Dermatology Coding Alert
Include Lesion Removal in Tissue Transfer
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Question: If the dermatologist performs an adjacent tissue transfer, can I also code for a lesion removal? Answer: No. Unlike intermediate or complex closures, you cannot report lesion removal if the dermatologist performed adjacent tissue transfer, because the tissue transfer is part of the lesion removal.
Georgia Subscriber
After the scar is excised and debrided, the dermatologist performs an adjacent tissue transfer to repair the wound.
If you report adjacent tissue repair, the tissue transfer includes the repair, so don't code separately for the tissue repair.
You should code the tissue transfer procedure as 14040 (Adjacent tissue transfer or rearrangement, forehead, cheeks, chin, mouth, neck, axillae, genitalia, hands and/or feet; defect 10 sq cm or less) or 14041 (... defect 10.1 sq cm to 30.0 sq cm).
Like the repair codes, size (in square centimeters) and the location of the defect determine the adjacent tissue transfer codes. However, when coding a defect that is more than 30 sq cm, report 14300 (Adjacent tissue transfer or rearrangement, more than 30 sq cm, unusual or complicated, any area) regardless of the location on the body.
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