May 7, 2015

Question:

I did a paramedian forehead flap after the Mohs surgeon removed the cancerous lesion from the nose. What is the CPT code for this procedure and do I need a modifier because I’m in the Mohs surgeon’s global period?

Answer:

The code is 15731 (Forehead flap with preservation of vascular pedicle (e.g., axial pattern flap, paramedian forehead flap)). You should not need a modifier because you are a different specialty (Plastic Surgery) from the Mohs surgeon (Dermatology) and payers should not consider you to be in the Mohs surgeon’s global period.