When physicians enroll in Medicare, they self-elect their specialty designation. In the enrollment process, there are fields to indicate primary and … [Read more...]
Articles
Spotlight on up-to-date coding
Screening for skin cancer
Dermatologists frequently see patients for skin checks, to examine their skin for signs of pre-malignant or malignant lesions. Some of these patients … [Read more...]
Diagnosis coding for dermatology
Diagnosis notes for dermatology Be sure to match the diagnosis to the procedure. For example, For skin tag removal, use skin tag For … [Read more...]
Coding for breast procedures: biopsy, localization devices, and surgery
From biopsy to localization device to mastectomy, coding for breast procedures can be challenging. This article summarizes the rules related to these … [Read more...]
E/M frequency data for surgical specialties
CMS releases E/M frequency data annually. A physician self-elects their specialty designation when enrolling with Medicare. Unfortunately, there … [Read more...]
Overview of Medicare telehealth services
Please see the Telemedicine article for the rules and guidelines for use during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Medicare covers some … [Read more...]
E/M frequency data for dermatology
For dermatologists, revenue in the office is generated by procedures and office visits. Often, both are provided on the same day. See the dermatology … [Read more...]
Repair (closure) CPT® 12001–13160–2020 update
Laceration or wound repair codes are reported based on the type of repair (simple, intermediate, complex), the anatomic location, and the length … [Read more...]
Describe the exam | E/M services for dermatology
What do you need to document for the exam? Although exam is not a key component in 2021 for codes 99202--99215, it is still a good idea to describe … [Read more...]
Coding for Mohs Micrographic Surgery
Mohs surgery is performed to remove complex or ill-defined skin cancer, and the procedure includes both the surgery and histopathologic examination. … [Read more...]
Other dermatologic procedures
This aricle reviews the codes and guidelines for these dermatologic procedures; Intralesional injections, photodynamic therapy, phototherapy, and … [Read more...]
Modifier 51 or 59? How to know which to bill?
Modifier 51 and 59 are both used on second and subsequent surgical procedures, when performed on the day of a primary procedure There are two … [Read more...]
Coding multiple procedures | Examples with modifiers
Biopsies and lesion destruction codes are often performed at the same patient visit. This leads to questions about bundling and modifiers. There are … [Read more...]
Shaving of epidermal or dermal lesions
The chart below includes CPT® codes, and descriptions for shaving epidermal and dermal lesions. After the chart, there are important key points to … [Read more...]
Coding for destruction of malignant lesions
The primary factors in selecting a code for destruction of malignant lesions are: Size of lesion (not defect) Location Method is not a … [Read more...]
Remote Physiologic Monitoring Treatment Management Services
2019 brought us three new CPT® codes and a revised existing code for remote monitoring and treatment. Here are the four active codes. Two of them have … [Read more...]
Virtual communication: HCPCS codes G2010, G2012, G2250, G2251, G2252
Virtual communications are not considered telehealth These HCPCS codes were developed by CMS for virtual communication Do not use POS 02 or … [Read more...]
Interprofessional Internet Consultations
CMS recognizes and pays for six codes for interprofessional consults codes 99446–99449, 99451, 99452 These are not considered telehealth services. … [Read more...]
CPT® codes for fine needle aspiration
Fine needle aspiration biopsy Material is aspirated with a fine needle and the cells are examined cytologically Core needle biopsy is … [Read more...]
Codes for skin biopsies
CPT updated certain skin biopsy codes in 2019 The codes for excision of benign and malignant lesions did not change, and codes for shave biopsies … [Read more...]