Otolaryngology Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

69310 vs. 69140: Look for Reconstruction

Question: An otolaryngologist performs a canaloplasty with osteoma excision to treat stenosis due to the osteoma. Should I report 69140 or 69310?

Virginia Subscriber Answer: Provided documentation supports a canaloplasty, such as drilling the bony canal or attaching skin grafts, you should assign 69310 (Reconstruction of external auditory canal [meatoplasty] [e.g., for stenosis due to injury, infection] [separate procedure]). This code involves reconstructing the external auditory canal.

If the otolaryngologist did not reconstruct the canal and simply excised the osteoma, you should report 69140 (Excision exostosis[es], external auditory canal). To remove an exostosis, the surgeon normally makes an incision into the external ear canal, removes the osteoma and replaces the skin.
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in Revenue Cycle Insider
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more

Other Articles in this issue of

Otolaryngology Coding Alert

View All