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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesPhotodynamic Therapy ProceduresCPT cpt-96567-photodynamic-therapy-precancerous-skin-lesion
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    CPT 96567: Photodynamic Therapy for Precancerous Skin Lesions

    Medicare pays $135 and commercial payers pay $297 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 96567 describes photodynamic therapy in which a provider applies a photosensitizing drug to a skin lesion and exposes it to a specific wavelength of light to destroy precancerous cells; service type: photodynamic therapy; typical site of service: dermatology clinic or procedure suite (outpatient).

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Onychomycosis diagnostic testing and coverage, Topical Acne-Non-Retinoid Products, Dermatology - Vtama Drug Quantity Management Policy - Per Days.

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    National Reimbursement Benchmarks

    National averages place Blue Cross Blue Shield and other commercial groups above Medicare for CPT 96567: BUCA’s mean is $296.90 versus Medicare’s mean of $135.50, so BUCA averages $161.40 higher than Medicare. This gap highlights a meaningful premium in commercial negotiated rates compared with the federal program.

    Dispersion across payers varies notably. Blue Cross Blue Shield shows one of the widest interquartile spreads (P75–P25 = $297.50), and BUCA’s spread is $226.80, indicating substantial variability among commercial contracts. UnitedHealth Group (spread = $131.40) and Cigna (spread = $148.90) are intermediate, while Aetna is the tightest by this measure (spread = $89.00). Medicare’s IQR is narrow at $20.00 across its localities, reflecting relatively consistent rates.

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    National Payer Mean Reimbursement Rates

    State Reimbursement Rates

    State: Alaska1 / 51

    Rate by payer

    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 68-year-old patient with multiple actinic keratoses on the forehead and scalp presents to a dermatology clinic for treatment. The provider evaluates the lesions, documents clinical photos and lesion locations, obtains informed consent for photodynamic therapy (PDT), and selects a topical photosensitizing agent. The clinical workflow includes lesion preparation (cleaning and, if indicated, gentle curettage of hyperkeratotic scale), application of the photosensitizing drug to the targeted skin areas, an appropriate incubation period, and exposure to a light source tuned to the required wavelength to activate the drug and destroy dysplastic keratinocytes. The procedure is typically performed in an outpatient dermatology procedure room or clinic setting and is reported once per day using 96567 regardless of number of applications. Typical documentation includes indication (e.g., L57.0), lesion locations, agent name and concentration, incubation time, light wavelength and dosage, treatment duration, patient tolerance, and post-treatment instructions. Payors commonly involved include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, BUCA, and Medicare.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    96574Photodynamic therapy with removal of hyperkeratotic (hardened, dry, scaly) skin lesions followed by photodynamic therapy

    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…
    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…
    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…
    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…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy CodeSpecialtyNotes
    207N00000XDermatology PhysicianA dermatologist is trained to diagnose and treat pediatric and adult patients with benign and malignant disorders of the skin, mouth, external genital…
    207ND0101XMOHS-Micrographic Surgery PhysicianThe highly-trained surgeons that perform Mohs Micrographic Surgery are specialists both in dermatology and pathology. With their extensive knowledge o…
    207NS0135XProcedural Dermatology PhysicianProcedural Dermatology, a subspecialty of Dermatology, encompassing a wide variety of surgical procedures and methods to remove or modify skin tissue …
    163WX0106XOccupational Health Registered NurseNursing Service Providers · Registered Nurse
    347B00000XBusA public or private organization or business licensed to provide bus services.
    101YS0200XSchool CounselorBehavioral Health & Social Service Providers · Counselor
    106H00000XMarriage & Family TherapistA marriage and family therapist is a person with a master's degree in marriage and family therapy, or a master's or doctoral degree in a related menta…
    103G00000XClinical NeuropsychologistA clinical psychologist who applies principles of assessment and intervention based upon the scientific study of human behavior as it relates to norma…

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    22 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    C44.311Basal cell carcinoma of skin of nose
    C44.319Basal cell carcinoma of skin of other parts of face
    C44.611Basal cell carcinoma of skin of unspecified upper limb, including shoulder
    C44.612Basal cell carcinoma of skin of right upper limb, including shoulder
    C44.619Basal cell carcinoma of skin of left upper limb, including shoulder
    D03.0Melanoma in situ of lip
    D04.0Carcinoma in situ of skin of lip
    D04.39Carcinoma in situ of skin of other parts of face
    D04.4Carcinoma in situ of skin of scalp and neck
    D04.5Carcinoma in situ of skin of trunk

    Showing 1–10 of 22

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Dermatology1 / 2

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Onychomycosis diagnostic testing and coverageOscar Health2026-10-01
    Topical Acne-Non-Retinoid ProductsCigna2026-08-15
    Dermatology - Vtama Drug Quantity Management Policy - Per DaysCigna2026-08-15
    Medical Necessity Guidelines: Acne and Rosacea Medicationsharvard pilgrim health care2026-08-11
    Pharmacologic Treatment of PsoriasisPremera Bluecross2026-08-01
    Winlevi (clascoterone 1% cream) — Topical AcneCigna2026-08-01
    Spevigo (spesolimab‑sbzo) for generalized pustular psoriasisUnitedHealthcare2026-08-01
    Onychomycosis Testingblue cross blue shield - louisiana2026-08-01
    Spesolimab-sbzo (Spevigoblue cross blue shield - tennessee2026-07-31
    Home ultraviolet light therapy equipment for skin conditionsselect_health2026-07-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-96570-PHOTODYNAMIC-THERAPY-DURING-ENDOSCOPY-BRONCHOSCOPY

    CPT 96570: Photodynamic Therapy During Endoscopy or Bronchoscopy

    CPT-96571-PHOTODYNAMIC-THERAPY-DURING-ENDOSCOPY-BRONCHOSCOPY

    CPT 96571: Photodynamic Therapy During Endoscopy or Bronchoscopy

    CPT-96573-PHOTODYNAMIC-THERAPY-PHOTOSENSITIZER-APPLICATION-LESION

    CPT 96573: Photodynamic Therapy with Photosensitizer Application

    CPT-96574-PHOTODYNAMIC-THERAPY-FOR-PRECANCEROUS-SKIN-LESIONS

    CPT 96574: Photodynamic Therapy for Precancerous Skin Lesions

    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.
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    Used when hyperkeratotic scale is debrided prior to PDT; may be performed immediately prior to 96567 when indicated