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Dermatology Coding Alert

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Candida Antigen

Published on Thu Oct 30, 2014 Print Friendly and PDF PDF

Question: My dermatologist uses candida antigen for wart destruction. Previously, I used code 17110 for destruction of warts. I think that I should bill code 11900 with add-on J3490. Or shouldn’t I?

Illinois Subscriber

Answer:  Candida antigen injection is a relatively new method for treating warts, not approved by the FDA. In this case, using the code 17110 (Destruction [e.g., laser surgery, electrosurgery, cryosurgery, chemosurgery, surgical curettement], of benign lesions other than skin tags or cutaneous vascular proliferative lesions; up to 14 lesions) is the safer way to go.
 
Old school: In the past, you coded wart removal with 17000-17003, but revisions to these codes were made in 2007. Today, 17110-17111 is primarily used. The difference is that the old codes previously also included “all benign or premalignant lesions (e.g., actinic keratoses).”
 
Remember, code 17110 covers up to 14 lesions; report 17111 for 15 lesions or more.

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