I have a question regarding the billing of a tongue-tie release procedure. There seems to be some question between using CPT 40819 and CPT 41115. The problem is that the doctor refers to the procedure as a frenulectomy and feels that 40819 is correct. I disagree because 40819 is for the labial or buccal frenum and the procedure we are doing is for the lingual frenum. Does anyone else have any experience with these codes?
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Wiki Tongue-tie release
- Thread starter misty1908
- Start date
Lisa Bledsoe
True Blue
41010
Is he/she actually performing an excision of the frenum or just cutting it? We use 41010.
Is he/she actually performing an excision of the frenum or just cutting it? We use 41010.
FTessaBartels
Guest
Not 40819
You are correct that 40819 is NOT appropriate, as this code is for the labial or buccal frenum.
If doctor is simply incising frenum to allow greater range of motion of tongue, then use 41010. If doctor is excising the entire frenum, then use 41115.
F Tessa Bartels, CPC, CEMC
You are correct that 40819 is NOT appropriate, as this code is for the labial or buccal frenum.
If doctor is simply incising frenum to allow greater range of motion of tongue, then use 41010. If doctor is excising the entire frenum, then use 41115.
F Tessa Bartels, CPC, CEMC
glgallup08
New
wouldn't 41115 be a better code
41115 -removes a tight or short lingual frenum to free the tongue and allow greater range of motion. The lingual frenum is the connecting fold or membrane under the tongue that attaches it to the floor of the mouth. The physician makes incisions in the frenum both near the tongue and near the mandible, which ultimately connect as they move posteriorly. The frenum is excised. The surgical wound may be sutured.
40819 - removal of the labial or buccal frenum. The buccal frenum is a band of mucosal membrane that connects the alveolar (dental) ridge to the cheek and separates the lip vestibule from the cheek vestibule. The labial frenum is a connecting fold of mucous membrane that joins the lip to the gums at the inside midcenter. Incisions are made around the frenum and through the mucosa and submucosa. The underlying muscle is removed as well. The excision may extend to the interincisal papilla. The mucosa is closed simply, or the physician may rearrange the tissue as in a Z-plasty technique.
41115 -removes a tight or short lingual frenum to free the tongue and allow greater range of motion. The lingual frenum is the connecting fold or membrane under the tongue that attaches it to the floor of the mouth. The physician makes incisions in the frenum both near the tongue and near the mandible, which ultimately connect as they move posteriorly. The frenum is excised. The surgical wound may be sutured.
40819 - removal of the labial or buccal frenum. The buccal frenum is a band of mucosal membrane that connects the alveolar (dental) ridge to the cheek and separates the lip vestibule from the cheek vestibule. The labial frenum is a connecting fold of mucous membrane that joins the lip to the gums at the inside midcenter. Incisions are made around the frenum and through the mucosa and submucosa. The underlying muscle is removed as well. The excision may extend to the interincisal papilla. The mucosa is closed simply, or the physician may rearrange the tissue as in a Z-plasty technique.
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freespririt0806
Guru
41010 if he is just cutting it to allow better range of movement