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    OpenPayerBilling CodesDiseases and Disorders of the Ear, Nose, Mouth and ThroatDRG 135-sinus-and-mastoid-procedures-with-cc-mcc
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    Sinus and Mastoid Procedures with CC/MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    DRG 135 covers sinus and mastoid surgical procedures when a Complication or Comorbidity or Major Complication or Comorbidity is present, defining clinical scope and case complexity. This Diagnosis-Related Group matters for inpatient reimbursement because the Complication or Comorbidity or Major Complication or Comorbidity designation affects payment by reflecting higher anticipated resource use.

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    DRG 135 Overview

    DRG 135 covers inpatient admissions for patients undergoing sinus and mastoid procedures when a Complication or Comorbidity or Major Complication or Comorbidity is present. These procedures include surgical management of chronic or acute disease processes of the paranasal sinuses and the mastoid portion of the temporal bone, often involving otolaryngology or otology teams. This Diagnosis-Related Group matters for Medicare payment because the presence of a Complication or Comorbidity or Major Complication or Comorbidity increases reimbursement relative to uncomplicated cases, reflecting higher expected resource use. Accurate clinical documentation and coding of the secondary diagnoses that qualify as Complication or Comorbidity or Major Complication or Comorbidity are therefore central to appropriate inpatient payment.

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    Clinical Trials

    • Acute surgical technique and perioperative complication reduction trials: randomized or quasi-experimental studies that compare different operative approaches (for example endoscopic sinus surgery variations, mastoidectomy techniques, or adjunctive intraoperative measures) and perioperative protocols aimed at reducing bleeding, cerebrospinal fluid leak, facial nerve injury, or postoperative infection. These studies typically enroll hospitalized adults or children undergoing sinus or mastoid procedures with documented complications or comorbid conditions (the CC/MCC population), and measure short-term clinical endpoints such as intraoperative metrics, immediate complication rates, length of stay, and need for reoperation. Results inform surgeons and hospital administrators about techniques and processes that can lower acute morbidity and resource use in this high-acuity DRG.
    • Comparative effectiveness studies of perioperative medical management and antimicrobial strategies: prospective cohort studies or pragmatic randomized trials evaluating variations in preoperative optimization (such as management of anticoagulation, corticosteroid use, or diabetic control), intra- and postoperative antibiotic regimens, and topical therapies to prevent surgical site infection and persistent disease. These trials focus on patients with significant comorbidities or more extensive disease who fall into the CC/MCC grouping and assess outcomes including readmission, infection, antibiotic exposure, and total inpatient cost. Findings are directly relevant to payers and care managers because they identify medical-management approaches that may reduce complications, shorten stays, and decrease overall inpatient expenditures for this DRG.
    • Post-discharge functional outcomes and health-utilization studies: prospective observational or registry-based research tracking quality of life, symptom control (breath/sinus symptoms, hearing), need for revision surgery, outpatient rehabilitative services, and unplanned healthcare utilization over months to years after index sinus or mastoid procedures. These studies enroll the DRG population at discharge and stratify by presence of CC/MCCs, procedural complexity, and social determinants of health to determine predictors of long-term resource use and patient-reported outcomes. Results help providers and payers target post-acute care coordination, outpatient follow-up intensity, and bundled-payment or case-management strategies to reduce readmissions and improve value for patients within this diagnosis-related group.

    Related Codes

    136-SINUS-AND-MASTOID-PROCEDURES-WITHOUT-CC-MCC

    Sinus and Mastoid Procedures without CC/MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    137-MOUTH-PROCEDURES-WITH-CC-MCC

    Mouth Procedures with CC/MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    138-MOUTH-PROCEDURES-WITHOUT-CC-MCC

    Mouth Procedures without CC/MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    139-SALIVARY-GLAND-PROCEDURES

    Salivary Gland Procedures: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    140-MAJOR-HEAD-AND-NECK-PROCEDURES-WITH-MCC

    Major Head and Neck Procedures with MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    141-MAJOR-HEAD-AND-NECK-PROCEDURES-WITH-CC

    Major Head and Neck Procedures with CC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    142-MAJOR-HEAD-AND-NECK-PROCEDURES-WITHOUT-CC-MCC

    Major Head and Neck Procedures without CC/MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    143-OTHER-EAR-NOSE-MOUTH-AND-THROAT-O-R-PROCEDURES-WITH-MCC

    Other Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat O.R. Procedures with MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    144-OTHER-EAR-NOSE-MOUTH-AND-THROAT-O-R-PROCEDURES-WITH-CC

    Other Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat O.R. Procedures with CC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    145-OTHER-EAR-NOSE-MOUTH-AND-THROAT-O-R-PROCEDURES-WITHOUT-CC-MCC

    Other Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat O.R. Procedures without CC/MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

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    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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