What this is, in plain language
Removal of a small surface sample of skin for the lab to examine.
Why a clinician orders it
Evaluating a suspicious skin lesion for cancer, infection, or other diagnoses.
Medical necessity — what insurers usually look at
Usually covered without prior authorization. The pathology bill (88305) comes separately from the lab and may apply to a different in-network status.
Documentation to ask about
- ✓Reason for the biopsy
- ✓Description of the lesion
Questions for your provider
- ?Which lab will process the sample, and is it in my network?
- ?Will I get the result in the patient portal?
Why this code is in our seed set
Most-billed skin biopsy code since the 2019 CPT renumbering; included in the CMS Top 200 Ranked by Services.
Validated against
- •CMS Top 200 Level I CPT Codes Ranked by Services
- •AAD coding guidance on skin biopsy codes 11102–11107
- •AMA CPT code 11102 descriptor
Important: AuraCode is an educational tool. It does not provide medical, legal, or insurance advice, claims decisions, or approval guarantees. Final coverage depends on your specific plan, eligibility, diagnosis, submitted documentation, and your insurer's review.