17000-17004 is for destruction of benign or premalignant lesions. CPT defines destruction as the ablation by any method. Any method includes electrosurgery, cryosurgery, laser, or chemical treatment.. Refer to your CPT book as there are also destruction of lesions in specific anatomic sites that are outside this code set as well.
Q: What code do you suggest if the documentation states the size of the lesion is 0.7 cm and the incision size is 0.5 cm?
A: To accurately code for skin lesion excision, you need to extract from the documentation the answers to three very important questions:
- Was the lesion benign or malignant?
- Where was the lesion located (anatomic site)?
- What was the excised diameter of the lesion?
All of these play a huge factor in determining the correct code, we would recommend a query to the provider. If clarification is not given, then code using the lesion size of .7 cm.
Q: How is the size of an excision of a benign lesion determined?
A: Each benign lesion excised should be reported separately. Code selection is determined by measuring the greatest clinical diameter of the apparent lesion plus that margin required for complete excision (lesion diameter plus the narrowest margins required equals the excised diameter).
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Mary Bort, CPC, CPMA, CANPC, CASCC, COSC
Consultant
Mary is a consultant for The Haugen Consulting Group with over 25 years of health care industry experience. She started her career in Orthopedics which was her passion for decades. In addition to Orthopedics, she provides expertise in other specialties such as Anesthesia, Ambulatory Surgery Center, as well as most surgical specialties . She has experience working the professional fee side of coding, audit, education as well as compliance, serving both coders and physicians, as well as the surgical side. She is a Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Professional Medical Auditor (CPMA), Certified Anesthesia Professional Coder (CANPC) Certified Ambulatory Surgery Center Coder (CASCC) and Certified Orthopedic Surgery Coder (COSC).
During her free time, she loves to do crafts, enjoys the outdoors, and the Broncos! She has 4 daughters, and 10 grandchildren which light up her life.
I’m looking at the Q&A for CEU information for the Depth Perception Webinar, as indicated in the webinar and I don’t see where we can access those CEU’s. Please advise.
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Haugen Academy Learning Team