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Ask a Rev Cycle Expert: Coding a Lesion Excision?

Question:

I am having issues coding a lesion excision case. Both lesions were on the neck. The right-sided lesion was 1.5 cm and the other left-sided lesion was 1.4 cm. How would I report these?

Answer:

Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) guidance states a code is reported for each lesion. Report CPT® code 11422 Excision, benign lesion including margins, except skin tag (unless listed elsewhere), scalp, neck, hands, feet, genitalia; excised diameter 1.1 to 2.0 cm for each lesion as the 1.4 cm and 1.5 cm fall within the 1.1 to 2.0 cm range listed within the CPT® description. CPT® guidance indicates modifier 59 Distinct Procedural Service to be appropriate.

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