Otolaryngology Coding Alert
Let Anesthesia Guide Tympanostomy Code Choice
Question: My physician placed a ventilation tube in an eardrum but did not perform a myringotomy because the eardrum already had an existing hole. How would we code this situation?
Delaware Subscriber
Answer: You should report 69433 (Tympanostomy [requiring insertion of ventilating tube], local or topical anesthesia) or 69436 (Tympanostomy [requiring insertion of ventilating tube], general anesthesia), even though a myringotomy is not performed. Choose the code based on whether your physician used local/topical anesthesia or general anesthesia.
What you are describing is similar to removing the ear tube and putting in a new ear tube through the existing hole in the tympanic membrane. In this case, you cannot bill for a myringotomy or ear tube removal because they were not performed. Your only option is either 69433 or 69436.
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