2025 CPT code 17311
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Surgery - Surgical Procedures on the Integumentary System Surgery Feed
Mohs micrographic surgery; first stage, up to 5 tissue blocks.
Modifiers may be applicable depending on circumstances.Refer to the CPT manual and the NCCI guidelines for appropriate modifier use (e.g., modifier 59 for distinct procedural service, other modifiers depending on anesthesia, additional procedures, etc.).
Medical necessity is established by the presence of a histologically confirmed or clinically suspicious skin cancer requiring Mohs micrographic surgery for complete excision with minimal removal of healthy tissue.The procedure is indicated for complex or high-risk lesions, recurring cancers, or those located in sensitive areas.
The physician performs the initial surgical excision, maps and processes the tissue samples, performs the microscopic examination, and determines if further excision is necessary.They are responsible for the entire process up to five tissue blocks in the first stage.
In simple words: This is the first stage of Mohs surgery, a procedure to remove skin cancer.The doctor removes layers of tissue, checks them under a microscope to see if cancer is gone, and repeats until all cancer is removed. This code is for the initial stage, up to 5 tissue samples.
Mohs micrographic technique, including removal of all gross tumor, surgical excision of tissue specimens, mapping, color coding of specimens, microscopic examination of specimens by the surgeon, and histopathologic preparation including routine stains (e.g., hematoxylin and eosin, toluidine blue), head, neck, hands, feet, genitalia, or any location with surgery directly involving muscle, cartilage, bone, tendon, major nerves, or vessels; first stage, up to 5 tissue blocks.
Example 1: A 70-year-old male presents with a large, recurrent basal cell carcinoma on his nose. The physician performs Mohs surgery, using code 17311 for the first stage, excising up to five tissue blocks. Subsequent stages (if needed) would be billed using 17312., A 65-year-old female with a suspicious lesion on her left cheek undergoes Mohs surgery. The first stage, involving up to five tissue blocks, is coded as 17311.The pathology is reviewed intraoperatively, and additional stages are performed., A 50-year-old male presents with a highly aggressive squamous cell carcinoma on his ear. The surgeon performs Mohs surgery, initiating the procedure with 17311 (first stage, up to 5 blocks).The process requires multiple stages due to the extensive involvement of the tissue.
Detailed operative report including the number of tissue blocks examined, location and size of the lesion, description of the surgical technique, intraoperative pathology results (including maps and images if available), and any other pertinent findings. Preoperative images should be included.Post-operative instructions and follow-up plan should also be documented.
** This code is for the first stage of Mohs micrographic surgery only. Additional stages are coded separately using CPT code 17312.The number of tissue blocks processed is a crucial factor in determining the appropriate coding and reimbursement.
- Revenue Code: P5A (AMBULATORY PROCEDURES - SKIN)
- RVU: Information not available in provided text.Refer to the official CPT codebook or other relevant resources for RVU values.
- Global Days: Information not available in provided text.The global period for Mohs surgery may vary depending on the complexity of the procedure and payer guidelines.
- Payment Status: Active
- Modifier TC rule: Modifier TC (Technical Component) is not directly applicable to 17311 as it refers to the professional component of the procedure (surgeon's work). The global package likely includes the technical components.
- Fee Schedule: Information not available in provided text. Fee schedules vary by payer and location.
- Specialties:Dermatology, Surgical Oncology
- Place of Service:Office, Ambulatory Surgical Center, Hospital Outpatient