General Surgery Coding Alert
Focus on Digit Modifiers
Question: Our surgeon excised masses in three different areas: one deep in the right thumb, one deep in the left index finger, and one deep in the left ring finger. Should I report three units of 26115?
Codify Subscriber
Answer: Yes, you should be able to report CPT® code 26115 (Excision, tumor or vascular malformation, soft tissue of hand or finger, subcutaneous; less than 1.5 cm) three times, if the masses were each under 1.5 cm. Append modifier 59 (Distinct procedural service) to two of the lines to indicate they were separate procedures.
Depending on your payer’s preference, you may also need to append a modifier indicating which fingers were operated on:
The “second digit” is the index finger, and the “fifth digit” is the pinky. So in your case, report:
General Surgery Coding Alert
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