CPCA Coding for Laser Treatments 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient has 3 premalignant actinic keratoses destroyed by laser. Which CPT codes are reported?
- 17000 only
- 17000 and 17003 x2 (Correct answer)
- 17004
- 17110
Correct answer: 17000 and 17003 x2
CPT 17000 reports the first premalignant lesion and 17003 is an add-on code reported for each additional lesion (2–14 total), so two units of 17003 are added for lesions 2 and 3.
Question 2: Laser treatment for psoriasis covering 300 sq cm is reported with which CPT code?
- 96920
- 96921 (Correct answer)
- 96922
- 96567
Correct answer: 96921
CPT 96921 reports laser treatment for inflammatory skin disease (such as psoriasis) when the total treatment area is 250–500 sq cm.
Question 3: When a physician performs laser hair removal using an unlisted technique, which CPT code is most appropriate?
- 17380
- 17110
- 17999 (Correct answer)
- 0419T
Correct answer: 17999
CPT 17999 is the unlisted procedure code for the skin and subcutaneous tissue, used when no specific code describes the laser hair removal service.
Question 4: A coder is reporting destruction of cutaneous vascular lesions covering 8 sq cm via laser. Which CPT code applies?
- 17106 (Correct answer)
- 17107
- 17108
- 17110
Correct answer: 17106
CPT 17106 reports destruction of cutaneous vascular proliferative lesions with a total treatment area less than 10 sq cm.
Question 5: Which modifier is appended to a laser destruction code when the procedure is performed on the same day as a separate, significant E/M service?
- Modifier 51
- Modifier 25 (Correct answer)
- Modifier 59
- Modifier 76
Correct answer: Modifier 25
Modifier 25 is appended to the E/M code—not the procedure code—to indicate that a significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service was performed on the same day as the procedure.
Question 6: CPT 17004 is reported when how many premalignant lesions are destroyed in a single session?
- 1 lesion
- 2 to 14 lesions
- 15 or more lesions (Correct answer)
- Any number of lesions
Correct answer: 15 or more lesions
CPT 17004 is a standalone code reported when 15 or more premalignant lesions are destroyed; it replaces 17000 + 17003 when the count reaches 15.
Question 7: A laser is used to destroy 10 benign lesions other than skin tags or vascular lesions. Which CPT code is correct?
- 17110 (Correct answer)
- 17111
- 17000
- 17106
Correct answer: 17110
CPT 17110 reports destruction of benign lesions (other than skin tags or vascular lesions) when up to 14 lesions are treated in a single session.
CPCA Coding for Laser Treatments 2
A patient has 3 premalignant actinic keratoses destroyed by laser.
Which CPT codes are reported?