AMA CPT® Assistant - 2010 Issue 8 (August)
Tongue Base Suspension (August 2010)
August 2010 page 11 Tongue Base Suspension CPT code 41512 , Tongue base suspension, permanent suture technique , was established in 2009 to report tongue base suspension that utilizes a permanent suture technique for the treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. CPT code 41500 differs from code 41512 , as code 41500 describes nonsuture (eg, K-wire) tongue base suspension. A cross-reference parenthetical note was added following code 41512 to direct users to code 41510 for suture of tongue to lip for micrognathia. With the increasing recognition of sleep disordered breathing/obstructive sleep apnea syndrome due to retrolingual airway narrowing, tongue base suspension...
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Article Overview
This CPT® Assistant article explains tongue base suspension in the setting of sleep-disordered breathing and obstructive sleep apnea. It is aimed at coding and clinical documentation audiences who need to understand the scope of the procedure, the related CPT code set context, and how the article frames FDA approval, procedure location, and distinctions among related tongue fixation procedures.
Why This Topic Matters
It helps coders and documentation specialists recognize the procedure discussed, understand the coding context around the applicable CPT code, and identify related reference points that may affect accurate reporting.
Article Sections
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Tongue Base Suspension
Introduces the procedure in the context of sleep-disordered breathing and outlines the general purpose of the article. It also notes the broader clinical setting in which the procedure is discussed.
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Description of Procedure (Code 41512)
Summarizes the operative approach and the general sequence of the procedure. It describes the major access pathways and the overall anatomic areas involved.
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Question and Answer Discussion
Addresses common coding and informational questions associated with the procedure. The section covers approval status, coding context, distinctions from a related procedure, and typical service settings.
What You Will Learn
- The clinical context for tongue base suspension in obstructive sleep apnea care
- How the article frames the CPT coding discussion for this procedure
- What general procedural steps and access routes are associated with the operation
- Which related topics the article uses to distinguish this procedure from another tongue fixation approach
- The types of service settings in which the procedure may be performed
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Coding auditors
- Clinical documentation staff
- Sleep surgery specialists
- Revenue integrity professionals
Codes Discussed
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