Incident to billing

In addition, the Medicare data show that the number of skin biopsies has risen 34% over the past 10 years, while the number of skin cancer procedures has increased only 14%. No, these skin biopsies are not being done by extenders working for primary care doctors. Primary care docs perform only 3% of skin biopsies.

Perhaps these extenders are supervised, and their dermatologist employers just don’t want the possibility of a Medicare audit. Let me see: Dermatologists, the most accurate of all coding specialties, are willing to give up 15% of their income because they are confused by these simple rules? What do you think?

Dr. Coldiron is a past president of the American Academy of Dermatology. He is currently in private practice, but maintains a clinical assistant professorship at the University of Cincinnati. He cares for patients, teaches medical students and residents, and has several active clinical research projects. Dr. Coldiron is the author of more than 80 scientific letters, papers, and several book chapters, and he speaks frequently on a variety of topics.