Wiki CPT 30140 vs CPT 30802

[cokla@adventknows.com]

Hi All,
Looking for some advice on documentation variation that we are running in to. We do a large amount of in office procedures with balloon sinuplasty, Turbinate Reduction, Nasal Swell Body Reduction and more.
The documentation that our surgeons use for an in-office TR, is: Starting at the head of the inferior turbinate, tissue was removed and reduced in an anterior to posterior direction by a submucosal approach using the REFLEX ULTRA turbinate wand, along the entire length of the turbinate, resulting in submucosally reduced inferior turbinate. Lateral pressure was applied during this process to fracture the turbinate away from the septum with a freer elevator along the length of the entire inferior turbinate with surgical guidance provided by endoscope. Hemostasis was achieved with cautery.

The surgeon's state that this documentation supports CPT 30140. The coding team states that this aligns more with CPT 30802.
Any thoughts and/or suggestions would be appreciated!
Thank You!!!

 

[Papitha]

As per my review, the surgeon is right; the document supports for the CPT 30140 as there is a clear documentation of removal of tissue. 30140 is the appropriate code for the submucous resection of inferior turbinate, while 30802 is for the ablation of inferior turbinates. Additionally, the document supports for the "fracturing of the turbinate away from the septum and elevator along the entire inferior turbinate", which fits into the description of CPT 30140.



Hope this helps!