Using the right CPT codes for dermatology is a crucial step in ensuring your dermatology practice is properly reimbursed for services.
Your doctors are skin professionals who know how to spot any kind of skin condition and provide solutions to their patients. But staying on top of the Current Procedural Technology, better known as CPT codes, can be a challenge. Not using the correct CPT codes and modifiers can keep your dermatology practice from maximizing its revenue potential.
Knowing how to accurately bill and receive the correct reimbursement is crucial to a dermatology practice’s financial success. This requires your staff to always be familiar with the most commonly used CPT codes for dermatology and keep on top of any coding changes or modifiers.
Most Common CPT Codes For Dermatology
Some of the most commonly used CPT codes for dermatology are for the following procedures and conditions:
- Evaluation and Management (EM) – This refers to codes used to document patient encounters, from the initial new patient office visit, consultations, and regular office visits as their treatment progresses.
- Skin Biopsies – Because skin conditions are so varied, there is a long list of skin biopsy CPT codes, including codes for tangential biopsies, punch biopsies, and incisional biopsies, and the codes are different depending on whether it’s one single lesion or multiple lesions.
- Lesion Removal – There are various methods to remove lesions (whether they are benign, premalignant, or malignant), including laser, electrosurgery, cryosurgery, and chemical treatment. When multiple lesions need to be removed, you need to use the correct CPT code that shows how many were removed.
- Mohs Micrographic Surgery – This surgery is performed to remove skin cancer and is usually done in multiple stages. The CPT codes depend on which stage is being performed and which body part is being treated. There are also CPT codes for pathologic exams and the removal of tumor tissue.
- Laser Therapy and Phototherapy – Certain skin conditions can be treated with laser wavelengths like eczema and psoriasis, and there is also a wide range of cosmetic treatments. Some examples of common CPT codes include laser treatment for inflammatory skin disease, photodynamic therapy for premalignant and malignant lesions, and UV therapy.
- Skin Pathology – This refers to the study of skin and tissue using microscopes, and the codes cover procedures like surgical pathology, gross and microscopic exams, special stains, and immunohistochemistry.
As you can see, you have to be very specific to get it right when it comes to CPT codes for dermatology. Incorrect coding leads to claims denials. It can be a challenge for your staff to stay abreast of the most common codes and any changes in codes and modifiers.
But you don’t have to navigate the complexities of medical billing alone. Derm Care Billing Consultants employs a team of coding and billing experts who specialize in CPT Codes For dermatology. We use the latest in dermatology practice management company software to maximize our clients’ collections rate. You’ll have a dedicated account manager who will work with your team to reduce coding errors, manage patient onboarding, train front desk staff, deal with claims denials, and analyze your revenue cycle.
How Can Derm Care Billing Consultants help?
DCBC can help streamline your billing procedure, by allowing our expert medical coders to reduce the load for your in-house administration. By delegating coding and claims to our coders, it will free up your staff to provide better overall service.
Click here to learn more about our Dermatology Coding services
Above all, your patients benefit from efficient and accurate treatment and bill processing. If you are struggling with claims denials, reach out to Derm Care Billing Consultants and find out how we can help your practice realize its true revenue potential.
Our 2023 dermatology CPT Codes cheat sheet can be found here.
