Per ama
CPT ASST 04/12/2010
Surgery
Respiratory System
Question
How would the following three procedures be reported when performed at the same session on an adult: -coblation of tonsils bilaterally, insertion of palatal implants, and submucosal uvular coagulation using ra-diofrequency?
Answer
The tonsillectomy should be reported with code 42826, Tonsillectomy, primary or secondary; age 12 or over; the palatal implants and radiofrequency uvular coagulation would not be reported using any specific CPT code, but code 42299, Unlisted procedure, palate, uvula, should be reported to describe both of these proce-dures. It is not appropriate to report CPT code 42160, Destruction of lesion, palate or uvula (thermal, cryo or chemical). Because the unlisted code does not identify a specific unit value or service, it is usually reported only once to identify the services provided when performing two or more procedures, which require the use of the same unlisted code. Unit values are not assigned to unlisted codes because the codes do not identify the usual procedural components or the effort/skill required for the service. However, if a payer designates that each unlisted service (the palatal implants and the uvular coagulation) should be separately reported, that may be ac-ceptable.
Also no modifiers are appended to unlisted codes
Hope this helps!