All codes
L173
L173 – L173
OHIP Dermatology Code · Schedule of Benefits
When to Use
- Use L173 for the excision of a single benign lesion, such as a skin tag or small seborrheic keratosis, that does not require formal surgical closure or complex pathology.
- Select L173 when performing a simple shave or snip excision where the procedure is less intensive than the excision of a malignant lesion covered under G372 or G373.
Common Pitfalls
- Billing L173 in conjunction with a minor assessment code like A007 is often rejected unless the assessment is for a separate, unrelated clinical issue.
- Submitting L173 for multiple lesions on the same day without using the appropriate multiple procedure indicator or modifier can lead to automatic payment reductions.
- Confusing L173 with excision codes that include pathology fees; L173 is strictly for the procedure and does not cover the laboratory analysis of the tissue.
Billing Tips
- If you perform multiple excisions of the same type during one visit, bill the first instance at 100% and subsequent instances at 85% or 50% depending on the specific Schedule of Benefits rules for that procedure category.
- Ensure the clinical note clearly distinguishes the procedure as a simple excision to avoid audit reclassification to a higher-paying surgical code that requires more extensive documentation.
Provider Fee$12.93
Effective: July 1, 2010
Ready to bill this code?
SnapBill makes OHIP billing simple — auto-filled codes, validation, and batch submission.