Surgery: Respiratory System

 CPT Assistant, November 2021, Volume 31, Issue 11, page 13

Question:

Code 31237 is used to report postoperative debridement as well as polypectomy and/or biopsy, which may be required for treatment of nasal polyps unresponsive to medical management or for suspected neoplasm. May code 31237 be reported twice on a unilateral side, for example, when performing a biopsy and a debridement?

Answer:

No, if a physician or other QHP performs a unilateral polypectomy and tissue is submitted for biopsy, the biopsy is considered inherent to the work of the polypectomy, and code 31237, Nasal/sinus endoscopy, surgical; with biopsy, polypectomy or debridement (separate procedure), is only reported once. Similarly, if debridement is performed on one side and material is submitted for pathology (biopsy), code 31237 is only reported once. In addition, if debridement involves removal of polyp(s), including submission of material for pathology, code 31237 is reported only once per side, per day.