Malignant skin lesion — definitive surgical excision

Therapeutic procedures · Group T8 — Surgical operations

Schedule fee

$264.90

Benefit	Amount	Gap to fee
85%	$225.20	$39.70
75%	$198.70	$66.20

Benefit amounts as published in the schedule, not recalculated.

Fee current from 1 Jul 2026.

Descriptor · the legislated text

Malignant skin lesion (other than a malignant skin lesion covered by item 31371, 31372, 31373, 31374, 31375, 31376, 31377, 31378, 31379, 31380, 31381, 31382 or 31383), definitive surgical excision of (other than by shave excision) including repair (if performed), if: (a) the lesion is excised from nose, eyelid, eyebrow, lip, ear, digit or genitalia, or from a contiguous area; and (b) the necessary excision diameter is less than 6 mm; and (c) the excised specimen is sent for histological examination; and (d) malignancy is confirmed from the excised specimen or previous biopsy; not in association with item 45201 (Anaes.)

Markers in this descriptor

(Anaes.) — anaesthesia may be claimed separately in association with this item.

Descriptor current from 1 Nov 2025.

Written by AI — no clinician has checked this

Malignancy must be CONFIRMED before you itemise the account. For the malignant excision items (31356 to 31370, 31371 to 31376, 31386 to 31388) confirmation of malignancy must be received first; the only exceptions are the suspected-melanoma items 31377 to 31383. Excising a lesion you believe is a BCC and billing 31356 before the histology returns is the classic rejection. If the histology comes back benign, the item is 31357.

malignancy is confirmed from the excised specimen or previous biopsy — descriptor

Drafted 28 Aug 2026.

Claiming with other items

Cannot be claimed with

31371Malignant melanoma, appendageal carcinoma, malignant connective tissue…31372Malignant melanoma, appendageal carcinoma, malignant connective tissue…31373Malignant melanoma, appendageal carcinoma, malignant connective tissue…31374Malignant melanoma, appendageal carcinoma, malignant connective tissue…31375Malignant melanoma, appendageal carcinoma, malignant connective tissue…31376Malignant melanoma, appendageal carcinoma, malignant connective tissue…31377Clinically suspected melanoma, surgical excision of — nose, eyelid, eyebrow, lip, ear, digit 31378Clinically suspected melanoma, surgical excision of — nose, eyelid, eyebrow, lip, ear, digit 31379Clinically suspected melanoma, surgical excision of — face, neck, scalp, nipple‑areola complex 31380Clinically suspected melanoma, surgical excision of — face, neck, scalp, nipple‑areola complex 31381Clinically suspected melanoma, surgical excision of — any part of the body not covered by item 31382Clinically suspected melanoma, surgical excision of — any part of the body not covered by item 31383Clinically suspected melanoma, surgical excision of — any part of the body not covered by item 45201Muscle, myocutaneous or skin flap — only in association with items 31000

Explanatory notes · departmental guidance · 3

TN.8.22 Removal of Skin Lesions - (Items 31356 to 31388)

Note TN.8.22

The excision of warts and seborrheic keratoses attracts benefits on an attendance basis with the exceptions outlined in TN.8.9 of the explanatory notes to this category. Excision of pre-malignant lesions including solar keratoses where clin… Read the full note

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TN.8.125 Removal of Skin Lesions - Necessary Excision Diameter - (Items 31356 to 31388)

Note TN.8.125

The necessary excision diameter (or defect size) refers to the lesion size plus a clinically appropriate margin of healthy tissue required with the intent of complete surgical excision. Measurements should be taken prior to excision. Margin… Read the full note

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TN.8.297 Healing by secondary intention

Note TN.8.297

Healing by secondary intention is when a wound is left open to heal, instead of repairing the wound by suture, skin flap or skin graft. Items 31356, 31357, 31358, 31360, 31363, 31364, 31369, 31370, 31371, 31373, 31376, 31377, 31378, 31379, … Read the full note

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Item number	31356
Category	3 — Therapeutic procedures
Group	T8 — Surgical operations
Subheading	—
Item type	S
Fee type	N
In schedule since	1 Nov 2016
Fee current from	1 Jul 2026
GP scope	Yes · tier 2

Official page As at 1 Aug 2026