< Billing codes

Billing code

Z160A — Group 1 - E.g. Keratosis, Pyogenic Granuloma - Removal By Electrocoagulation And/or Curetting - Two Lesions

Two lesions curetted off

Bill for completely removing two Group 1 benign lesions, such as keratoses, by electrocoagulation or curetting.

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

Code

Z160A

Description

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

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 two Group 1 benign lesions, such as keratoses or pyogenic granulomas, by electrocoagulation and/or curetting. Paring alone isn't payable.

What it covers

Z160 is removal of two Group 1 lesions (for example keratoses or pyogenic granulomas) 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

• Z160 is for exactly two lesions: one lesion is Z159, 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 or repeat consultation, such as A086 (Plastic Surgery), when the decision to treat is made at that visit (GP4, SP4).

Related codes: Z159, Z161, Z157, Z117, R032

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

APEX checks every paid claim against the Schedule of Benefits and flags codes billed below what the visit qualified for. See how APEX works · Pricing