Coding lesion excisions

If a patient comes in for an office visit because of a suspicious lesion and it is excised in the office the same day can an office visit be billed if the appropriate modifier is used?

re:lesion excision

Yes...BUT, make sure the documentation is clear that this is a new problem to the dr, and the decision to remove the lesion was made after the full exam/visit.

lesion

Be careful of this.

Review the article "Can we bill a low level E/M with every procedure."

CMS and the NCCI edits consider that they payment for the minor procedure includes the decision to perform it.

Patient presents with abnormal bleeding and GYN does a endometrial biopsy, yes bill both.

Patient comes in with a lesion, and doctor says, "yes, we'll zap it" bill only for the destruction.