Dermatology Coding Alert

Published on Tue Jun 08, 2004 PDF

Question: Would you use 15000 for site preparation/ excision of basal cell carcinmoa with 15732? If not, please tell me which codes I can use with 15000?

Louisiana Subscriber

Answer: You should report 15000 (Surgical preparation or creation of recipient site by excision of open wounds, burn eschar, or scar [including subcutaneous tissues]; first 100 sq cm or one percent of body area of infants and children) for the initial wound preparation (recipient side). You should also report 15732 (Muscle, myocutaneous, or fasciocutaneous flap; head and neck [e.g., temporalis, masseter muscle, sternocleido-mastoid, levator scapulae) for the actual repair (grafting) of the defect arising from excising the lesion. Finally, also report the excision code for a malignant lesion, 11600-11646 (Excision, malignant lesion including margins, ...). You can report 15000 in addition to any excision of a lesion if the dermatologist prepares the site to receive a graft or other application. The closure defects the surgeon creates by excision of a lesion may require intermediate or complex closure. You should also report this separately.