Otolaryngology Coding Alert

Question: Our otolaryngology practice is trying to prepare now for all the upcoming coding changes. Are there any changes to auditory system CPT^® codes that we should be aware of?

New Mexico Subscriber

Answer: CPT^® 2023 includes a handful of new and revised codes that you should put on your radar. Review these modified auditory system codes, which have portions of the revised descriptors emphasized for easy reference:

• 69716 (Implantation, osseointegrated implant, skull; with magnetic transcutaneous attachment to external speech processor, within the mastoid and/or resulting in removal of less than 100 sq mm surface area of bone deep to the outer cranial cortex).
• 69717 (Revision or rReplacement (including removal of existing device), osseointegrated implant, skull; with percutaneous attachment to external speech processor)
• 69719 (… with magnetic transcutaneous attachment to external speech processor, within the mastoid and/or involving a bony defect less than 100 sq mm surface area of bone deep to the outer cranial cortex)
• 69726 (Removal, entire osseointegrated implant, skull; with percutaneous attachment to external speech processor)
• 69727 (… with magnetic transcutaneous attachment to external speech processor, within the mastoid and/or involving a bony defect less than 100 sq mm surface area of bone deep to the outer cranial cortex)

You’ll use these new codes when the attachment is outside the mastoid and the bony defect is larger:

• 69728 and 69730 will both read (… with magnetic transcutaneous attachment to external speech processor, outside the mastoid and involving a bony defect greater than or equal to 100 sq mm surface area of bone deep to the outer cranial cortex)
• 69729 will read (… with magnetic transcutaneous attachment to external speech processor, outside of the mastoid and resulting in removal of greater than or equal to 100 sq mm surface area of bone deep to the outer cranial cortex)