CCSD code C1230 – Eyelid lesion curettage or cryotherapy

Key takeaways

CCSD code C1230 covers curettage/cryotherapy of lesion of eyelid, a Minor procedure in chapter 4 of the CCSD schedule.

Its closest neighbors are C1210 for excising an eyelid lesion and C1420 for a skin graft to the eyelid. The note must name the method.

Bupa, AXA Health, VitalityHealth and Aviva each set their own pre-authorization and referral rules, so check the patient’s policy before treatment.

Most rejected C1230 claims trace back to a missing authorization number, a note that describes another method, or a fee above the schedule rate.

CCSD code C1230 covers curettage or cryotherapy of an eyelid lesion

CCSD code C1230 bills “Curettage/cryotherapy of lesion of eyelid,” the official descriptor in the CCSD schedule. In plain terms, the surgeon scrapes the lesion away with a curette or destroys it by freezing. The schedule rates it as a Minor procedure.

The code sits in chapter 4, Eye and orbital contents, inside section 4.2 for the eyebrow and lid. You can confirm the entry on the CCSD website or in the CCSD Technical Guide, updated October 2025. If you bill across several specialties, the full list of CCSD codes for specialists is grouped by chapter.

Knowing the descriptor is only half the job. Insurers also read the rest of the schedule entry when they price and query a claim, so it pays to know each part.

Reading the C1230 schedule entry, piece by piece

Neighboring eyelid codes are where C1230 claims go wrong

C1230 has two close neighbors in section 4.2, C1210 and C1420. Each one describes a different way of treating the eyelid. That means the method written in the note picks the code, not the lesion itself.

Here is how the three compare, and what tends to trip coders up with each one.

The diagram below turns that comparison into one question you can ask of every eyelid note.

Bupa patients add one more check. The insurer’s own code search shows descriptor-level detail for each neighbor, and our guide to Bupa CCSD codes explains how Bupa applies the schedule.

What the procedure note has to show for C1230

The note has to describe curettage or cryotherapy of an eyelid lesion in plain words. Insurers can ask for clinical notes after they pay. A note that doesn’t back the code can lead to clawback.

Take a simple example. A surgeon freezes a small lesion on a patient’s left lower lid during an outpatient visit. A note that supports C1230 would record these points.

• Indication: why the lesion needed treatment, recorded before the procedure.
• Site: which eyelid was treated, and on which side.
• Method: curettage, cryotherapy, or both, named in so many words.
• Consent: a signed consent form kept in the patient record.
• Pre-authorization number: the reference the insurer issued, where one was needed.
• Referral: the GP or consultant referral, if the insurer asks for one.

Watch the word “removed.” A reviewer can’t tell curettage from excision when the note only says the lesion was removed. That one vague word is often enough to start a query.

A clean note still won’t get paid unless the insurer agreed to the procedure first. That’s where pre-authorization comes in.

Pre-authorization for C1230 comes before the procedure, never after

Most insurers want a pre-authorization number on the claim before they’ll pay C1230. The rules depend on the insurer and the patient’s policy, so check every time.

Does approval for one patient cover the next? No. Approval is tied to one patient and one policy. A second patient with the same insurer needs their own check.

Can the rules change during the year? Yes. Insurers update policies at renewal and after CCSD schedule updates. A route that worked in January may not work in June.

Where do I check? Each insurer has its own route. The table sums up what each one expects for a procedural code like C1230.

Fees for the same code differ between insurers, and each insurer revises its schedule yearly. So review every insurer’s C1230 rate at the start of the calendar year, before your first claim goes out.

How a C1230 claim moves through Healthcode

Healthcode is the main electronic clearinghouse for UK private medical billing. Bupa, AXA Health, VitalityHealth and Aviva all prefer electronic claims through it over paper invoices. Here is the walkthrough for a C1230 claim.

1. Open a new invoice. Start it in Healthcode, or in practice management software connected to it.
2. Enter patient and insurer details. Add the membership number, policy number and the insurer’s Healthcode identifier. Errors here get the claim rejected at receipt.
3. Add the pre-authorization number. Enter the reference the insurer issued for this C1230 procedure.
4. Enter C1230 as the procedure code. Check that the note still describes curettage or cryotherapy of an eyelid lesion.
5. Add the fee. For insured patients, keep it within the insurer’s current schedule rate unless you have agreed a different fee.
6. Attach documents if asked. Some insurers want the procedure note, referral letter or consent record sent with the claim.
7. Review and submit. Save the submission reference in case of an audit.

Steps two and three are where claims stall most often. One wrong digit in a membership number sends the claim straight back to you.

Before you submit a C1230 claim, run this checklist

These checks take about a minute. Each one lines up with a common rejection reason, so a clean pass here saves a resubmission later.

• The note names curettage or cryotherapy, plus the eyelid treated.
• The code is C1230, not C1210 or C1420.
• A pre-authorization number is on the claim, if the insurer required one.
• The referral letter is on file, and attached if the insurer asks for it.
• The membership and policy numbers match the insurer’s records.
• The fee sits at or below the insurer’s current schedule rate.
• No extra line item repeats work the C1230 fee already covers.

Common C1230 mistakes, and how to fix each one

Rejected C1230 claims tend to follow a few repeat patterns. The table pairs each one with its fix.

Picking the wrong level cuts both ways. Billing C1230 when the note supports C1420 leaves money unclaimed. Billing C1230 for an excision invites a query at audit.

How claims management software keeps C1230 claims clean

Plenty of practices still track authorization numbers in a spreadsheet and retype patient details into Healthcode. Every retyped field is one more chance for a mismatch.

Practice management software like Pabau keeps the procedure note, consent form and invoice in one patient record. Its claims software for specialists pre-fills the claim from that record.

Before the claim can go, Pabau checks required fields such as membership and authorization numbers. Claims then travel straight to Healthcode, and you can follow their status from the same screen.

The result is fewer claims bounced for a missing number, and less time on the phone chasing insurers.

Send cleaner C1230 claims to UK insurers

Pabau pre-fills insurer claims from the patient record and checks required fields before you submit. Claims go straight to Healthcode, so fewer come back for missing details.

Book a demo

Conclusion

C1230 is one of the easier eyelid codes to get right, as long as the note names the method. Curettage or cryotherapy points to C1230. An excision or a graft points somewhere else.

So make the method a required field in your eyelid procedure note, and get pre-authorization before you book the patient in. Do both, and most C1230 queries never start. The cost is a little more structure at the point of care, and it pays back when the remittance arrives.

Book a demo to see how Pabau helps UK private practices send C1230 claims with the right details the first time.

Continue your research

Treating skin lesions elsewhere on the body? CCSD S1110 covers curettage or cryotherapy of up to three skin lesions, including cauterization.

Treating four or more skin lesions? CCSD S0820 covers curettage and cryotherapy when four or more skin lesions are treated.

Billing an eyelid lesion in the US? CPT 67840 explains the US procedure code for excising an eyelid lesion.

Coding other chapter 4 eye procedures? CCSD C0122 covers eye removal with an orbital implant and the codes around it.

Billing Bupa patients? Bupa CCSD codes guide explains how Bupa applies the schedule to fees and claim submission.

Frequently asked questions