Loading...

    Explore
    • Policy Monitoring
    • Live Policy Feed
    • Billing Codes
    • Healthcare Providers
    • Health Insurance Payers
    • States
    • Service Lines
    • Taxonomy Codes
    Lookup tools
    • Billing Code Lookup
    • CPT Modifier Lookup
    • Provider Taxonomy Code Lookup
    • Healthcare Provider & Facility Lookup
    • Health Insurance Payer Lookup
    • Payer Contact Directory

    Policy & Benchmark Tools

    • Prior Authorization Lookup
    • Coverage Criteria Lookup
    • Timely Filing Lookup
    • Billing Code Reimbursement Rates
    • Payer Comparison Dashboard
    • Facility Comparison Dashboard
    • All tools

    Company

    • About OpenPayer
    • Data Sources
    • Trek Health
    OpenPayerby Trek Health
    LinkedInYouTube

    © 2026 Trek Health. All rights reserved.

    OpenPayer is built and maintained by Trek Health.

    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesBiopsy Procedures on the SkinCPT cpt-11102-tangential-shave-skin-biopsy-single-lesion
    Ask Trek AI about this page

    CPT 11102: Tangential (Shave) Biopsy of Single Skin Lesion

    Medicare pays $99 and commercial payers pay $203 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 11102 describes a tangential (shave) biopsy in which the provider removes a single skin lesion by shaving or scooping it out with a knife or curette; service type: dermatologic minor procedure; typical site of service: outpatient dermatology clinic or office-based procedure room.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Mohs Micrographic Surgery, Mohs Micrographic Surgery, Mohs Micrographic Surgery.

    Customize your policy alerts

    Sign up for cpt 11102 policy alerts

    Get alerted when payer policies referencing 11102 are released or updated.

    Monitor payer policy activity

    Receive email alerts as soon as relevant payer policies are published or updated.

    National Reimbursement Benchmarks

    Medicare's mean allowed amount of $99.3 sits below BUCA's average commercial mean of $202.7, indicating Medicare reimbursement is roughly half of the BUCA commercial benchmark for CPT 11102. This gap highlights how commercial arrangements can push mean rates substantially above the Medicare baseline, with BUCA representing a higher-average commercial outcome compared with Medicare's more centralized schedule.

    Comparing dispersion (P75 minus P25) across payers, Blue Cross Blue Shield has the widest interquartile spread at $115.2 ($340.7 - $219.5), followed by UnitedHealth Group at $93.6 ($170.5 - $77.9) and BUCA at $106.4 ($256.0 - $149.6). The tightest spreads belong to Aetna at $72.4 ($110.1 - $36.2) and Cigna at $93.1 ($148.4 - $54.9). These differences indicate substantial variation in mid‑range commercial pricing by payer, with Blue Cross Blue Shield showing the largest middle‑50% variability.

    Table of contents

    Progress1 / 9

    Explore openpayer tools

    • Billing CodesCPT, HCPCS, DRG & more
    • Reimbursement RatesCommercial vs. Medicare rate reports
    • Facility ComparisonBeds, revenue & payer mix
    • ProvidersHospitals & facilities
    • PayersPlans & market footprint
    • Taxonomy CodesNUCC specialty codes
    • ModifiersCPT modifiers & usage
    • Prior AuthorizationPA policies by payer & drug
    • Timely FilingFiling deadlines by payer
    • Coverage CriteriaMedical necessity by payer
    • Payer ContactsClaims, PA & appeals contacts
    View all tools
    National Payer Mean Reimbursement Rates

    State Reimbursement Rates

    State: Alaska1 / 51

    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 58-year-old patient presents to a dermatology clinic with a 6-mm raised, flesh-colored papule on the right lower eyelid noted to have slow growth over months. The clinician performs a focused history and targeted skin examination, documents lesion characteristics (size, location, color, depth, and symptoms), and obtains informed consent for a tangential (shave) biopsy. Local anesthesia (e.g., 1% lidocaine with epinephrine) is administered. Using a scalpel or curette, the clinician performs a tangential shave to remove the superficial portion of the lesion for histopathologic diagnosis. The specimen is placed in formalin, labeled, and sent to pathology; procedure details, estimated blood loss, and wound care instructions are documented. Typical sites of service include an outpatient dermatology clinic, family medicine office, or ambulatory surgical center. The service type is a minor skin surgical procedure (tangential/shave biopsy) for diagnostic evaluation of a cutaneous lesion. Typical clinical workflow includes pre-procedure assessment, local anesthetic administration, biopsy, specimen handling, immediate wound care, and post-procedure patient instructions and pathology follow-up.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    11103Biopsy of skin; each additional tangential (“shave”) lesionUse to report each additional tangential/shave lesion when more than one lesion is biopsied during the same session.

    Related Modifiers

    10 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    25CPT modifier 25 indicates that on the same day as another procedure or service, the same physician or other qualified health care professional provided a significant, separately identifiable…- When to apply: Use modifier 25 only on an E/M code to indicate the same provider delivered a significant, separately identifiable E/M service on the same day as another procedure or service — i.e.,…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    77Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…
    24Modifier 24 denotes an unrelated evaluation and management (E/M) service performed by the same physician or qualified healthcare professional during a postoperative global period. Per CPT guidance,…- Use modifier 24 when you report an evaluation and management (E/M) service performed by the same physician or same-specialty group during a procedure’s postoperative global period that is unrelated…
    50Modifier –50 (Bilateral Procedure) is appended to a CPT code when an identical procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures during the same operative session. The AMA states to add…- Use modifier -50 when the same CPT surgical, diagnostic, or radiology procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures (both sides of the body) during the same operative/session by the same…
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    79Modifier 79 indicates a surgical procedure performed during the postoperative global period of a prior surgery that is unrelated to the original procedure. Per AMA/CPT and CMS guidance, it is…- Use modifier 79 when the same physician (or same‑specialty physician in the same group) performs a surgical procedure during the postoperative global period of a prior surgery and the new procedure…
    51Modifier –51 (Multiple Procedures) is used when the same provider performs multiple procedures in the same session to identify secondary, non‑exempt procedures and indicate payment reduction logic…- Use modifier -51 when the same provider performs multiple distinct procedures during the same patient encounter: report the highest‑valued procedure first (no modifier) and append -51 to…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207N00000X
    207Q00000X
    207R00000X
    2080P0216X
    2471M1202X
    111NP0017X
    207L00000X
    163WC0400X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    4 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    D23.111Other benign neoplasm of skin of right upper eyelid, including canthus
    D23.112Other benign neoplasm of skin of right lower eyelid, including canthus
    D23.121Other benign neoplasm of skin of left upper eyelid, including canthus
    D23.122Other benign neoplasm of skin of left lower eyelid, including canthus

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Dermatology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Mohs Micrographic Surgerypremerabluecrossofwashington2027-02-05
    Mohs Micrographic Surgerypremerabluecrossofwashington2027-02-05
    Mohs Micrographic Surgerypremerabluecrossofwashington2027-02-05
    FilsuvezCigna2026-11-01
    Destruction of Pre-Malignant Skin LesionsAnthem2026-10-01
    Onychomycosis diagnostic testing and coverageOscar Health2026-10-01
    Treatment of Capillary Malformations (Port Wine Stains)universityofutahhealthplans2026-09-28
    AnzupgoCigna2026-09-15
    Hyperhidrosispriority_health_medicare2026-09-01
    Zevaskyn Coverage for Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis BullosaCigna2026-09-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-11103-TANGENTIAL-SHAVE-BIOPSY-ADDITIONAL-LESION

    CPT 11103: Additional Tangential (Shave/Curette) Skin Biopsy

    CPT-11104-PUNCH-BIOPSY-SKIN-LESION

    CPT 11104: Punch Biopsy of Skin Lesion

    CPT-11105-ADDITIONAL-PUNCH-BIOPSY-SKIN-LESION

    CPT 11105: Punch Biopsy of Additional Skin Lesion

    CPT-11106-INCISIONAL-WEDGE-SKIN-BIOPSY

    CPT 11106: Incisional or Wedge Biopsy of Skin Lesion

    CPT-11107-ADDITIONAL-SKIN-LESION-INCISIONAL-WEDGE-BIOPSY

    CPT 11107: Additional Incisional or Wedge Skin Lesion Biopsy

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
    Published by

    Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

    Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.

    Rate by payer