L72.8 — Other follicular cysts of the skin and subcutaneous tissue
ICD-10-CM
Prior Authorization
No Prior Auth Required
Code is covered without prior authorization (high confidence)
Documentation Required
- Legible medical records must reference the patient's complaint or the physician's physical findings when billing with diagnosis L82.0.
- Documentation must support a significant, separately identifiable E/M service when modifier 25 is appended (separate E/M note tied to the visit and not just the procedure).
- Verify applicable procedure and global policy coding via the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Database (MPFSDB) to determine where the global surgical policy applies.
- Medical record must include relevant history, physical exam, and signs/symptoms that required the I&D procedure; diagnostic test results or the symptoms prompting tests must be recorded.
Key Coverage Criteria
- Removal of benign or malignant skin lesions is addressed per the Local Coverage Determination L33445 and related billing/coding guidance.
- Diagnosis code L82.0 (inflamed seborrheic keratosis) may be used when the medical record documents the patient's complaint or the physician's physical findings for the lesion.
- Incision and drainage (I&D) is covered when medical record documents an abscess, hematoma, seroma or other collection of the skin/subcutaneous/accessory structures requiring drainage with signs/symptoms that justify the procedure (e.g., evidence of infection, frank pus, severe pain, or failure of conservative measures).
- For podiatry (specialty 48), CPT codes 10060, 10061 or 10160 are payable when billed with ICD-10-CM codes L02.611, L02.612 or L98.8 only.
- CPT code 10140 is payable only when billed with the specified ICD-10-CM codes listed in the policy (multiple S- and L- codes for traumatic or specific skin conditions as enumerated).
- Excision of a benign skin lesion is covered when there is clinical suspicion of malignancy (e.g., ICD-10-CM D48.5) documented in the medical record.
14 Active Policies
L35498 — Removal of Benign Skin Lesions
J05
A57482 — Billing and Coding: Removal of Benign Skin Lesions
J05
A56766 — Billing and Coding: Incision and Drainage (I&D) of Abscess of Skin, Subcutaneous and Accessory Structures
J06
L33563 — Incision and Drainage (I & D) of Abscess of Skin, Subcutaneous and Accessory Structures
J06
Related Codes
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