This page addresses follow-up questions and additional information pertinent to our webinar
2026 Procedure Updates: CPT Updates for Facility Coders.
** The coding information and guidance are valid at the time of publishing. Learners are encouraged to research
subsequent official guidance in the areas associated with the topic as they can change rapidly.
Q: Do the new codes for cryolysis for sleep apnea encompass all procedures that would be performed on a patient during that operative episode?
A: Great question! Cryolysis may not be the only procedure performed on the patient that day. Category III codes 0978T-0980T are used to report the cryolysis only. It is thought that a flexible laryngoscopy would commonly be performed during the encounter to confirm proper placement of the therapy probes when treating the base of the tongue and lingual tonsil. And that laryngoscopy would be separately reportable.
Q: Regarding thoracic branch endografts, I see codes for delayed placement of extensions, either proximal or distal to a previously placed endograft. But neither of the new codes mentions an extension that involves the brachiocephalic arteries. How do we code a delayed extension of an endograft that involves those arteries?
A: For delayed placement of a thoracic endoprosthesis that involves the arteries that branch off the aortic arch (innominate, left common carotid, left subclavian), you will use either CPT 33880 or 33882. Those codes describe endovascular repair by deployment of an endograft that either covers the left brachiocephalic arteries or has fenestrations for insertion of additional stent grafts of the brachiocephalic arteries.
Q: In the webinar, it was specified that the initial vessel treated is reported with the corresponding base code, and additional vessels in the same territory are reported with add-on codes. But what if we have interventions in more than one territory?
A: Codes in this section are separated by distinct territories, so that is what we take into consideration first. If discrete lesions in two different territories are treated with two separate therapies, you will have two primary base codes. For instance, if there was a stent placed in the Common Femoral for a stenosis, and then a stent placed in the Internal Iliac for an occlusion, we would code that with 37267 (femoral, stent, initial, straightforward) and 37260 (iliac, stent, initial, complex). Thankfully, the new CPT book has very extensive notes and instructions that help guide us in coding the more complex situations.
Looking for additional information on this topic?
Meet the Presenter: Tommi Mooney, MS, RHIA, CCS
Tommi brings ten years of experience in coding and auditing to the team as a Senior Coding Quality Auditor. Her career began as a Hospital Coding Specialist, where she quickly advanced through various roles, ultimately becoming the Director of Coding over Internal Audits and Education. In each of these positions, Tommi honed her skills in coding, auditing, and compliance. Throughout her career, Tommi has overseen internal audits, developed educational resources for coding professionals, and provided guidance to ensure coding accuracy and compliance across departments. Her leadership and dedication to improving coding quality have made her a key contributor to the team, where she provides audit oversight and coding expertise to support clients.
Lots of updates! thank you
Great Webinar. Lots of information.