Summary & Overview
CPT 25150: Focal Bone Excision (Saucerization)
CPT code 25150 represents a focal surgical bone excision technique that commonly produces a crater- or saucer-like defect at the site of removal. This procedure is used to excise small areas of abnormal or diseased bone or to gain access to localized lesions. Nationally, this code is relevant across surgical specialties that manage focal bony pathology and is billed in settings ranging from ambulatory surgical centers to hospital operating rooms.
Key payers referenced in standard analyses include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers can expect an overview of clinical context for the procedure, typical sites of service, common modifiers used with the code, and how major payers handle coverage and billing for focal bone excision. The publication outlines benchmarks where available, notes policy updates affecting surgical coding and billing practice, and provides practical coding context to support accurate claim submission and reimbursement alignment.
This summary is intended for a national audience of clinicians, coding professionals, and policy analysts seeking concise guidance on clinical application and payer coverage considerations for CPT code 25150.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 25150 describes a procedure in which the provider removes bone from a small area using a technique that typically leaves a crater- or saucer-like depression or excavation site on the bone. This represents a focal bone excision or saucerization performed to remove pathological bone tissue or to access an underlying lesion.
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Service type: Surgical bone excision (focal saucerization)
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Typical site of service: Operating room or ambulatory surgical center for a targeted, focal bone procedure
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 54-year-old male presents with chronic localized bony pain and a symptomatic reactive bone lesion of the dorsal distal radius after failed conservative care. Imaging (radiographs and CT) confirms a small cortical bone overgrowth with a focal nidus. The orthopedic hand surgeon schedules an outpatient procedure to perform a focal saucerization of the lesion to remove the nidus and decompress the symptomatic area. The patient arrives to an ambulatory surgery center on the day of service. Preoperative evaluation and informed consent are completed; regional block or general anesthesia is administered per anesthesiology. The surgeon exposes the small area of bone, uses curettes and rongeurs to remove the diseased or excess bone creating a crater- or saucer-shaped defect, achieves hemostasis, irrigates, and closes the soft tissues. Specimens for pathology are submitted if indicated. Postoperative recovery includes monitoring in the PACU, discharge instructions for wound care and activity modification, and a short course of analgesics and hand therapy as needed. Documentation includes the indication, description of the saucerization technique, estimated blood loss, anesthesia type, specimens sent, and the planned postoperative course.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
22 | Increased procedural services | When work, time, or complexity substantially exceeds typical for the procedure |