Coding Corner

Welcome to Coding Corner

While the Academy does not provide individualized coding or billing advice, we do offer several comprehensive resources to aid AAO-HNS members in their practice decisions. The Academy’s Coding Corner makes accessing the newest coding and reimbursement tools simple and straightforward for members. See below for the latest resources specific to the specialty.

As an alternative, if you have an individualized coding or billing question, and you are a member of the American College of Surgeons (ACS), you can access the ACS coding hotline at 800-227-7911.

For clinical feedback on your inquiry, please consider posting on ENTConnect.

AMA CPT Code Set Revision and RUC Processes

The following process is required for a new technology or revised procedure to receive a Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Code, receive a value, and establish a Medicare payment:

  1. The process begins with review of a Code Change Application (CCA) application by the AMA CPT Editorial Panel.
  2. After approval by the CPT Editorial Panel, the AAO-HNS is involved in surveying members and making recommendations for a relative value unit (RVU) at a presentation before the AMA/Specialty Society Relative Value Update Committee (RUC).
  3. CMS reviews the RUC recommendations and makes a final decision about the RVU, and a dollar amount is calculated.

Learn more.

AAO-HNS New Technology Pathway Process

As a part of supporting new technology, the Academy welcomes opportunities to address coding and reimbursement issues for Otolaryngology-related new or revised CPT or HCPCS codes. The New Technology Pathway was developed to provide a framework for transparent, ethical engagement between the Academy and industry representatives in a manner that encourages responsible decision making.

Learn more.

Audiology Billing Information

CPT for ENT Articles

CPT for ENT articles are a collaborative effort between the Academy’s team of CPT Advisors, members of the Physician Payment Policy (3P) workgroup, and health policy staff.  Articles are developed to address common coding questions received by the health policy team, as well as to clarify coding changes and correct coding principles for frequently reported ENT procedures.

Information on NCCI/ MUE Edits

The CMS National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) promotes national correct coding methodologies and reduces improper coding which may result in inappropriate payments of Medicare Part B claims and     Medicaid claims.  The National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) contains two types of edits:
1. NCCI procedure-to-procedure (PTP) edits that define pairs of Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) / Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes that should not be reported together for a variety of reasons.  The purpose of the PTP edits is to prevent improper payments when incorrect code combinations are reported.
2. Medically Unlikely Edits (MUEs) define for each HCPCS / CPT code the maximum units of service (UOS) that a provider would report under most circumstances for a single beneficiary on a single date of service.

E/M Documentation Guidelines

The Medicare Learning Network® (MLN) Educational Web Guides Documentation Guidelines for Evaluation and Management (E/M) Services offers health care professionals E/M services information and resources. These guides are designed to provide education on evaluation and management services. It includes the following information: medical record documentation, evaluation and management billing and coding considerations. E/M services health care professionals may use either version of the 1995 or 1997 documentation guidelines, not a combination of the two, for a patient encounter.

AAO-HNS COVID-19 InformationLearn More