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March 25, 2023

Coding for Mohs Micrographic Surgery

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Mohs surgery is performed to remove complex or ill-defined skin cancer, and the procedure includes both the surgery and histopathologic examination. Both capacities are required in order to bill for these codes, and neither part may be delegated to another individual.

Let’s look at the specific guidelines for coding for Mohs Micrographic Surgery:

According to CPT®,

“The Mohs surgeon removes the tumor tissue and maps and divides the tumor specimen into pieces, and each piece is embedded into an individual tissue block for histopathologic examination. Thus a tissue block in Mohs surgery is defined as an individual tissue piece embedded in a mounting medium for sectioning.” (CPT 2023, Professional Ed. page. 107)

Repair is not included in the coding. If an intermediate or more complex repair is needed and performed, a repair, flap or graft may be reported separately.

The codes for reporting Mohs procedures have zero global days; if the Mohs physician also performs the medically necessary repair, global days may apply to the repair codes.

If a biopsy has already been done, and the diagnosis is known, do not report a separate biopsy code.

However, if a biopsy is performed on the same day as Mohs surgery because there was no prior confirmation of the diagnosis, bill the skin biopsy that was performed (11102, 11104, 11106) and frozen section pathology code 88331.  Use modifier 59 to distinguish the biopsy from the definitive Mohs procedure. Modifier 59 is used on the biopsy code, because Mohs surgery has higher RVUs, and it is reported without a modifier.

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Watch Betsy’s 60 minute on-demand webinar “Coding Skin Procedures” for a review of coding common skin procedures and correct use of modifiers with multiple procedures. Webinars are free for members. Not a member? Find out how you can watch too!


 

Last revised February 13, 2023 - Betsy Nicoletti
Tags: dermatology_procedures, minor procedures

CPT®️️ is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association. Copyright American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

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Our mission is to provide up-to-date, simplified, citation driven resources that empower our members to gain confidence and authority in their coding role.

In 1988, CodingIntel.com founder Betsy Nicoletti started a Medical Services Organization for a rural hospital, supporting physician practice. She has been a self-employed consultant since 1998. She estimates that in the last 20 years her audience members number over 28,400 at in person events and webinars. She has had 2,500 meetings with clinical providers and reviewed over 43,000 medical notes. She knows what questions need answers and developed this resource to answer those questions. For more about Betsy visit www.betsynicoletti.com.

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