Coding Guide – Minor Surgical Procedures

This guide is taken from our webinar “Coding for Minor Surgical Procedures”. Medical practitioners often find it easier to do a minor procedure than to code the procedure. And coders struggle with the documentation in order to select the right type of service and the correct code within the category. Coding procedures incorrectly can result in revenue loss and in compliance risk.

This guide describes the coding rules related to lesion destruction, laceration repair, wound care, removal of foreign body and other common in-office procedures. Each procedure requires specific documentation for accurate coding. Those requirements are defined for each type of procedure.

Be sure to browse additional resources for surgical services, modifiers and the global package.

Table of Contents

Destruction of benign and pre-malignant lesions
Destruction of malignant lesions
Excision of benign and malignant lesions
Shaving of epidermal and dermal lesions
New biopsy codes
Foreign body removal
Repair
Joint injection
Cerumen removal
Active wound care management
Debridement, subcutaneous tissue and muscle
Modifier 25

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Other Coding Guides

How Physician Services are Paid

Risk Adjusted Diagnosis Coding for Medical Practices

Critical Care Services

Relevant Search Terms: billing for minor surgical procedures

Last revised May 28, 2025 - Betsy Nicoletti
Tags: general surgery_essential resource, minor procedures, primary care_essential resource

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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.