Procedure code and Description


Group 1 Codes:

21110 APPLICATION OF INTERDENTAL FIXATION DEVICE FOR CONDITIONS OTHER THAN FRACTURE OR DISLOCATION, INCLUDES REMOVAL

21141 RECONSTRUCTION MIDFACE, LEFORT I; SINGLE PIECE, SEGMENT MOVEMENT IN ANY DIRECTION (EG, FOR LONG FACE SYNDROME), WITHOUT BONE GRAFT

21145 RECONSTRUCTION MIDFACE, LEFORT I; SINGLE PIECE, SEGMENT MOVEMENT IN ANY DIRECTION, REQUIRING BONE GRAFTS (INCLUDES OBTAINING AUTOGRAFTS)

21196 RECONSTRUCTION OF MANDIBULAR RAMI AND/OR BODY, SAGITTAL SPLIT; WITH INTERNAL RIGID FIXATION

21199 OSTEOTOMY, MANDIBLE, SEGMENTAL; WITH GENIOGLOSSUS ADVANCEMENT

21685 HYOID MYOTOMY AND SUSPENSION

30140 SUBMUCOUS RESECTION INFERIOR TURBINATE, PARTIAL OR COMPLETE, ANY METHOD

30802 ABLATION, SOFT TISSUE OF INFERIOR TURBINATES, UNILATERAL OR BILATERAL, ANY METHOD (EG, ELECTROCAUTERY, RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION, OR TISSUE VOLUME REDUCTION); INTRAMURAL (IE, SUBMUCOSAL)

31600 TRACHEOSTOMY, PLANNED (SEPARATE PROCEDURE);

31610 TRACHEOSTOMY, FENESTRATION PROCEDURE WITH SKIN FLAPS

41512 TONGUE BASE SUSPENSION, PERMANENT SUTURE TECHNIQUE

41530 SUBMUCOSAL ABLATION OF THE TONGUE BASE, RADIOFREQUENCY, 1 OR MORE SITES, PER SESSION

42145 PALATOPHARYNGOPLASTY (EG, UVULOPALATOPHARYNGOPLASTY, UVULOPHARYNGOPLASTY)

42299 UNLISTED PROCEDURE, PALATE, UVULA

C9727 INSERTION OF IMPLANTS INTO THE SOFT PALATE; MINIMUM OF THREE IMPLANTS

Coverage Guidance


Coverage Indications, Limitations, and/or Medical Necessity

Sleep-Disordered Breathing, often referred to as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), is characterized by frequent episodes of hypopnea or apnea during sleep. Multiple detrimental physiologic changes may result from these hypopneic and apneic episodes. Non-surgical and surgical approaches to obstructive apnea and hypopnea have been developed.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) breathing is the treatment of choice for OSA. Some patients do not tolerate CPAP, or are not benefited from it. The level of obstruction in OSA (retropalatal, retrolingual, and retropalatal and retrolingual) is variable.

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is an accepted means of surgical treatment for this disorder, but is curative in less than 50% of patients. Scientific evidence suggests that UPPP is useful in retropalatal and combination retropalatal and retrolingual obstruction.

Mandibular Maxillary Osteotomy and Advancement is a procedure developed for those patients with retrolingual obstruction, or those patients with retropalatal and retrolingual obstruction who have not responded to CPAP and uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. Medical data on the efficacy of this treatment has been reported from only a small number of centers, but the information appears to show good results for those patients who meet certain criteria. It is unknown whether the technique will result in similar results outside specialized centers.

Tracheostomy remains the surgical approach with the greatest effectiveness since it bypasses all areas of obstruction in the nasal, palatal, lingual, and pharyngeal areas. However, tracheostomy is associated with significant morbidity, and is usually reserved for patients who have failed other medical or surgical methods of treatment, or who are unsuitable for other methods of treatment for various reasons.

Various other anatomic abnormalities (such as, but not limited to, enlarged tonsils or tongue) sometimes cause OSA also. Surgical approaches to these abnormalities will vary according to the anatomic defect and the procedure/procedures needed to correct the defined problem.

Genioglossal advancement, with or without resuspension of the hyoid bone, may be performed with uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, but this procedure is not always successful, and there is little definitive information on its benefit.

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is covered for those patients who have all of the following:
Obstructive sleep apnea diagnosed (prior to any proposed surgery) in a certified sleep disorders laboratory (certification body recognized by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine);

A Respiratory Disturbance Index of 15 or higher

Failed to respond to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure therapy or cannot tolerate CPAP or other appropriate non-invasive treatment;

Documented counseling by a physician, with recognized training in sleep disorders, about the potential benefits and risks of the surgery; and

Evidence of retropalatal or combination retropalatal/retrolingual obstruction as the cause of the obstructive sleep apnea.

Mandibular Maxillary Osteotomy and Advancement and /or genioglossus advancement with or without hyoid suspension is covered for those patients who have all of the following:
Obstructive sleep apnea diagnosed (prior to any proposed surgery) in a certified sleep disorders laboratory (certification body recognized by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine);

A Respiratory Disturbance Index of 15 or higher;

Failed to respond to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure therapy or cannot tolerate CPAP or other appropriate non-invasive treatment;

Documented counseling by a physician, with recognized training in sleep disorders, about the potential benefits and risks of the surgery; and

Evidence of retrolingual obstruction as the cause of the obstructive sleep apnea, or previous failure of UPPP to correct the obstructive sleep apnea.
Regarding the Mandibular Maxillary Osteotomy and Advancement operation:
Separate repositioning of teeth would not be necessary except under unusual circumstances; but if necessary the dental work would be covered.

Application of an interdental fixation device is occasionally necessary, and is a covered service (see Documentation Requirements).

Tracheostomy is covered for obstructive sleep apnea that is in the judgment of the attending physician, unresponsive to other means of treatment or in cases where other means of treatment would be ineffective or not indicated.

When obstructive sleep apnea is caused by discrete anatomic abnormalities of the upper airway (such as, but not limited to, enlarged tonsils or an enlarged tongue), surgery to correct these abnormalities is covered if medically necessary based on adequate documentation in the medical records supporting the significant contribution of these abnormalities to OSA. Submucous radiofrequency reduction of hypertrophied turbinates is covered as an appropriate treatment for nasal obstruction due to turbinate hypertrophy that significantly contributes to OSA or significantly compromises CPAP therapy.

The following procedures are not covered at this time
Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) is not covered at this time since it is not considered effective for OSA. LAUP must not be billed as 42145, Palatopharyngoplasty (e.g., uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, uvulopharyngoplasty). This code is not appropriate for this procedure. If LAUP is billed for denial purposes, it should be coded as 42299, (unlisted procedure, palate, uvula) with “LAUP” in the electronic narrative 2400/SV101-7 equivalent to line 19 of the CMS 1500 form. The claim will be denied as not proven effective.

Somnoplasty™ is a trade name for palate reduction with the Somnoplasty™ System of Somnus Medical Systems. This is not a term recognized by this Contractor as a covered procedure under Medicare Part B. Therefore Somnoplasty™ must not be billed as 42145. This code is not appropriate for this procedure. If Somnoplasty™ is billed for denial purposes, it should be coded as 42299, (unlisted procedure, palate, uvula) with “Somnoplasty™” in the electronic narrative 2400/SV101-7 equivalent to line 19 of the CMS 1500 form. This claim will be denied as not proven effective.

The Pillar Procedure™ is a trade name for palatal implants. Palatal implants have not been shown effective for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea and are not covered. This procedure should be billed by the physician as 42299 (unlisted procedure, palate, uvula) with “Pillar Procedure™” or “palatal implant” in the electronic narrative 2400/SV101-7 equivalent to line 19 of the CMS 1500 form. This claim will then be denied as not proven effective. Hospital outpatient would use code C9727.

Submucosal ablation of the tongue base, radiofrequency, one or more sites, per session. (41530) will be denied as investigational and experimental.

ICD-10 Codes that Support Medical Necessity

Group 1 Paragraph: Diagnosis codes must be coded to the highest level of specificity

Note: Diagnosis codes must be coded to the highest level of specificity.

These are the only covered diagnoses for CPT codes 21685, and 42145. This list will not address the other listed CPT/HCPCS services/procedures.

Group 1 Codes:




ICD-10 CODE DESCRIPTION

G47.30 Sleep apnea, unspecified

G47.33 Obstructive sleep apnea (adult) (pediatric)

G47.33 Obstructive sleep apnea (adult) (pediatric)

K14.8 Other diseases of tongue

Q38.2 Macroglossia