Clinical diagnosis of actinic keratosis identifies an elderly population at high risk of developing skin cancer.

Background: Development of actinic keratoses (AK) involves some of the same processes as nonmelanoma skin cancer and may serve as a marker for overall increased risk of skin cancer.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the risk of developing skin cancer in an elderly population with and without AK.

Methods: This was a retrospective observational study.

Coding multiple diagnoses for patient visits at which procedures were performed: no evidence for abuse by physicians.

Background: A problem area in the reimbursement of physicians is the office visit at which both procedures and evaluation/management services are performed. Insurers are concerned that frequent reporting of diagnoses unrelated to procedures may represent an abuse of the claims process.

Objective: To determine the frequency of secondary diagnoses that are present at visits at which procedures are performed and to compare the frequency with that reported in Medicare claims.