Summary & Overview
CPT 11200: Skin Tag Removal, Up to 15 Lesions
CPT code 11200 designates the removal of skin tags in any area of the body, covering up to and including 15 lesions. This minor dermatologic procedure is commonly performed in outpatient clinics and physician offices and is relevant nationally because it affects routine ambulatory dermatology billing and utilization. The code matters for clinicians, billing teams, and payers given its frequency, potential bundling with other services, and implications for coding accuracy and claims adjudication.
Key payers addressed in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find benchmarks for typical use of the code, descriptions of clinical context, and notes on common billing considerations. The publication summarizes service settings and what constitutes the covered service, highlights payer coverage scope at a national level, and identifies areas where policy or documentation commonly drive claim outcomes.
The report is intended to inform coding professionals, practice managers, and policy analysts about how CPT code 11200 is used in ambulatory care, what to expect from major payers, and which clinical scenarios align with the code definition. Data not available in the input will be noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 11200 describes removal of skin tags in any area of the body, covering procedures that remove up to and including 15 lesions. The service is a minor skin lesion removal procedure typically performed by a dermatologist, primary care clinician, or other qualified provider.
Service type: Minor skin lesion removal / dermatologic procedure
Typical site of service: Outpatient clinic, physician office, or dermatology procedure room
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult presenting to a dermatology clinic or primary care office with multiple small, pedunculated benign skin tags (acrochordons) on the neck and axillae that are symptomatic or cosmetically concerning. The provider documents a focused history noting onset, growth, symptoms (irritation, snagging), and absence of suspicious features. A targeted skin exam identifies up to 15 discrete lesions appropriate for in-office removal. The clinician discusses the procedure, obtains verbal or written consent, and documents the technique selected (snip excision with scissors, tangential shave, or electrocautery). Local anesthesia is infiltrated if needed. Lesions are removed and hemostasis achieved; specimens are rarely submitted for pathology unless atypical features are present. Procedure time is typically brief and performed in an ambulatory clinic, urgent care, or outpatient dermatology setting. Billing uses 11200 for removal of up to and including 15 skin tags, with documentation of number removed, location, and procedure details recorded in the medical record.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
25 | Significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service by the same physician on the same day of the procedure | Use when an E/M visit for a new problem or separate condition is documented on the same day as . |