Common Skin Procedures

On January 1, 2007, changes were made to the codes associated with common skin procedures. This topic is often confusing to clinicians and the information below will hopefully serve as a guide when questions arise. If clarification is still needed, please contact Amy Shilliam, CPC at amy.shilliam@uwmf.wisc.edu

Excision (lesion completely removed by full-thickness excision):
Benign- 11400-11446
Malignant- 11600-11646
Code depends on Location and Size (lesion diameter + margins)
If the closure is other than simple, a separate additional code should be reported.

Shave (lesion removed by shave - does not penetrate fat, no suturing needed):

11300-11313
Code depends on Location and Size (lesion diameter)

Biopsy (taking a representative sample of tissue for diagnostic purposes):

* Destruction (e.g., laser surgery, electrosurgery, cryosurgery, chemosurgery, surgical curettement) of premalignant lesions (eg, actinic keratosis):

* Destruction (e.g., laser surgery, electrosurgery, cryosurgery, chemosurgery, surgical curettement) of other benign lesions (eg, plantar wart, common wart, etc.):

Skin Tags:

Paring/Cutting benign hyperkeratotic lesions (corn or callus):

* Reminder: The number of lesions is required in the documentation.

* Please note changes that have been made to the 17xxx codes: premalignant versus other benign lesion destruction. These changes were effective 1/1/07.