CPT Code 11042: Subcutaneous tissue debridement billing guide
CPT Code 11042 is the billing code for surgical debridement of subcutaneous tissue, including epidermis and dermis when performed, for the first 20 square centimeters of wound area. Add-on code 11045 covers each additional 20 sq cm, and the code sits within the broader 11042-11047 family that stratifies debridement by tissue depth. This guide covers […]
CPT Code 00604: Cervical spine anesthesia in sitting position
CPT code 00604 is the anesthesia code for cervical spine and cord procedures performed with the patient in the sitting, or beach chair, position. The position qualifier matters for billing because it carries 3 more ASA base units than sibling code 00600, and payers expect the anesthesia record to document the position explicitly before reimbursing […]
CPT code 11981: Insertion of drug-delivery implant (bioresorbable, biodegradable, non-biodegradable)
CPT code 11981 is the AMA’s billing code for insertion of a drug-delivery implant — bioresorbable, biodegradable, or non-biodegradable — under the descriptor the AMA revised effective January 1, 2022. The earlier descriptor covered non-biodegradable devices only; the update folded in dissolving implant types, most often billed for Nexplanon, testosterone pellets, and naltrexone implants. Correct […]
CPT Code 90791: Psychiatric diagnostic evaluation billing guide
CPT Code 90791 is the AMA’s designated code for a psychiatric diagnostic evaluation performed without a medical services component. It covers the initial comprehensive mental health assessment: gathering psychiatric history, conducting a mental status examination (MSE), establishing a diagnosis, and formulating a treatment plan. This guide covers eligible providers, documentation requirements, reimbursement rates, telehealth rules, […]
CPT code 11921: Corrective tattooing (micropigmentation), 6.1 to 20.0 sq cm
CPT code 11921 covers corrective tattooing (micropigmentation) to correct skin color defects across 6.1 to 20.0 sq cm — it is not a tattoo-removal code.
CPT Code 11300: Shaving of epidermal or dermal lesions
CPT Code 11300 is the AMA’s descriptor for shaving of epidermal or dermal lesions, single lesion, trunk, arms, or legs, with a lesion diameter of 0.5 cm or less. It is one of twelve codes in the 11300-11313 family, each distinguishing a specific combination of body site and lesion size. This reference covers every dimension […]
CPT Code 12037: Intermediate wound repair billing guide
CPT code 12037 is the top-tier code in the intermediate wound repair series, billed when a scalp, axilla, trunk, or extremity wound needs layered closure totaling more than 30.0 cm. It’s also one of the more frequently downcoded codes in the series: a missing wound-length measurement or an undocumented closure layer is enough for a […]
CPT Code 12021: Superficial wound dehiscence with packing
CPT Code 12021 is the code for treatment of superficial wound dehiscence with packing, reported when a previously closed wound reopens at the skin and subcutaneous level and the clinician manages it with packing rather than re-suturing. It is paired with CPT 12020, which describes the same clinical scenario managed by simple closure instead. Payers […]
CPT Code 12007: Simple wound repair billing guide
Wound repair billing is one of the most denial-prone areas in outpatient coding. CPT Code 12007 sits at the top of the simple repair series, covering the longest wounds in that tier – and that position makes it a frequent target for downcoding, upcoding audits, and documentation disputes. Getting the length measurement right, the anatomical […]
CPT Code 11424: Benign lesion excision billing and fee schedule
CPT Code 11424 covers excision of a benign lesion, including margins, on the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia, when the excised diameter measures 3.1 to 4.0 cm. The measurement includes the narrowest margin taken alongside the lesion itself, so a single millimeter of difference can shift a claim into the wrong size tier. For […]