Dermatology Coding Alert

READER QUESTIONS:

Apply 2 Units Only With Drugs or Timed Codes

Question: Can I bill 17250 with two units?

Massachusetts Subscriber

Answer: You may not use units greater than 1 for any surgical procedure, or any procedure that does not come as a quantity distribution like timed codes or drugs.

What happens: In 17250 (Chemical cauterization of granulation tissue [proud flesh, sinus or fistula]), the physician applies a small amount of silver nitrate stick over the lesion's tip and destroys the lesion with a cauterizing device. A common diagnostic example for the code is pyogenic granuloma of toe.

Other Articles in this issue of

Dermatology Coding Alert

View All