Harvest of Abdominal Fat Graft

Question:

My doctor harvested abdominal fat that he then used in the nose to close the area when he did an endoscopic removal of a pituitary tumor (62165). I want to bill 15770, but my doctor thinks the correct code is 20926. What do you recommend?

Answer:

Your doctor is correct with 20926 (Tissue grafts, other (e.g., paratenon, fat, dermis)). CPT 15770 (Graft; derma-fat-fascia) is used for a composite graft when more than one layer of tissue is harvested and placed (e.g., fat and fascia). When only one layer of tissue is harvested, such as fat, report 20926.

*This response is based on the best information available as of 12/17/15.