Wiki Liposuction not cosmetic

[mconnolly]

My doctor did a fat harvest from the patient leg for a vocal cord fat grafting and is using code 15879. The patient has medicare, there is no fee for this since it is considered cosmetic. My question is, should be use an unlisted code for this procedure, since he is harveting fat for vocal cord surgery, not a cosmetic procedure. I also need to know what to base the fee on whether it is an unlisted code or using the liposuction code. Thanks, would appreciate any advise.

 

[nsteinhauser]

Medicare won't pay for an unlisted code, either. Have you looked at 20926? In any case, the 'harvest' of the fat may not be separately reportable.

 

[mconnolly]

Thanks, i will check with my surgeon on that code.