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Otolaryngology Coding Alert

READER QUESTIONS:

Don't Re-Declare Local Anesthesia on Lesion Excision

Published on Mon Oct 26, 2009

Question: My ENT wants to remove a benign lesion of the pinna, 5x8 mm with local anesthesia. Do I modify the 1144x code to reflect the use of local, not general anesthesia? Wyoming Subscriber Answer: You don't need a modifier for 11440-11446 (Excision, other benign lesion including margins, except skin tag [unless listed elsewhere], face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, mucous membrane ...). Local anesthesia is included in the procedure's description. Rule of thumb: Your code selection for removal procedure depends on the number, location, type, and size of the lesion(s). If the excision involves mainly skin, use 11440-11446.
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