Dermatology Coding Alert

Published on Fri Oct 08, 2004 PDF

Question: I am not familiar with histofreezer treatment for skin lesions. Can you tell me which CPT code I should use to report this form of therapy? Our practice generally reports codes for destruction of lesions (17000-17004 and 17260-17286), which include cryosurgery, but I am not sure this is correct. Also, what is the HCPCS code to use for the histofreezer, and what is its reimbursement? 

Virginia Subscriber

Answer: The histofreezer is a cryotherapy system that physicians use to treat skin conditions such as sesions.

You're correct to use the lesion destruction codes, such as 17000 (Destruction [e.g., laser surgery, electrosurgery, cryosurgery, chemosurgery, surgical curettement], all benign or premalignant lesions [e.g., actinic keratoses], other than skin tags or cutaneous vascular proliferative lesions; first lesion), because these codes include the method of destruction, such as cryotherapy. 

You should not report a HCPCS code to indicate the physician used the histofreezer to destroy the lesion. Carriers reimburse this procedure under the Physician Fee Schedule according to the specific destruction code you report.
 
- Answers to You Be the Coder and Reader Questions were reviewed by Pamela J. Biffle, CPC, CCS-P, an independent consultant in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and an American Academy of Professional Coders instructor; Linda Martien, CPC, CPC-H, National Healthcare Review in Woodland Hills, Calif.; and William J. Conner, MD, physician at Meridian Medical Group, a multispecialty practice in Charlotte, N.C.