A Guide to New Guide to Skin Biopsy and Fine Needle Aspiration Codes

October 1, 2018 marked the third mandated update to the ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS classification systems. All providers, coders and billers as well as anyone who deals with medical insurance claims needs to be aware of these changes and how to interpret them. Numerous coding changes f

or 2019 have directly impacted podiatrists.

In the past, CPT code 11100 was reported for a skin biopsy of the first lesion and 11101 for each additional lesion on the same date of service, no matter what method was used to remove the lesion. Those codes are now deleted. Beginning January 1, 2019 biopsies are being reported based on the method of removal, including tangential biopsy, punch biopsy and incisional biopsy, rendering the codes more specific.

The new CPT codes are as follows:

11102-Tangential biopsy of skin (e.g., shave, scoop, saucerize, curette) single lesion

11103-each separate/additional lesion (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure

11104-Punch biopsy of skin (including simple closure, when performed) single lesion

11105-each separate/additional lesion (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure

11106-Incisional biopsy of skin (e.g., wedge) (including simple closure, when performed) single lesion

11107-each separate/additional lesion (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure

Fine-Needle Aspiration

On January 1, 2019 the description for CPT 10021 changed from “Fine needle aspiration; without imaging guidance” to “Fine needle aspiration biopsy, without imaging guidance; first lesion”. This means that this code is only to be used for the first lesion. The new add code is 10004, definition below.

CPT 10022 will be deleted as of January 1, 2019. It did not specify the type of imaging guidance that the new codes will include.

The new CPT codes are as follows:

10004-Fine needle aspiration biopsy, without imaging guidance; each additional lesion (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)

10005-Fine needle aspiration biopsy, including ultrasound guidance; first lesion

10006-each additional lesion (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)

10007-Fine needle aspiration biopsy, including fluoroscopic guidance; first lesion

10008-each additional lesion (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)

10009-Fine needle aspiration biopsy, including CT guidance; first lesion

10010-each additional lesion (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)

10011-Fine needle aspiration biopsy, including MR guidance; first lesion

10012-each additional lesion (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)

If you need help with coding or billing regarding these changes, please call our office and we will do our best to assist you.