Septal Cartilage Graft and Septoplasty

Question:

My doctor did a septoplasty, CPT 30520, removed cartilage and fashioned it for a graft that he used in the surgical repair of vestibular stenosis, CPT 30465. Can we also code 20912 for the fashioning of the graft or just 30520 and 30465? I couldn’t find any CCI edits preventing this.

Answer:

Only one code, 30520 or 20912, may be reported as these procedures were performed through the same incision. What was the reason for the incision – to straighten the septum (30520) or to obtain the graft (20912)? Use whichever code is supported by the documentation but do not use both codes. .

*This response is based on the best information available as of 02/02/17.