Ablation, soft tissue of inferior turbinates, unilateral or bilateral, any method (e.g., electrocautery, radiofrequency ablation, or tissue volume reduction); superficial

CPT 30801 is the billing code for "Ablation, soft tissue of inferior turbinates, unilateral or bilateral, any method (e.g., electrocautery, radiofrequency ablation, or tissue volume reduction); superficial". Superficial ablation of inferior turbinates for nasal obstruction

Medicare pays approximately $211.22 for CPT 30801 (national average). Actual payment varies by geographic location due to GPCI adjustments. Hospital and commercial insurance rates are typically 2-4x higher than Medicare rates.

CPT 30801 has a total RVU of 2.75, broken down as: Work RVU 1.25, Practice Expense RVU 1.40, and Malpractice RVU 0.10. RVUs (Relative Value Units) determine Medicare reimbursement rates.

Key documentation requirements for CPT 30801 include: Method of ablation documented; Unilateral or bilateral documented; Superficial ablation documented; Patient response to treatment. Missing or incomplete documentation is a leading cause of claim denials for this code.

Bundling considerations for CPT 30801: Superficial ablation only. Unilateral or bilateral Use an NCCI bundling checker to verify specific code combinations before billing.

Common modifiers for CPT 30801 include: 59 (Distinct procedural service when multiple procedures performed), 50 (Bilateral procedure), LT (Left side). Modifiers indicate special circumstances and can affect reimbursement or prevent claim denials.

The typical time requirement for CPT 30801 is Typically 15-20 minutes. Time-based codes require documentation of the actual time spent providing the service.