AMA CPT® Assistant - 2016 Issue 5 (May)
Surgery: Integumentary (Q&A) (May 2016)
May 2016 page 13 Surgery: Integumentary Question: The patient suffers from facial paralysis caused by Bell's palsy. The physician performs a bone-anchored mid-face lift, with elevation of the left nostril and left lip. What is the appropriate CPT code to report this service? Answer: There is no specific Current Procedural Terminology (CPT ® ) code that accurately describes this service. Therefore, unlisted code 17999 , Unlisted procedure, skin, mucous membrane and subcutaneous tissue, should be reported. When reporting an unlisted code to describe a procedure or service, it will be necessary to submit supporting documentation (eg, procedure report) along with...
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Article Overview
This article presents brief coding guidance for integumentary surgery questions published in May 2016. It focuses on how to recognize when a service falls outside a specific CPT® descriptor and on the general scope of device examples referenced in breast localization code language. The content is useful for coders, auditors, and billing staff reviewing surgical documentation and code selection for these topics.
Why This Topic Matters
The article helps readers understand the scope of CPT® descriptor language and identify situations where a procedure may need special reporting support. It is relevant to professionals working with surgical coding, documentation review, and claim preparation.
Article Sections
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May 2016 page 13
A short Q&A section covering coding questions related to integumentary surgery. It addresses a facial procedure reported outside a specific CPT descriptor and a separate question about breast localization device terminology.
What You Will Learn
- How the article frames coding questions in integumentary surgery
- The general purpose of unlisted procedure reporting in a Q&A context
- How CPT descriptor language is discussed for breast localization devices
- What kinds of documentation support are referenced for reporting certain services
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Coding auditors
- Billers
- Revenue cycle staff
- Surgical documentation reviewers
Codes Discussed
Code Ranges Discussed
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