coding for multiple lesion excisions

I have some questions regarding coding for multiple excisions at the same session. I read an article that stated 11440 excision of benign lesion less than 0.5cm is coded per session, not per lesion. Is this correct? Also, if a patient has 2 benign lesions of different sizes (say 0.5cm and 1.0cm), could both the 11440 and 11441 codes be used? Any other insight into coding for the various treatments for lesions of the face and eyelids would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Kate Dwyer

Auditing Certification

I know that this may be a matter of opinion, but what auditing credentials in healthcare have the most credibility?

coding for multiple lesions

11400 is not coded per session. There are some codes, like 17110, that are "up to 14 lesions" but 11400--11471 are each.

If you are excising two lesions from the same area, you will need modifier 59 to indicate that you did a second on the same location. If you are doing one from the trunk, and one from the scalp, say, then the second gets no modifier or modifier 51.

Measure the size of the excision, not the lesion. Document the excision size in the cart. Bill the code with the highest RVUs first. Wait for the path report to bill.