March 14, 2019

Question:
Since the skin biopsy codes changed, I would like to ask if you know of any changes to the CPT codes for optical biopsies of the skin.  Some of these codes include:

• 96931  First lesion – cellular and sub-cellular imaging of skin;
  combined image acquisition and interpretation and report,
• 96932  image acquisition only, first lesion
• 96933  interpretation and report only, first lesion
• 96934  Each additional lesion – cellular and sub-cellular imaging of skin;
  combined image acquisition and interpretation and report,
• 96935  image acquisition only, each additional lesion
• 96936  interpretation and report only, each additional lesion

Answer:
The deletions and additions to skin biopsy codes were only to the 11100 and 11101 codes. There were no changes to the descriptors or guidelines for the codes you listed above.

*This response is based on the best information available as of 3/14/19.