Coding from the Op Note:
Add $368 in Ethical Reimbursement to Your Cyst Excision Claims
Published on Mon Mar 19, 2012
Mixing up branchial and preauricular cysts can put you in the wrong CPT section. Unless you grasp neck and ear anatomy, you could cut precious dollars for your otolaryngology practice. If your ENT performs a facial tissue transfer (14040) and you report branchial cleft cyst excision (42810) instead, you'll lose 10.82 relative value units -- which is $368 of lost revenue. See if your vocab is up to par by examining the following operative report. Code This Excision Procedure: Excision of left preauricular first branchial cleft sinus tract in a previously operated field. Pre-/postoperative diagnosis(es): Recurrent left preauricular first branchial cleft sinus tract. Note: This procedure qualifies for modifier 22 because it is a revision surgery in a previously operated field. Specimens sent to lab: Overlying skin plus the deep sinus tract. Indications for surgery: Recurrent left preauricular sinus tract. Findings in surgery: Scarred preauricular areas from previous excision with no [...]
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