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Wiki extensive undermining

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Lujanwj

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I've scoured all CPT Assistants and I can't find any clarifications. In CPT assist 8/06 it describes undermining as wide or extensive, nothing more.

I agree 100% with you, Dr needs to document extensive or wide undermining to match CPT verbiage. With that said, closure is an integral part of that procedure and NCCI says "Most HCPCS/CPT code defined procedures include services that are integral to them". Also says "Examples of services integral to a large number of procedures include: Surgical closure and dressings". With all that, you might be fighting a loosing battle anyways.

Good Luck!
 
14000-14061

If he is truly creating a flap - i.e. adjacent tissue transfer or rearrangement, he should be coding from CPT 14000-14061. Per the guidelines in CPT you do not report the lesion removal (malignant or benign) separately with these codes.

Hope that helps.

F Tessa Bartels, CPC, CEMC
 
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