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 CodesSurgical Procedures on the NailsCPT cpt-11755-nail-unit-biopsy
    Ask Trek AI about this page

    CPT 11755: Biopsy of Nail Plate, Bed, or Folds

    Medicare pays $124 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 11755 describes a physician-performed biopsy of the nail apparatus, including biopsy of the nail plate, nail bed, hyponychium, proximal nail folds, or lateral nail folds; each distinct biopsy site is reported separately. Service type: minor surgical biopsy of the nail unit. Typical site of service: office or outpatient dermatology clinic where skin and nail surgical procedures are performed. Data not available in the input.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Lymphedema - Surgical Treatment - Medical Policy, Breast Reduction (Mammoplasty) Surgery, Mastectomy Treatment, Breast Reconstruction and Mastectomy Hospital Stays Mandates.

    Customize your policy alerts

    Sign up for cpt 11755 policy alerts

    Get alerted when payer policies referencing 11755 are released or updated.

    Monitor payer policy activity

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

    Table of contents

    Progress1 / 6

    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

    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A patient presents to a dermatology clinic with a painful, discolored, or dystrophic nail suspected of neoplasm, fungal infection unresponsive to therapy, or subungual hematoma. The clinician performs a focused history and targeted physical exam, documents onset, trauma, prior treatments, and appearance of the nail unit. After topical or local digital anesthesia is administered, the physician obtains a biopsy of the nail unit using techniques directed at the nail plate, nail bed, hyponychium, proximal nail fold, or lateral nail folds. Specimens are separately labeled if multiple distinct biopsy sites are obtained. The procedure is typically performed in an outpatient dermatology or podiatry office, occasionally in an ambulatory surgery center for complex cases. Specimens are submitted to pathology for histologic and/or microbiologic analysis. Post-procedure care includes local wound care instructions, pain management as needed, and follow-up to review pathology results and plan further treatment such as excision, antifungal therapy, or oncologic referral depending on findings.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    11200Removal of skin tags, multiple fibro-epithelial tags, any area; up to and including 15 lesionsMay be performed if adjacent skin lesions are removed at the same visit in addition to a nail biopsy.
    11730Avulsion of nail plate, partial or complete, simple; singlePerformed when nail plate removal is required to access the nail bed or subungual lesion before biopsy.
    88305Level IV surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examinationCommon pathology CPT code billed by the laboratory for histologic evaluation of biopsy tissue from the nail unit.
    11056Paring or cutting of benign hyperkeratotic lesion (e.g., corn, callus); single lesionMay be performed on adjacent hyperkeratotic tissue during the same visit.
    20550Injection(s); therapeutic, diagnostic, or prophylactic (single tendon sheath, ligament, or ganglion cyst)Not commonly used but may be employed for local anesthesia or corticosteroid injection in related procedures (billing considerations vary).

    Related Modifiers

    8 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    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…
    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…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    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…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    2080P0208X
    2080P0206X
    207Q00000X
    207L00000X
    225XF0002X
    331L00000X
    363LN0005X
    3747P1801X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Plastic/Reconstructive Surgery1 / 2

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Lymphedema - Surgical Treatment - Medical PolicyHealth-New-England2027-02-01
    Breast Reduction (Mammoplasty) SurgeryKaiser Permanente2027-02-01
    Mastectomy Treatment, Breast Reconstruction and Mastectomy Hospital Stays MandatesBlue Cross Blue Shield - Rhode Island2027-01-01
    Lipodystrophy Syndrome - HIV Associated - Medical PolicyHealth-New-England2026-12-01
    Abdominal Panniculectomy and Excision of Excessive Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue - Medical PolicyHealth-New-England2026-12-01
    Reduction MammaplastyBlue Cross Blue Shield - North Dakota2026-11-01
    Cosmetic and Reconstructive ProceduresAmbetter Georgia2026-11-01
    Surgical Treatment of Lipedema and Lymphedemahusky_health2026-11-01
    Rhinoplasty Medical Necessity and Site of ServicePremera Bluecross2026-10-14
    Reconstructive Breast Surgery/Mastopexy, and Management of Breast ImplantsBlue Cross Blue Shield - North Dakota2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-11719-ROUTINE-NAIL-TRIMMING-FINGERS-TOES

    CPT 11719: Trimming of Normally Developed Fingernails or Toenails

    CPT-11720-SURGICAL-NAIL-DEBRIDEMENT-1-TO-5-NAILS

    CPT 11720: Surgical Debridement of 1 to 5 Nails

    CPT-11721-SURGICAL-DEBRIDEMENT-SIX-OR-MORE-NAILS

    CPT 11721: Surgical Debridement of Six or More Nails

    CPT-11730-SINGLE-NAIL-PLATE-AVULSION

    CPT 11730: Simple Avulsion of Single Nail Plate

    CPT-11732-NAIL-PLATE-AVULSION-ADDITIONAL-NAIL

    CPT 11732: Additional Nail Plate Removal by Simple Avulsion

    CPT-11740-NAIL-HEMATOMA-EVACUATION-DRAINAGE

    CPT 11740: Evacuation of Nail Hematoma

    CPT-11750-NAIL-EXCISION-PLATE-AND-MATRIX

    CPT 11750: Excision of Nail Plate and Matrix

    CPT-11760-NAIL-BED-REPAIR

    CPT 11760: Repair of Nail Bed

    CPT-11762-NAIL-BED-REPAIR-WITH-GRAFT

    CPT 11762: Nail Bed Repair with Graft

    CPT-11765-WEDGE-EXCISION-NAIL-FOLD-INGROWN-TOENAIL

    CPT 11765: Wedge Excision of Nail Fold at Lateral Margin

    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.