SUPERSEDED LCD Reference Article Billing and Coding Article

Billing and Coding: Mohs Micrographic Surgery (MMS)

A56732

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Draft Articles are works in progress and not necessarily a reflection of the current billing and coding practices. Revisions to codes are carefully and thoroughly reviewed and are not intended to change the original intent of the LCD.
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General Information

Source Article ID
N/A
Article ID
A56732
Original ICD-9 Article ID
Not Applicable
Article Title
Billing and Coding: Mohs Micrographic Surgery (MMS)
Article Type
Billing and Coding
Original Effective Date
08/23/2019
Revision Effective Date
11/16/2023
Revision Ending Date
01/30/2024
Retirement Date
N/A

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CMS National Coverage Policy

Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, §1833(e) prohibits Medicare payment for any claim which lacks the necessary information to process the claim.

CMS Internet-Only Manual, Pub. 100-04, Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 12, §60 Payment for Pathology Services

CMS Manual System, Pub. 100-04, Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Change Request 3458, Transmittal 434, Dated January 14, 2005, Addition of CLIA Edits to Certain Health Care Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Codes for Mohs Surgery.

Article Guidance

Article Text

The information in this article contains billing, coding or other guidelines that complement the Local Coverage Determination (LCD) for Mohs Micrographic Surgery (MMS) L33436.

To allow separate payment for a biopsy and pathology on the same day as MMS, the 59 modifier is appropriate. Modifier 59 is also appropriate when a separate skin lesion, other than the lesion for which Mohs surgery is performed, is biopsied on the same day that the Mohs surgery is performed.

If the 59 modifier is used with a skin biopsy/pathology code on the same day the MMS was performed, physician documentation should clearly indicate:

  • That the biopsy was performed on a lesion other than the lesion on which the MMS was performed;
  • That if the biopsy is of the same lesion on which the MMS was performed, a biopsy of that lesion had not been done within the previous 60 days; or
  • If a recent (within 60 days) biopsy of the same lesion that MMS was performed or had been done, the results of that biopsy were unobtainable by the Mohs surgeon using reasonable effort.

At this time, all laboratory tests covered under CLIA are edited at the CLIA certificate level. The previously mentioned Mohs micrographic surgery HCPCS codes would require either a CLIA certificate of registration (certificate type code 9), a CLIA certificate of compliance (certificate type code 1), or a CLIA certificate of accreditation (certificate type code 3). A facility without a valid current CLIA certificate, with a current CLIA certificate of waiver (certificate type code 2), or with a current CLIA certificate for provider-performed microscopy procedures (certificate type code 4) must not be permitted to bill for these tests.

Response To Comments

Number Comment Response
1
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Coding Information

Bill Type Codes

Code Description

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Revenue Codes

Code Description

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CPT/HCPCS Codes

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CPT/HCPCS Modifiers

Group 1

(1 Code)
Group 1 Paragraph

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Group 1 Codes
Code Description
59 DISTINCT PROCEDURAL SERVICE: UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, THE PHYSICIAN MAY NEED TO INDICATE THAT A PROCEDURE OR SERVICE WAS DISTINCT OR INDEPENDENT FROM OTHER SERVICES PERFORMED ON THE SAME DAY. MODIFIER -59 IS USED TO IDENTIFY PROCEDURES/SERVICES THAT ARE NOT NORMALLY REPORTED TOGETHER, BUT ARE APPROPRIATE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES. THIS MAY REPRESENT A DIFFERENT SESSION OR PATIENT ENCOUNTER, DIFFERENT PROCEDURE OR SURGERY, DIFFERNET SITE OR ORGAN SYSTEM, SEPARATE INCISION/EXCISION, SEPARATE LESION, OR SEPARATE INJURY (OR AREA OF INJURY IN EXTENSIVE INJURIES) NOT ORDINARILY ENCOUNTERED OR PERFORMED ON THE SAME DAY BY THE SAME PHYSICIAN. HOWEVER, WHAN ANOTHER ALREADY ESTABLISHED MODIFIER IS APPROPRIATE IT SHOULD BE USED RATHER THAN MODIFIER -59. ONLY IF NO MORE DESCRIPTIVE MODIFIER IS AVAILABLE, AND THE USE OF MODIFIER -59 BEST EXPLAINS THE CIRCUMSTANCES, SHOULD MODIFIER -59 BE USED. MODIFIER CODE 09959 MAY BE USED AS AN ALTERNATE TO MODIFIER -59.
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ICD-10-CM Codes that Support Medical Necessity

Group 1

(175 Codes)
Group 1 Paragraph

The CPT®/HCPCS codes included in this LCD will be subjected to “procedure to diagnosis” editing. The following lists include only those diagnoses for which the identified CPT®/HCPCS procedures are covered. If a covered diagnosis is not on the claim, the edit will automatically deny the service as not medically necessary.

Medicare is establishing the following limited coverage for CPT®/HCPCS codes 17311, 17312, 17313, 17314 and 17315:

Group 1 Codes
Code Description
C00.0 Malignant neoplasm of external upper lip
C00.1 Malignant neoplasm of external lower lip
C00.3 Malignant neoplasm of upper lip, inner aspect
C00.4 Malignant neoplasm of lower lip, inner aspect
C00.5 Malignant neoplasm of lip, unspecified, inner aspect
C00.6 Malignant neoplasm of commissure of lip, unspecified
C00.8 Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of lip
C30.0 Malignant neoplasm of nasal cavity
C43.0 Malignant melanoma of lip
C43.111 Malignant melanoma of right upper eyelid, including canthus
C43.112 Malignant melanoma of right lower eyelid, including canthus
C43.121 Malignant melanoma of left upper eyelid, including canthus
C43.122 Malignant melanoma of left lower eyelid, including canthus
C43.21 Malignant melanoma of right ear and external auricular canal
C43.22 Malignant melanoma of left ear and external auricular canal
C43.31 Malignant melanoma of nose
C43.39 Malignant melanoma of other parts of face
C43.4 Malignant melanoma of scalp and neck
C43.52 Malignant melanoma of skin of breast
C43.59 Malignant melanoma of other part of trunk
C43.61 Malignant melanoma of right upper limb, including shoulder
C43.62 Malignant melanoma of left upper limb, including shoulder
C43.71 Malignant melanoma of right lower limb, including hip
C43.72 Malignant melanoma of left lower limb, including hip
C43.8 Malignant melanoma of overlapping sites of skin
C4A.0 Merkel cell carcinoma of lip
C4A.111 Merkel cell carcinoma of right upper eyelid, including canthus
C4A.112 Merkel cell carcinoma of right lower eyelid, including canthus
C4A.121 Merkel cell carcinoma of left upper eyelid, including canthus
C4A.122 Merkel cell carcinoma of left lower eyelid, including canthus
C4A.21 Merkel cell carcinoma of right ear and external auricular canal
C4A.22 Merkel cell carcinoma of left ear and external auricular canal
C4A.31 Merkel cell carcinoma of nose
C4A.39 Merkel cell carcinoma of other parts of face
C4A.4 Merkel cell carcinoma of scalp and neck
C4A.52 Merkel cell carcinoma of skin of breast
C4A.59 Merkel cell carcinoma of other part of trunk
C4A.61 Merkel cell carcinoma of right upper limb, including shoulder
C4A.62 Merkel cell carcinoma of left upper limb, including shoulder
C4A.71 Merkel cell carcinoma of right lower limb, including hip
C4A.72 Merkel cell carcinoma of left lower limb, including hip
C44.00 Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of lip
C44.01 Basal cell carcinoma of skin of lip
C44.02 Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of lip
C44.09 Other specified malignant neoplasm of skin of lip
C44.1021 Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of right upper eyelid, including canthus
C44.1022 Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of right lower eyelid, including canthus
C44.1091 Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of left upper eyelid, including canthus
C44.1092 Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of left lower eyelid, including canthus
C44.1121 Basal cell carcinoma of skin of right upper eyelid, including canthus
C44.1122 Basal cell carcinoma of skin of right lower eyelid, including canthus
C44.1191 Basal cell carcinoma of skin of left upper eyelid, including canthus
C44.1192 Basal cell carcinoma of skin of left lower eyelid, including canthus
C44.1221 Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of right upper eyelid, including canthus
C44.1222 Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of right lower eyelid, including canthus
C44.1291 Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of left upper eyelid, including canthus
C44.1292 Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of left lower eyelid, including canthus
C44.1321 Sebaceous cell carcinoma of skin of right upper eyelid, including canthus
C44.1322 Sebaceous cell carcinoma of skin of right lower eyelid, including canthus
C44.1391 Sebaceous cell carcinoma of skin of left upper eyelid, including canthus
C44.1392 Sebaceous cell carcinoma of skin of left lower eyelid, including canthus
C44.1921 Other specified malignant neoplasm of skin of right upper eyelid, including canthus
C44.1922 Other specified malignant neoplasm of skin of right lower eyelid, including canthus
C44.1991 Other specified malignant neoplasm of skin of left upper eyelid, including canthus
C44.1992 Other specified malignant neoplasm of skin of left lower eyelid, including canthus
C44.202 Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of right ear and external auricular canal
C44.209 Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of left ear and external auricular canal
C44.212 Basal cell carcinoma of skin of right ear and external auricular canal
C44.219 Basal cell carcinoma of skin of left ear and external auricular canal
C44.222 Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of right ear and external auricular canal
C44.229 Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of left ear and external auricular canal
C44.292 Other specified malignant neoplasm of skin of right ear and external auricular canal
C44.299 Other specified malignant neoplasm of skin of left ear and external auricular canal
C44.301 Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of nose
C44.309 Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of other parts of face
C44.311 Basal cell carcinoma of skin of nose
C44.319 Basal cell carcinoma of skin of other parts of face
C44.321 Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of nose
C44.329 Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of other parts of face
C44.391 Other specified malignant neoplasm of skin of nose
C44.399 Other specified malignant neoplasm of skin of other parts of face
C44.40 Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of scalp and neck
C44.41 Basal cell carcinoma of skin of scalp and neck
C44.42 Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of scalp and neck
C44.49 Other specified malignant neoplasm of skin of scalp and neck
C44.501 Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of breast
C44.509 Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of other part of trunk
C44.510 Basal cell carcinoma of anal skin
C44.511 Basal cell carcinoma of skin of breast
C44.519 Basal cell carcinoma of skin of other part of trunk
C44.520 Squamous cell carcinoma of anal skin
C44.521 Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of breast
C44.529 Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of other part of trunk
C44.591 Other specified malignant neoplasm of skin of breast
C44.599 Other specified malignant neoplasm of skin of other part of trunk
C44.602 Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of right upper limb, including shoulder
C44.609 Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of left upper limb, including shoulder
C44.612 Basal cell carcinoma of skin of right upper limb, including shoulder
C44.619 Basal cell carcinoma of skin of left upper limb, including shoulder
C44.622 Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of right upper limb, including shoulder
C44.629 Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of left upper limb, including shoulder
C44.692 Other specified malignant neoplasm of skin of right upper limb, including shoulder
C44.699 Other specified malignant neoplasm of skin of left upper limb, including shoulder
C44.702 Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of right lower limb, including hip
C44.709 Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of left lower limb, including hip
C44.712 Basal cell carcinoma of skin of right lower limb, including hip
C44.719 Basal cell carcinoma of skin of left lower limb, including hip
C44.722 Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of right lower limb, including hip
C44.729 Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of left lower limb, including hip
C44.792 Other specified malignant neoplasm of skin of right lower limb, including hip
C44.799 Other specified malignant neoplasm of skin of left lower limb, including hip
C49.0 Malignant neoplasm of connective and soft tissue of head, face and neck
C49.11 Malignant neoplasm of connective and soft tissue of right upper limb, including shoulder
C49.12 Malignant neoplasm of connective and soft tissue of left upper limb, including shoulder
C49.21 Malignant neoplasm of connective and soft tissue of right lower limb, including hip
C49.22 Malignant neoplasm of connective and soft tissue of left lower limb, including hip
C49.3 Malignant neoplasm of connective and soft tissue of thorax
C49.4 Malignant neoplasm of connective and soft tissue of abdomen
C49.5 Malignant neoplasm of connective and soft tissue of pelvis
C49.6 Malignant neoplasm of connective and soft tissue of trunk, unspecified
C51.0 Malignant neoplasm of labium majus
C51.1 Malignant neoplasm of labium minus
C51.2 Malignant neoplasm of clitoris
C51.8 Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of vulva
C57.7 Malignant neoplasm of other specified female genital organs
C57.8 Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of female genital organs
C60.0 Malignant neoplasm of prepuce
C60.1 Malignant neoplasm of glans penis
C60.2 Malignant neoplasm of body of penis
C60.8 Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of penis
C60.9 Malignant neoplasm of penis, unspecified
C63.2 Malignant neoplasm of scrotum
C63.7 Malignant neoplasm of other specified male genital organs
C63.8 Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of male genital organs
D00.01 Carcinoma in situ of labial mucosa and vermilion border
D03.0 Melanoma in situ of lip
D03.111 Melanoma in situ of right upper eyelid, including canthus
D03.112 Melanoma in situ of right lower eyelid, including canthus
D03.121 Melanoma in situ of left upper eyelid, including canthus
D03.122 Melanoma in situ of left lower eyelid, including canthus
D03.21 Melanoma in situ of right ear and external auricular canal
D03.22 Melanoma in situ of left ear and external auricular canal
D03.39 Melanoma in situ of other parts of face
D03.4 Melanoma in situ of scalp and neck
D03.52 Melanoma in situ of breast (skin) (soft tissue)
D03.59 Melanoma in situ of other part of trunk
D03.61 Melanoma in situ of right upper limb, including shoulder
D03.62 Melanoma in situ of left upper limb, including shoulder
D03.71 Melanoma in situ of right lower limb, including hip
D03.72 Melanoma in situ of left lower limb, including hip
D04.0 Carcinoma in situ of skin of lip
D04.111 Carcinoma in situ of skin of right upper eyelid, including canthus
D04.112 Carcinoma in situ of skin of right lower eyelid, including canthus
D04.121 Carcinoma in situ of skin of left upper eyelid, including canthus
D04.122 Carcinoma in situ of skin of left lower eyelid, including canthus
D04.21 Carcinoma in situ of skin of right ear and external auricular canal
D04.22 Carcinoma in situ of skin of left ear and external auricular canal
D04.39 Carcinoma in situ of skin of other parts of face
D04.4 Carcinoma in situ of skin of scalp and neck
D04.5 Carcinoma in situ of skin of trunk
D04.61 Carcinoma in situ of skin of right upper limb, including shoulder
D04.62 Carcinoma in situ of skin of left upper limb, including shoulder
D04.71 Carcinoma in situ of skin of right lower limb, including hip
D04.72 Carcinoma in situ of skin of left lower limb, including hip
D04.8 Carcinoma in situ of skin of other sites
D07.4 Carcinoma in situ of penis
D22.111 Melanocytic nevi of right upper eyelid, including canthus
D22.112 Melanocytic nevi of right lower eyelid, including canthus
D22.121 Melanocytic nevi of left upper eyelid, including canthus
D22.122 Melanocytic nevi of left lower eyelid, including canthus
D23.111 Other benign neoplasm of skin of right upper eyelid, including canthus
D23.112 Other benign neoplasm of skin of right lower eyelid, including canthus
D23.121 Other benign neoplasm of skin of left upper eyelid, including canthus
D23.122 Other benign neoplasm of skin of left lower eyelid, including canthus
D48.5 Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of skin
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ICD-10-CM Codes that DO NOT Support Medical Necessity

Group 1

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Group 1 Codes

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ICD-10-PCS Codes

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Group 1 Codes

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Additional ICD-10 Information

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Bill Type Codes

Contractors may specify Bill Types to help providers identify those Bill Types typically used to report this service. Absence of a Bill Type does not guarantee that the article does not apply to that Bill Type. Complete absence of all Bill Types indicates that coverage is not influenced by Bill Type and the article should be assumed to apply equally to all claims.

Code Description

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N/A

Revenue Codes

Contractors may specify Revenue Codes to help providers identify those Revenue Codes typically used to report this service. In most instances Revenue Codes are purely advisory. Unless specified in the article, services reported under other Revenue Codes are equally subject to this coverage determination. Complete absence of all Revenue Codes indicates that coverage is not influenced by Revenue Code and the article should be assumed to apply equally to all Revenue Codes.

Code Description

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Other Coding Information

Group 1

Group 1 Paragraph

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Group 1 Codes

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Coding Table Information

Excluded CPT/HCPCS Codes - Table Format
Code Descriptor Generic Name Descriptor Brand Name Exclusion Effective Date Exclusion End Date Reason for Exclusion
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Non-Excluded CPT/HCPCS Ended Codes - Table Format
Code Descriptor Generic Name Descriptor Brand Name Exclusion Effective Date Exclusion End Date Reason for Exclusion
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Revision History Information

Revision History Date Revision History Number Revision History Explanation
11/16/2023 R6

Under Article Text added the following verbiage: “If the 59 modifier is used with a skin biopsy/pathology code on the same day the MMS was performed, physician documentation should clearly indicate:

  • That the biopsy was performed on a lesion other than the lesion on which the MMS was performed;
  • That if the biopsy is of the same lesion on which the MMS was performed, a biopsy of that lesion had not been done within the previous 60 days; or
  • If a recent (within 60 days) biopsy of the same lesion that MMS was performed or had been done, the results of that biopsy were unobtainable by the Mohs surgeon using reasonable effort.

At this time, all laboratory tests covered under CLIA are edited at the CLIA certificate level. The previously mentioned Mohs micrographic surgery HCPCS codes would require either a CLIA certificate of registration (certificate type code 9), a CLIA certificate of compliance (certificate type code 1), or a CLIA certificate of accreditation (certificate type code 3). A facility without a valid current CLIA certificate, with a current CLIA certificate of waiver (certificate type code 2), or with a current CLIA certificate for provider-performed microscopy procedures (certificate type code 4) must not be permitted to bill for these tests.”

Under ICD-10-CM Codes that Support Medical Necessity Group 1: Codes added D00.01.

07/08/2021 R5

Under ICD-10 Codes that Support Medical Necessity – Group 1: Codes added codes C51.0, C51.1, C51.2, C51.8, C57.7, C57.8, C60.0, C60.1, C60.2, C60.8, C63.2, C63.7 and C63.8.

03/01/2020 R4

Under ICD-10 Codes that Support Medical Necessity – Group 1: Codes added codes C49.11, C49.12, C49.21, C49.22, C49.3, C49.4, C49.5, and C49.6. This revision has a retro-effective date of 3/1/20.

01/10/2020 R3

Under ICD-10 Codes that Support Medical Necessity – Group 1: Codes added ICD-10 code C49.0.

10/17/2019 R2

This article is being revised in order to adhere to CMS requirements per chapter 13, section 13.5.1 of the Program Integrity Manual, to remove all coding from LCDs and incorporate into related Billing and Coding Articles. Regulations regarding billing and coding were removed from the CMS National Coverage Policy section of the related Mohs Micrographic Surgery (MMS) L33436 LCD and placed in this article. Under CPT/HCPCS Modifiers added modifier 59.

08/23/2019 R1

All coding located in the Coding Information section has been removed from the related Mohs Micrographic Surgery (MMS) L33436 LCD and added to this article. Under Covered ICD-10 Group 1: Codes added ICD-10 Code C60.9.

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Associated Documents

Medicare BPM Ch 15.50.2 SAD Determinations
Medicare BPM Ch 15.50.2
Related Local Coverage Documents
LCDs
L33436 - Mohs Micrographic Surgery (MMS)
Related National Coverage Documents
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SAD Process URL 1
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SAD Process URL 2
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Statutory Requirements URLs
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Rules and Regulations URLs
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CMS Manual Explanations URLs
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Other URLs
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Public Versions
Updated On Effective Dates Status
12/20/2023 01/31/2024 - N/A Currently in Effect View
11/10/2023 11/16/2023 - 01/30/2024 Superseded You are here
Some older versions have been archived. Please visit the MCD Archive Site to retrieve them.

Keywords

  • Mohs
  • MMS