Summary & Overview

CPT 11300: Removal of Epidermal or Dermal Lesion ≤0.5 cm

CPT code 11300 covers the removal of a single epidermal or dermal lesion 0.5 cm or smaller located on the trunk, arms, or legs. This procedure represents a common minor dermatologic surgical service delivered in outpatient settings and office clinics and is relevant to national billing and utilization because of its frequency in primary care, dermatology, and surgical practices.

Key payers discussed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context, typical sites of service, and payer coverage considerations. The publication summarizes common billing practices, benchmarks for service classification, and contextual policy considerations that affect coding and claims processing for minor skin lesion removals.

The analysis provides clinical context for appropriate use of 11300, benchmarks for utilization and billing patterns, and notes on national payer coverage trends and documentation expectations. Data gaps from the input are identified where applicable; when specific payer policy details are not available, the text notes that information is not provided in the input.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicareCPT 11300skin lesion removalminor surgerydermatologyoutpatient procedureprocedure codingsurgical excisionlesion destructionbilling guidance

Billing Code Overview

CPT code 11300 describes the removal of a single epidermal or dermal lesion measuring 0.5 cm diameter or less from the trunk, arms, or legs. This is a minor surgical procedure typically classified as a lesion excision or destruction performed by a qualified clinician.

Service type: Minor surgical skin lesion removal (excision/destruction)
Typical site of service: Office, outpatient clinic, or ambulatory surgical setting on the trunk, arms, or legs

Data not available in the input.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A typical patient is a 45-year-old adult presenting to an outpatient dermatology clinic with a small, symptomatic epidermal inclusion cyst or a benign-appearing papule located on the trunk, arm, or leg. The patient reports intermittent irritation and occasional drainage from the lesion. The dermatologist performs a focused history and physical, documents lesion size at 0.5 cm diameter or less, confirms benign appearance or patient preference for removal, obtains informed consent, and performs a simple excision or destructive removal in clinic under local anesthesia. The procedure includes cleansing, local infiltration with lidocaine (with or without epinephrine), removal of the lesion down to dermal/epidermal level, hemostasis, and dressing. Post-procedure instructions are given, wound care discussed, and specimen sent for pathology only if clinically indicated. Typical site of service is an outpatient dermatology clinic, ambulatory surgical center, or primary care office equipped for minor procedures. Billing uses 11300 for removal of a single epidermal or dermal lesion ≤0.5 cm on the trunk, arms, or legs; documentation should include lesion size, location, method of removal, anesthesia, and any complications or additional services provided.

Coding Specifications

This table lists the most clinically relevant modifiers for a minor skin lesion removal like 11300 and typical provider specialties.

Modifier	Description	When to Use

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207Q00000X	Dermatology	Dermatologists most commonly perform lesion removals and minor skin surgery.
207RR0500X	General Practice	Primary care physicians may remove small benign lesions in office.
207L00000X	Family Medicine	Family physicians perform minor skin procedures in outpatient settings.
208600000X	General Surgery	General surgeons may perform excisions when surgical expertise is required.
331K00000X	Plastic Surgery	Plastic surgeons perform excisions when reconstruction or complex closure is needed.

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`11102`	Tangential biopsy of skin (shave); single lesion	Performed when a diagnostic shave biopsy is needed prior to or instead of complete lesion removal.
`11100`	Biopsy of skin, single lesion, punch	Used when a punch biopsy is obtained for diagnostic sampling rather than full excision.
`11400`	Excision, benign lesion including margins, trunk, arms or legs; excised diameter 0.5 cm or less	Alternative code for excision of benign lesions including deeper or elliptical excisions; differentiates technique and reporting from destructive removals.
`12001`	Repair, simple, intermediate or complex for wounds on trunk, arms or legs (suture repair 2.5 cm or less)	Report when primary closure is performed following lesion excision and an appropriate repair code is required.
`99024`	Postoperative follow-up visit global period (surgical)	Used for routine follow-up care related to a procedure when billed separately per payer policy.

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