Billing and Coding: Destruction of Malignant Skin Lesions

This First Coast Billing and Coding Article for Local Coverage Determination (LCD) L33813 Destruction of Malignant Skin Lesions provides billing and coding guidance for frequency limitations as well as diagnosis limitations that support diagnosis to procedure code automated denials. However, services performed for any given diagnosis must meet all of the indications and limitations stated in the LCD, the general requirements for medical necessity as stated in CMS payment policy manuals, any and all existing CMS national coverage determinations, and all Medicare payment rules. Please refer to the LCD for reasonable and necessary requirements and limitations. The redetermination process may be utilized for consideration of services performed outside of the reasonable and necessary requirements in the LCD. Coding Guidelines Notice: It is not appropriate to bill Medicare for services that are not covered (as described by the entire LCD) as if they are covered. When billing for non-covered services, use the appropriate modifier. Documentation Requirements All documentation must be maintained in the patient's medical record and made available to the contractor upon request. Every page of the record must be legible and include appropriate patient identification information (e.g., complete name, dates of service[s]). The documentation must include the legible signature of the physician or non-physician practitioner responsible for and providing the care to the patient. The submitted medical record must support the use of the selected ICD-10-CM code(s). The submitted CPT/HCPCS code must describe the service performed. The medical record/progress note should indicate the removal of a malignant lesion with a corresponding pathology report or a clinical description consistent with a skin malignancy. The size and location of the lesion must be included in the documentation.