The Dermatology Coding Professional: A Comprehensive Training Program
Skin procedure coding may seem simple until you have to distinguish a biopsy, shave removal, destruction, and excision, or work through the repair that followed. Lesion size, site, margins, technique, and the documentation available after pathology can all affect reporting. This course uses dermatology cases to work through those distinctions. We will cover biopsies, excisions, wound repair, destruction, Mohs surgery, office services, phototherapy, and E/M visits performed with procedures. The goal is to help experienced coders understand exactly what the provider documented, recognize when services are included or separately reportable, and explain code selection without making clinical assumptions.
Webinar Objectives
- Recognize skin, hair, and nail anatomy relevant to dermatology coding.
- Distinguish biopsy, destruction, shave removal, excision, and repair techniques in provider notes.
- Find the documented lesion site, size, margins, repair, and pathology information.
- Recognize documented clinical indicators without independently determining a diagnosis.
- Find the passages in procedure notes that support a proposed CPT code.
- Distinguish separately reportable work from services already included in another code.
- Use current CPT instructions, coding guidance and applicable edits to check code selection.
- Recognize missing, unclear or conflicting details that could affect coding accuracy.
- Know when a physician clarification is needed and when the existing record is sufficient.
- Explain coding decisions clearly to providers and clinical staff using the documented work.
Format & Logistics
Important Disclaimers
This course is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, compliance, or professional advice. Always consult your organization's legal counsel, compliance officer, or payer-specific guidance before applying any coding, billing, or documentation practice discussed here.
CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association (AMA). Healthcare Inspired is not affiliated with or endorsed by the AMA.
This course does not offer CEU credit on its own. HCi members have access to separate CEU-eligible live webinars and events as part of their membership, and this specialty course is included in qualifying HCi membership tiers.
Module 1: Foundations of Dermatology Documentation Analysis
Lesson 1.1: Your Role in Dermatology Coding
Lesson 1.2: Reading the Procedure Note
Lesson 1.3: Terms That Change the Code
Lesson 1.4: Multiple Lesions, Repairs and Visits
Lesson 1.5: Researching Dermatology Codes
Module 2: Skin Anatomy & Biopsy Documentation
Lesson 2.1: Skin Layers and Lesion Descriptions
Lesson 2.2: Biopsy Techniques
Lesson 2.3: Multiple Biopsies
Lesson 2.4: Biopsy Versus Removal
Lesson 2.5: Pathology and Diagnosis
Module 3: Lesion Excision & Repair Documentation
Lesson 3.1: Benign, Malignant and Pathology
Lesson 3.2: Excised Diameter and Margins
Lesson 3.3: Re-Excisions and Multiple Lesions
Lesson 3.4: Simple, Intermediate and Complex Repair
Lesson 3.5: Adding Repairs and Body Area Groups
Lesson 3.6: Excisions in the Dermatology Office
Module 4: Destruction & Shave Removal Documentation
Lesson 4.1: Premalignant Destruction
Lesson 4.2: Benign and Malignant Destruction
Lesson 4.3: Shave Removal
Lesson 4.4: Shave Versus Biopsy and NCCI
Module 5: Mohs Micrographic Surgery & Reconstruction Documentation
Module 5 Overview: Mohs Micrographic Surgery & Reconstruction Documentation
Module 6: Office Procedures & Injection Documentation
Module 6 Overview: Office Procedures & Injection Documentation
Module 7: Phototherapy, Medical & Cosmetic Services Documentation
Module 7 Overview: Phototherapy, Medical & Cosmetic Services Documentation
Module 8: E/M Services with Procedures & Modifiers
Module 8 Overview: E/M Services with Procedures & Modifiers
Module 9: Documentation Support, Coding Compliance & Physician Communication
Module 9 Overview: Documentation Support, Coding Compliance & Physician Communication
Module 10: Advanced Dermatology Documentation Analysis & Practical Application
Module 10 Overview: Advanced Dermatology Documentation Analysis & Practical Application