How To Use cpt 11443

cpt 11443 describes the excision of a benign lesion, including margins, from the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, or mucous membrane, with a diameter ranging from 2.1 to 3.0 cm. This article will cover the description, procedure, qualifying circumstances, appropriate usage, documentation requirements, billing guidelines, historical information, and examples of cpt 11443.

1. What is cpt 11443?

cpt 11443 is a code used to describe the excision of a benign lesion, including margins, from specific areas of the body such as the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, or mucous membrane. The diameter of the lesion being excised should range from 2.1 to 3.0 cm. This procedure may also involve a simple closure, which refers to the suturing of the wound after the excision.

2. Official Description

The official description of cpt 11443 is: ‘Excision, other benign lesion including margins, except skin tag (unless listed elsewhere), face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, mucous membrane excised diameter 2.1 to 3.0 cm.’

3. Procedure

1. The patient is taken to the operating room and positioned on the surgical table.
2. The provider outlines the lesion with a pencil.
3. The area is cleansed with an antiseptic solution.
4. Local anesthesia is administered to numb the area.
5. The provider makes an incision through the dermis, the vascular inner layer of the skin, and extends it into the subcutaneous tissue, the fatty layer beneath the skin.
6. The lesion is removed in an oval shape using surgical instruments.
7. The excised lesion is sent to the laboratory for examination.
8. Bleeding is controlled using electrocautery.
9. The wound is closed with a simple (non-layered) closure.

4. Qualifying circumstances

cpt 11443 is used for the excision of benign lesions, excluding skin tags, from specific areas of the body. The lesion being excised should have a diameter ranging from 2.1 to 3.0 cm. It is important to note that this code is not applicable for the excision of malignant lesions or skin tags. Additionally, the procedure should involve a simple closure.

5. When to use cpt code 11443

cpt 11443 should be used when a provider performs the excision of a benign lesion, including margins, from the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, or mucous membrane, with a diameter ranging from 2.1 to 3.0 cm. It is important to ensure that the lesion being excised meets these specific criteria to accurately report cpt 11443.

6. Documentation requirements

To support a claim for cpt 11443, the following documentation should be included:

• Diagnosis indicating the need for excision of the benign lesion
• Description of the lesion, including its location and size
• Date of the procedure
• Details of the excision procedure, including the use of local anesthesia and the closure technique
• Any additional procedures performed during the same session
• Signature of the provider performing the procedure

7. Billing guidelines

When billing for cpt 11443, it is important to ensure that the excision is performed on a benign lesion, excluding skin tags, with a diameter ranging from 2.1 to 3.0 cm. This code should not be reported for the excision of malignant lesions or skin tags. Additionally, it is crucial to document the procedure accurately and provide the necessary supporting documentation.

8. Historical information

cpt 11443 was added to the Current Procedural Terminology system on January 1, 1990. There have been no updates or changes to the code since its addition.

9. Similar codes to cpt 11443

Five similar codes to cpt 11443 include:

• cpt 11441: Excision of a benign lesion, including margins, with a diameter of 0.6 to 1.0 cm.
• cpt 11442: Excision of a benign lesion, including margins, with a diameter of 1.1 to 2.0 cm.
• cpt 11444: Excision of a benign lesion, including margins, with a diameter of 3.1 to 4.0 cm.
• cpt 11446: Excision of a benign lesion, including margins, with a diameter over 4 cm.
• cpt 11450: Excision of a malignant lesion, including margins, face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips; excised diameter over 4.0 cm.

9. Examples

1. A dermatologist performs the excision of a 2.5 cm benign lesion on a patient’s nose, including margins, and closes the wound with a simple closure.
2. A plastic surgeon excises a 2.8 cm benign lesion on a patient’s ear, including margins, and performs a simple closure.
3. An otolaryngologist removes a 2.2 cm benign lesion from a patient’s lip, including margins, and closes the wound with a simple closure.
4. A facial plastic surgeon performs the excision of a 2.7 cm benign lesion on a patient’s eyelid, including margins, and performs a simple closure.
5. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon excises a 2.3 cm benign lesion from a patient’s mucous membrane, including margins, and closes the wound with a simple closure.
6. A plastic surgeon removes a 2.6 cm benign lesion from a patient’s face, including margins, and performs a simple closure.
7. An ophthalmologist performs the excision of a 2.4 cm benign lesion on a patient’s eyelid, including margins, and closes the wound with a simple closure.
8. A dermatologist excises a 2.1 cm benign lesion from a patient’s nose, including margins, and performs a simple closure.
9. A plastic surgeon removes a 2.9 cm benign lesion from a patient’s lip, including margins, and closes the wound with a simple closure.
10. An otolaryngologist performs the excision of a 2.3 cm benign lesion on a patient’s ear, including margins, and performs a simple closure.