Surgical · Multi-region

11102

Biopsy of one skin lesion by shaving, scooping, or curetting tissue from the surface, without a full-thickness sample.

3 sources ↓

Medicare
$95.53
Work RVU
0.64
Global, days
0
Region
Multi-region
Drawn from CMS

Documentation requirements

What must appear in the operative or office note to support the claim.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in 3 cited references ↓

  • Lesion location and size
  • Biopsy technique (shave, scoop, saucerize, curette)
  • Reason for biopsy and clinical concern
  • Specimen sent to pathology
  • Hemostasis and dressing
  • Number of lesions biopsied by each method

Applicable modifiers

Modifiers commonly billed with this code.

Source · AMA CPT modifier descriptors · CMS NCCI Policy Manual

25 Significant separate E/M 59 Distinct service XS Separate structure F1 Modifier F2 Modifier F3 Modifier F4 Modifier F5 Modifier F6 Modifier F7 Modifier F8 Modifier F9 Modifier FA Modifier T1 Modifier T2 Modifier T3 Modifier T4 Modifier T5 Modifier T6 Modifier T7 Modifier T8 Modifier T9 Modifier TA Modifier

What this code covers

Source · Editorial summary grounded in 3 cited references ↓

11102 is a tangential skin biopsy of a single lesion. That includes shave, scoop, saucerization, and curettage when the goal is a sample for pathology. 11103 is the add-on for each additional lesion biopsied the same way.

Ortho and podiatry use it less than dermatology, but it comes up. A podiatrist biopsies a pigmented lesion on the sole, or a hand surgeon samples a suspicious growth on the dorsum of a finger. If the tissue is taken full-thickness with a punch or by incision, use the punch (11104, 11105) or incisional (11106, 11107) codes.

The biggest rule: report only one primary biopsy code per encounter. If a tangential biopsy and a punch biopsy are done on different lesions the same day, the more involved technique (incisional, then punch, then tangential) takes the primary code and the other lesion goes on its add-on. Simple closure is included. A lesion removed completely by shave removal or excision is not a biopsy. Those services have their own codes.

RVU & reimbursement

Component RVUs and Medicare national rate. Actual payment varies by GPCI locality.

Source · CMS Physician Fee Schedule, RVU26A · January 2026

Work RVU vs. total RVU

The work RVU (0.64) is the surgeon's own effort — the figure physician pay and productivity targets are built on. The total RVU (2.86) adds practice overhead and malpractice, and is what drives the Medicare payment below.

Work RVU 0.64
Practice expense RVU 2.16
Malpractice RVU 0.06
Total RVU 2.86
Medicare national rate $95.53
Global period 0 days

Payment by site of service

Medicare pays different rates by setting. HOPD typically pays substantially more than ASC for the same procedure.

Source · CMS OPPS Addendum B·ASC HCPCS payment rates·2026

SettingMedicare rate (national)
Office (PFS non-facility)
Procedure performed in physician's office
$95.53
HOPD (APC 5052)
Hospital outpatient department
$415.32
ASC (PI P3)
Ambulatory surgical center (freestanding)
$72.51

Common denial reasons

The recurring reasons claims for CPT 11102 get rejected.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in CMS NCCI edits, AAOS coding appeals, and cited references ↓

  • Two primary biopsy codes billed on one date
  • Full lesion removal coded as biopsy
  • Punch or incisional biopsy coded as tangential
  • E/M with modifier 25 when the visit was only the decision to biopsy
  • No pathology specimen documented

Frequently asked questions

Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 3 cited references ↓

01Can I bill 11102 twice for two lesions?
No. Bill 11102 once and 11103 for each additional tangential biopsy.
02What if I did a shave biopsy and a punch biopsy?
Only one primary biopsy code per encounter. The punch takes the primary slot (11104) and the shave goes on 11103.
03Is a shave removal the same as 11102?
No. If the lesion is fully removed, use the shave removal or excision codes, not biopsy.

Sources & references

Editorial content was developed using the following public sources.

  1. 01CMS Physician Fee Schedule 2026
  2. 02
    cms.gov
    https://www.cms.gov/medicare/coding-billing/national-correct-coding-initiative-ncci-edits
  3. 03
    cms.gov
    https://www.cms.gov/medicare/payment/fee-schedules/physician

Mira Scribe

Mira Scribe documents the biopsy method, lesion, and specimen sent, so the right biopsy code and add-on are clear.

See how Mira captures CPT 11102 documentation

Related CPT codes

20969 $2,322.36
Free osteocutaneous flap transfer with microvascular anastomosis, harvested from a donor site other than the iliac crest, metatarsal, or great toe, to reconstruct combined bone and soft tissue defects.
11981 $107.55
Insertion of a non-biodegradable drug delivery implant — a subcutaneous capsule or pellet placed for long-term, controlled drug release.
28305 $625.26
Osteotomy of the tarsal bones (excluding calcaneus and talus) with autograft harvest and placement to correct midfoot deformity or stabilize the bone architecture.
29720 $98.20
Repair of a spica cast, body cast, or jacket cast that has deteriorated, cracked, or loosened and requires reinforcement to maintain proper immobilization.

Ready to transform your orthopedic practice?

See how orthopedic practices are running documentation, billing, and operations on a single voice-first platform.

Request Access