How To Use cpt 11444

cpt 11444 describes the excision of a benign lesion, including margins, from the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, or mucous membrane, with a diameter of 3.1 to 4.0 cm. This article will cover the description, procedure, qualifying circumstances, appropriate usage, documentation requirements, billing guidelines, historical information, and examples of cpt 11444.

1. What is cpt 11444?

cpt 11444 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 excised lesion should have a diameter between 3.1 and 4.0 cm. This procedure also includes a simple closure, which means that the wound is closed in a single layer without any layered closure techniques.

2. Official Description

The official description of cpt 11444 is: ‘Excision, other benign lesion including margins, except skin tag (unless listed elsewhere), face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, mucous membrane excised diameter 3.1 to 4.0 cm.’

3. Procedure

1. The patient is taken to the operating room and placed on the surgical table.
2. The provider outlines the lesion with a pencil.
3. The area is washed with an antiseptic skin solution, such as Betadine.
4. Local anesthetic is applied to make the area insensitive.
5. The provider incises through the vascular inner layer of skin (dermis) and carries it down into the subcutaneous tissue (fatty layer).
6. The lesion is cut out in an oval shape using surgical instruments.
7. The excised lesion is sent to the laboratory for examination.
8. Blood flow is controlled with electrocautery, taking care not to destroy the tissue framework.
9. The wound is closed in a single layer using appropriate sutures or closure techniques.

4. Qualifying circumstances

cpt 11444 is used for the excision of benign lesions, excluding skin tags, from specific areas of the body. The lesion must be between 3.1 and 4.0 cm in diameter. The procedure should be performed by a qualified healthcare professional and include a simple closure. It is important to note that this code is not appropriate for the excision of malignant (cancerous) lesions or skin tags.

5. When to use cpt code 11444

cpt 11444 should be used when a healthcare professional performs the excision of a benign lesion, including margins, from the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, or mucous membrane, with a diameter between 3.1 and 4.0 cm. It is important to accurately measure the size of the lesion to determine if it falls within the specified range for this code. If the lesion is smaller or larger, a different code should be used.

6. Documentation requirements

To support a claim for cpt 11444, the healthcare professional must document the following information:

• Patient’s diagnosis and the medical necessity for the excision
• Location and size of the lesion
• Details of the excision procedure, including the use of local anesthesia and closure technique
• Any complications or additional procedures performed
• Pathology report, if available
• Signature of the healthcare professional performing the procedure

7. Billing guidelines

When billing for cpt 11444, ensure that the excision is performed on a benign lesion, excluding skin tags, from the specified areas of the body. The lesion should have a diameter between 3.1 and 4.0 cm. It is important to accurately document the size of the lesion and the closure technique used. cpt 11444 should not be reported if the lesion is smaller or larger than the specified range. Additionally, if multiple lesions are excised during the same session, modifier 59 may be required to indicate distinct procedural services.

8. Historical information

cpt 11444 was added to the Current Procedural Terminology system on January 1, 1990. Since its addition, there have been changes to the code description to specify the areas of the body and the diameter range of the excised lesion.

9. Similar codes to cpt 11444

There are several similar codes to cpt 11444 that describe the excision of benign lesions from different areas of the body or with different diameter ranges. Some examples 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 11443: Excision of a benign lesion, including margins, with a diameter of 2.1 to 3.0 cm
• cpt 11446: Excision of a benign lesion, including margins, with a diameter over 4.0 cm

9. Examples

1. A dermatologist performs the excision of a 3.5 cm benign lesion from a patient’s nose and closes the wound with sutures.
2. A plastic surgeon removes a 4.0 cm benign lesion from a patient’s ear and performs a simple closure.
3. An otolaryngologist excises a 3.2 cm benign lesion from a patient’s lip and uses electrocautery to control bleeding during the procedure.
4. A maxillofacial surgeon removes a 3.8 cm benign lesion from a patient’s eyelid and performs a single-layer closure.
5. A facial plastic surgeon excises a 3.6 cm benign lesion from a patient’s mucous membrane and closes the wound using appropriate closure techniques.
6. A dermatologist performs the excision of a 3.3 cm benign lesion from a patient’s face and sends the excised tissue for pathological examination.
7. An ophthalmologist removes a 3.9 cm benign lesion from a patient’s eyelid and uses electrocautery to control bleeding during the procedure.
8. A plastic surgeon excises a 3.7 cm benign lesion from a patient’s nose and performs a simple closure.
9. An otolaryngologist removes a 3.4 cm benign lesion from a patient’s lip and closes the wound with sutures.