Wiki Cerumen Removal

[cwilson3333]

Patient came in for ear pain and ear infection.
Dr removed cerumen from ears druing this visit.

Can I charge for office visit and cerumen removal [69210]?
If not, when can this be charged?

Thanks,

CW

 

[mitchellde]

It really depends on the documentation and exactly what was done. If the ear was irrigated, then no, if the cerumen was removed to convenience the physician to be able to get a better look then no.
You may code 69210 when there is a procedure note, that specifies the use of a scoop or currette by the physician and that this was performed to benefit the patient, example to give relief from pain.

 

[MnTwins29]

CPT Assistant

If you have access to the CPT Assistant, there was an excellent article on this topic in the July 2005 edition on the requirements for using 69210. Because of copyright laws, I can't cut and paste the article here, and this publication requires a subscription, so no link to post. But if your practice or facility has CPT Assistant, check out that article. I use it many time to our physicians for education on this procedure, as I too see it used often for simple removal or irrigation.