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Billing code

Z159A — Group 1 - E.g. Keratosis, Pyogenic Granuloma - Removal By Electrocoagulation And/or Curetting - Single Lesion

Benign lesion curetted off

Bill for completely removing one Group 1 benign lesion, such as a keratosis, by electrocoagulation or curetting.

Watch for: Paring without complete removal isn't payable; plantar warts removed this way aren't insured.

Code

Z159A

Description

Group 1 - E.g. Keratosis, Pyogenic Granuloma - Removal By Electrocoagulation And/or Curetting - Single Lesion

FHO+ basket

Covered by the FHO+ base rate payment for enrolled patients, and shadow billed at 30% (50% for Schedule 2B procedures).

Effective date

Apr 1, 2026

Termination date

No end date

Explanation

Updated October 26, 2026

Removal of one Group 1 benign lesion, such as a keratosis or pyogenic granuloma, by electrocoagulation and/or curetting. Paring alone isn't payable.

What it covers

Z159 is removal of a single Group 1 lesion (for example a keratosis or pyogenic granuloma) by electrocoagulation and/or curetting (M3).

As a Z code it is an independent operative procedure (IOP), payable in addition to an assessment (GP4).

Billing rules

• One lesion only: two lesions are Z160 and three or more Z161 (M3).
• The lesion must be completely removed: paring by any method, including curetting and/or electrocoagulation, without complete removal is not this service and is not eligible for payment (M3).
• Removal of plantar warts by electrocoagulation and/or curetting is not insured (M3, AD4). Other warts are insured only when perianal or genital, in an immunocompromised patient, or on the head or neck of an infant or child (AD4).
• Removal of lesions for cosmetic purposes, without clinical suspicion of disease or malignancy, is not an insured service (M3); such removals are billed to the patient (AD3).
• On M3, the outside-hospital add-on E542 is printed under the excision and suture codes (Z156 to Z158), not under electrocoagulation and/or curetting (M3).
• If you did the major pre-operative visit in the previous 12 months, only a minor assessment (GP/FP) or a partial assessment (specialist) is payable before the procedure that day; if the decision is made at that day's visit, that visit is the major pre-operative visit and no other assessment before the procedure is payable (GP4, SP4).
• FHO: a Schedule 2 core service and one of the Schedule 2B codes with 50% total shadow billing for enrolled patients; it also counts toward the Schedule 4 office procedures payment when done in the office (Agreement p.59 §4.4, p.81, p.88, p.67 §8.7, p.95).

Often billed with

• A007 intermediate assessment at the visit where the decision to treat is made (GP4, SP4).
• A specialist consultation, such as A085 (Plastic Surgery), when the decision to treat is made at that visit; it is then the major pre-operative visit (GP4, SP4).

Related codes: Z160, Z161, Z156, Z117, R031, A007

Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Integumentary System Surgical Procedures, Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue, Excision (with or without biopsy), Group 1, page M3; Appendix D AD3–AD4; Surgical Preamble SP4

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