Otolaryngology Coding Alert

This revised definition will help you avoid this common turbinate coblation pitfall. Descriptors with tumor size quantifiers are among the big changes to otolaryngology codes for CPT 2010, and if you're going to correctly bill these procedures, then you need to alert your physicians to specify these excision or radical resection dimensions in their documentation. Here's the good news: Expanding your excision, radial resection, and ablation options means that you're less likely to make coding mistakes. Examine these new otolaryngology CPT entries and start using them Jan. 1. Cut to the New Excision Code Chase When your otolaryngologist treats a patient with a really deep facial tumor, you've been stuck using 11440-11446 (Excision, other benign lesion including  margins, except skin tag [unless listed elsewhere], face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, mucous membrane ...), which are for "more for superficial lesions," explains Barbara J. Cobuzzi, MBA, CPC, CPC-H, CPC-P, CENTC, CHCC, president [...]