CPT code 21026: Excision of facial bone billing guide
CPT code 21026 bills for excision of a facial bone, performed for osteomyelitis or a bone abscess. The American Medical Association descriptor reads Excision of bone (eg, for osteomyelitis or bone abscess); facial bone(s). It sits in the musculoskeletal system section of the CPT manual, inside the 21000-21499 head subsection. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons, craniofacial […]
CPT code 77372: LINAC radiosurgery billing (formerly G0173)
HCPCS code G0173 no longer exists. CMS deleted it effective January 1, 2015, and single-session linear accelerator stereotactic radiosurgery has been billed under CPT 77372 ever since. A claim carrying G0173 today returns an invalid-code rejection rather than a payment. This reference covers CPT 77372 as it’s billed today. You get the official descriptor, the […]
CPT code 13100: Complex wound repair of the trunk
CPT code 13100 covers complex repair of a trunk wound measuring 1.1 to 2.5 cm. The measurement is the easy part. Two other things decide whether the claim pays, and neither of them shows up on a tape measure. The first is the site, because 13100 is a trunk-only code. The second is the word […]
CPT code 21810: deleted code, replacements, and billing guide
CPT code 21810 described treatment of rib fracture(s) requiring external fixation for flail chest. The American Medical Association deleted it effective January 1, 2015, so a claim carrying it today will be denied. It still turns up in legacy chargemasters, superbills and EHR order sets. Three codes took its place. They are 21811, 21812 and […]
CPT code 21705: Division of scalene muscle with rib resection
CPT code 21705: definition, descriptor, and classification CPT code 21705 covers division of the scalenus anticus muscle with resection of a cervical rib. Its official descriptor reads: Division of scalenus anticus; with resection of cervical rib. Vascular surgeons, thoracic surgeons, and orthopedic surgeons all report it after decompressing the thoracic outlet. The code sits in […]
CPT code 21433: Open treatment of panfacial fracture
CPT code 21433 covers open treatment of a Le Fort III craniofacial separation that is complicated and repaired through multiple surgical approaches. The fracture line separates the midfacial skeleton from the cranial base. Denials at this level trace back to a thin operative note or a missing modifier. They also follow the wrong pick from […]
CPT code 21196: Mandibular osteotomy billing guide (2026)
CPT code 21196 covers reconstruction of the mandibular rami and/or body by sagittal split, with internal rigid fixation. The code is inpatient-only under Medicare rules, and most commercial payers require prior authorization before surgery. The pairing that causes the most confusion is 21195 against 21196. Internal rigid fixation is what separates them, and the number […]
CPT code 12036: Intermediate wound repair billing guide
CPT code 12036 covers intermediate repair of wounds on the scalp, axillae, trunk, and extremities. The total repaired length has to land between 20.1 and 30.0 cm. Two details decide whether that claim pays. One is the number of centimeters in the chart. The other is the body site written next to it. Get either […]
CPT code 20931: Structural allograft for spine surgery billing guide
CPT code 20931 reports a structural allograft placed during spine surgery. Medicare pays for it separately, unlike the two graft codes it is most often confused with. Here is the official AMA descriptor: Allograft, structural, for spine surgery only (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure). That parenthetical is the operative rule. The […]
CPT code 20902: Bone graft, any donor area; major or large
20902 covers a major or large bone graft. CPT sets no size threshold, so the operative note and modifier -59 decide if it pays.