Primary Care Coding Alert

Question: Which code should I assign for inserting a wick in a child's ear?

Georgia Subscriber

Answer: CPT does not provide a code for placement of an ear wick, and most carriers will not separately reimburse this service. Therefore, you should include this service in the appropriate level of E/M service (99201-99215, Office visit for a new or established patient). Depending on the complexity of the disease process and the diagnosis, placing the ear wick can boost the level of medical decision-making, which in turn may increase the level of E/M service.