CPCA Coding for Laser Treatments 2

Question 1

A patient has 3 premalignant actinic keratoses destroyed by laser. Which CPT codes are reported?

Accepted Answer

17000 and 17003 x2

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

96921

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

17999

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

17106

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Modifier 25

Answer

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.

CPCA Exam Practice Test

CPCA Exam Practice Test

CPCA Coding for Laser Treatments 2