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CPT 11606: Excision of Malignant Skin Lesion >4.0 cm, Trunk/Arms/Legs
CPT code 11606 designates the excision of a malignant skin lesion greater than 4.0 cm in diameter from the trunk, arms, or legs, including removal of margins. The code is used in surgical oncology and dermatologic practices to report definitive removal of large cutaneous malignancies and has implications for surgical planning, postoperative care, and billing workflows nationwide. Key payers in national coverage and reimbursement discussions include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.
This publication provides a concise reference for clinicians, billing staff, and policy analysts. Readers will find: a clear definition of the clinical service represented by CPT code 11606; the typical sites of service and service type; an overview of common related procedure codes and diagnostic associations; and the list of major payers relevant to coverage and claims processing. The content summarizes coding context needed for accurate claim submission and aligns clinical description with administrative reporting. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
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Billing Code Overview
CPT code 11606 describes the surgical excision of a malignant skin lesion, including margins, larger than 4.0 cm in diameter, located on the trunk, arms, or legs. This is an operative dermatologic procedure performed to remove cancerous skin lesions and obtain clear margins.
Service type: Surgical excision of malignant lesion
Typical site of service: Outpatient surgical suite, ambulatory surgery center, or hospital outpatient department
National Reimbursement Benchmarks
Across national payers, Medicare’s mean reimbursement of $477.10 sits below BUCA’s average commercial mean of $1,284.00, indicating a substantial gap between public and this commercial benchmark. Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealth Group show the highest mean levels ($1,861.10 and $655.50, respectively), while Aetna and Cigna are lower on average; this positions Medicare closer to the lower-middle of the payer mix and BUCA well above Medicare in average dollar terms.
Dispersion measured by the interquartile spread (P75 minus P25) is widest for Blue Cross Blue Shield at $2,130.20 and for UnitedHealth Group at $4,235.00? Wait recalc: UnitedHealth Group P75 $836.10 minus P25 $412.60 equals $423.50 — so widest is Blue Cross Blue Shield ($2,130.20) and BUCA shows a wide spread of $1,382.10. Tightest spreads are Aetna ($304.40) and Cigna ($378.70), indicating more concentrated pricing from those payers compared with the greater variability seen with Blue Cross Blue Shield and BUCA.