(2022) How To Bill Cosmetic Services – Denials & Reimbursement

The following procedures may be considered reconstructive or cosmetic. Cosmetic procedures and/or surgery are statutorily excluded by Medicare. These services will be denied as non-covered. Non-covered procedures do not need to be billed to the Contractor.

Coding Guidelines

Claims do not have to be submitted for cosmetic procedures. However, suppose a denial of Medicare coverage is necessary. In that case, a GY modifier (items or services statutorily excluded or does not meet the definition of any Medicare benefit) can be used on a cosmetic procedure to receive a non-covered denial.

All submitted non-covered or no payment claims using condition code 21 will be processed to completion, and all services on those claims will be denied since they are submitted as non-covered.

The default liability for payment of these claims is assigned to the beneficiary, who may then submit the denial from Medicare, as the primary payer, to subsequent payer(s) for consideration.

Since a denial is a Medicare payment determination, all services submitted on no-payment claims may be appealed later if unusual circumstances warrant.

All payment determinations are subject to appeal, even denials of services submitted as non-covered.

Cosmetic Services Denials

Cosmetic surgery can be defined as a procedure that is performed to reshape normal structures of the body to improve the patient’s appearance and self-esteem. These procedures can be performed for medically necessary or cosmetic reasons.

The following CPT codes will be denied for cosmetic reasons.

CPT 19318

Breast reduction. This procedure will be denied when performed for a cosmetic reason (V50.1).

CPT 19300

Mastectomy for gynecomastia. If the tissue removed is primarily fatty, the surgery is classified as cosmetic (V50.1) and will be denied as non-covered.

CPT 15775 – CPT 15776

Punch graft hair transplant. To indicate this procedure is performed for cosmetic reasons, use (V50.0) hair transplant to receive a non-covered denial.

CPT 30400 – CPT 30450

Rhinoplasty. When nasal surgery is performed solely to improve the patient’s appearance without any signs and/or symptoms of functional abnormalities, it is considered cosmetic (V50.1) and will be denied as non-covered.

CPT 15830

Excision, excessive skin and subcutaneous tissue (includes lipectomy); abdomen, infraumbilical panniculectomy.

TIP: You can find the complete billing guide for CPT code 15830 here.

CPT 15788 – CPT 15793

Chemical Peel. For cosmetic reasons (V50.1) will be denied as not covered.

CPT 15781

Dermabrasion, segmental, face. Performed for a cosmetic reason (V50.1) will be denied as non-covered.

CPT 15828 & CPT 15829

Rhytidectomy. Performed for a cosmetic reason (V50.1) will be denied as noncovered.

Other CPT Codes

The following CPT codes/procedures are generally considered cosmetic and may be medically reviewed or denied as non-covered:

CPT 11950 – CPT 11954: Injection of filling material (collagen)

CPT 15780, CPT 15782, CPT 15783: Dermabrasion (eg. acne scarring, fine wrinkling…)

CPT 15819: Cervicoplasty

CPT 15824 – CPT 15826: Rhytidectomy

CPT 15832 – CPT 15839: Excision, excessive skin and subcutaneous tissue, including lipectomy

CPT 15876 – CPT 15879: Suction -assisted lipectomy

CPT 17340: Cryotherapy for acne

CPT 17360: Chemical exfoliation

CPT 17380: Electrolysis

CPT 69300: Otoplasty

Codes That Will Be Reimbursed

Billing for dermal injections for the treatment of Facial Lipodystrophy Syndrome (LDS) that meet the criteria in the NCD:

G0429

Dermal Filler injection(s) for the treatment of facial lipodystrophy syndrome (LDS) (e.g.,as a result of highly active antiretroviral therapy).

Q2026

Radiesse injection Injection, Radiesse, 0.1ml

Q2027

Sculptra injection Injection, Sculptra, 0.1ml

CPT C9800

Dermal injection procedure(s) for facial lipodystrophy syndrome (LDS) and provision of Radiesse or Sculptra dermal filler, including all items and supplies.