Dermatology practices have one of the highest outpatient volumes in healthcare, which makes their coding prone to errors. These mistakes cause denials at an average rate of 11.8% which means a single wrong code can cost your practice thousands of dollars. But you can save this money if your practice stays compliant with the updated CPT codes for Dermatology. It will protect your revenue, strengthen cash flow, and lower your audit risk.
This guide breaks down the major dermatology CPT codes categories and shows you how to apply them in daily billing so you can reduce denials and get paid faster.
Accurate E/M coding directly affects your payments. Many dermatology claims lose revenue because the visit level isn’t supported by proper documentation. Make sure your notes clearly show the time spent, medical decision-making, and visit complexity. That’s what justifies higher-level dermatology CPT codes like 99204 or 99215.
| 99201‑99205 | New patient office/outpatient visits. |
| 99211‑99215 | Established patient office/outpatient visits. |
Every biopsy should match the correct CPT code based on technique and medical need. Use the right code, either tangential, punch, or shave, to avoid denials. Always document the number of lesions in your note. Auditors check for that when reviewing biopsy claims like 11102–11109.
| CPT Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 11102 | Tangential biopsy of skin; single lesion. |
| 11103 | Tangential biopsy; each additional lesion. |
| 11104 | Punch biopsy of skin; single lesion. |
| 11105 | Punch biopsy; each additional lesion. |
| 11106 / 11107 | Incisional biopsy, single/additional lesions. |
| 11108 | Shave biopsy of skin; single lesion. |
| 11109 | Shave biopsy; each additional lesion. |
| 40490 | Biopsy of the lip. |
| 69100 | Biopsy of the external ear. |
Link each lesion destruction code to the right diagnosis. It helps prevent duplicate billing issues. For example, use 17000–17004 for premalignant lesions such as actinic keratoses, and 17110–17111 for benign lesions like warts or keratoses. This small detail makes a big difference in claim accuracy and ensures smooth processing with dermatology billing services.
| CPT Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 17000 | Destruction of a single premalignant lesion (e.g., actinic keratosis). |
| 17003 | Destruction of 2-14 premalignant lesions. |
| 17004 | Destruction of 15 or more premalignant lesions. |
| 17110 | Destruction of benign lesions (up to 14) other than skin tags or cutaneous vascular proliferative lesions. |
| 17111 | Destruction of benign lesions (15 or more). |
| 17125 | Destruction of benign lesions (e.g., warts, seborrheic keratosis). |
Correct documentation for size and margins is key to getting paid. Measure before anesthesia and include both the lesion and margin size in your note. Many claims get downcoded because of missing measurements. Using 11400–11646 accurately helps ensure your dermatology billing stays compliant.
| CPT Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 11400–11446 | Excision of benign skin lesions. |
| 11400 | Excision of a benign lesion (less than 0.5 cm). |
| 11401–11406 | Size-dependent excision for benign lesions (e.g., 0.5–1.0 cm, 1.1–2.0 cm). |
| 11600–11646 | Excision of malignant lesions. |
| 11600 | Excision of malignant lesion (less than 0.5 cm). |
| 11601–11606 | Size-based excision codes for malignant lesions (e.g., 0.5–1.0 cm, 1.1–2.0 cm). |
| 11620 | Malignant lesion excision of scalp (1.1–2.0 cm). |
| 11621 | Malignant lesion excision of scalp (2.1–3.0 cm). |
| 11622 | Malignant lesion excision of scalp (greater than 3.0 cm). |
Mohs procedures require precise documentation. Each stage and mapped section should clearly show the site and the number of stages performed. If you bill 17311–17315, always include this information. Proper documentation protects you during audits and supports correct reimbursement.
| CPT Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 17311 | Mohs first stage, single lesion, head/neck/hands/feet/genitalia/complicated sites. |
| 17312 | Mohs' additional stage, head/neck/hands/feet/genitalia/complicated sites. |
| 17313 | Mohs' first stage, trunk/arms/legs. |
| 17314 | Mohs' additional stage, trunk/arms/legs. |
| 17315 | Mohs micrographic surgery, each additional stage, any location. |
Choose the closure code based on how complex the repair actually is. Simple, intermediate, or complex closures must match what’s described in your operative note. Photos or measurements can help back up your claim during an audit. For layered repairs, use the highest complexity code once per area.
| CPT Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 12001–12018 | Simple wound repair. |
| 12001 | Simple repair (less than 2.5 cm) of the face, ears, eyelids, nose, and lips. |
| 12002 | Simple repair (2.5 to 5.0 cm) of the face, ears, eyelids, nose, and lips. |
| 12004 | Simple repair (less than 2.5 cm) scalp, neck, hands, feet. |
| 12031–12051 | Intermediate wound repair. |
| 12031 | Intermediate repair (less than 2.5 cm) of the face, ears, eyelids, nose, and lips. |
| 12032 | Intermediate repair (2.5 to 5.0 cm) face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips. |
| 13100–13152 | Complex wound repair. |
| 13100 | Complex repair (less than 2.5 cm) of the face, ears, eyelids, nose, and lips. |
| 13110 | Complex repair (2.5 to 5.0 cm) of the face, ears, eyelids, nose, and lips. |
Document every detail for light or laser treatments, including the duration, energy level, and treated site. For photodynamic therapy (96567), note that it was used for a medical reason and not cosmetic purposes. This keeps your claim compliant and prevents payment delays.
| CPT Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 96900 | Actinotherapy without tar/petrolatum/psoralens. |
| 96910 | Photochemotherapy (tar & UVB, petrolatum & UVB). |
| 96567 | Photodynamic therapy to destroy premalignant or malignant lesions using photosensitive drugs. |
Each biopsy should have a matching pathology report. When billing 88304–88341, include the specimen type and note if you used special stains or IHC. Missing details can lead to lost revenue. Always confirm that your lab partner uses the correct dermatology CPT codes, too.
| CPT Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 88304 | Level III surgical pathology, gross & microscopic exam. |
| 88305 | Level IV surgical pathology, gross & microscopic exam. |
| 88312 | Special stain, including interpretation/report. |
| 88341 | Immunohistochemistry (IHC) or immunocytochemistry (ICC) per single antibody stain. |
Cryotherapy and lesion destruction dermatology CPT codes often overlap, so link each 17000–17004 claim to a proper diagnosis. If you use more than one treatment method on the same day, clearly document each one to avoid duplicate billing. Clear notes make reimbursement much smoother.
| CPT Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 17000 | Cryosurgery, first lesion. |
| 17003 | Cryosurgery, 2–14 lesions. |
| 17004 | Cryosurgery, 15 or more lesions. |
Dermoscopy is often underbilled in dermatology. Dermatology CPT codes 99175–99176 can be billed when the procedure helps with diagnosis, not just routine screening. Add that note to your documentation. It’s an easy way to capture legitimate revenue that many practices miss.
| CPT Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 99175 | Dermoscopy, first lesion. |
| 99176 | Dermoscopy, each additional lesion. |
| 96160 | Dermatology screening or evaluation of skin. |
Procedures under 11450 and 11900 often get miscoded when documentation is vague. Always specify if the treatment is medical or cosmetic before billing. For example, 92002 should only be used when the visual skin exam is part of a medical evaluation, not a general check.
| CPT Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 11450 | Removal of non-melanoma skin cancers. |
| 11900 | Insertion of a skin implant for aesthetic purposes. |
| 92002 | Visual examination of skin (skin cancer detection). |
Everything in dermatology revolves around clear notes like lesion size (before anesthesia), number, method used (biopsy, shave, destruction), and why it was done. If your note doesn’t back it up, it’s not billable. Auditors live off missing details.
If you evaluate a new issue, that’s an E/M. If you are only doing a biopsy for a known lesion, skip it. When both happen, use modifier -25 to show it was a distinct service.
Never submit a procedure without a diagnosis that explains why it was done. Wrong or vague linkages (like “neoplasm, unspecified”) cause denials faster than anything else.
Whether you’re biopsying, freezing, or excising, always code per lesion, not per site. Add-on codes (like 11103 or 17003) must match the count in your note. If you treated three lesions, your claim should reflect exactly that.
Every biopsy or excision should have a pathology code (88304–88305). If you skip it, it looks incomplete. If the lab bills it, make sure your clinical note still says “specimen sent for path review.”
Pre-set fields for lesion size, method, margins, closure, and number treated. Consistency = clean claims = faster payment. You’ll save hours and avoid denials.
Accurate use of dermatology CPT codes is what keeps your revenue steady and denials low. Every biopsy, excision, and skin check needs complete documentation and the right code link to ICD-10. That’s how you protect reimbursement and stay audit-proof.
Regularly review code updates, track payer rules, and make sure your EHR templates reflect current dermatology billing and coding standards. Even small changes in CPT dermatology codes, from a skin cancer screening CPT code to a CPT code for skin biopsy, can affect payment accuracy.
If you want consistent results and fewer denials, work with experienced dermatology billing services that understand the workflow, modifiers, and compliance requirements unique to dermatology practices.
By outsourcing your billing services to us, you can expect revenue growth of up to 20%
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