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    OpenPayerBilling CodesIncision Procedures on the Tongue and Floor of MouthCPT cpt-41016-submental-space-drainage-external-approach
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    CPT 41016: Incision and Drainage, Submental Space

    Medicare pays $500 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 41016 describes an external incision and drainage procedure into the submental space (the area under the chin) to evacuate an abscess, cyst, or hematoma; service type: surgical incision and drainage; typical site of service: outpatient procedure room, ambulatory surgical center, or hospital operating room for management of submental infections or collections beneath the chin.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Orthopedic Joint Procedures of the Knee for Managed Medicaid (MMC), Health and Recovery Plan (HARP), Child Health Plus (CHP), and Essential Plan (EP) Members, Autologous Chondrocyte Transplantation or Implantation Corporate Medical Policy, Autologous Platelet-Derived Growth Factors (Platelet-Rich Plasma [PRP]).

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is an adult who presents to the emergency department or urgent care with a painful, fluctuant swelling under the chin, often accompanied by erythema, tenderness, and sometimes systemic signs such as fever. The clinician performs a focused history and physical exam to evaluate onset, progression, airway risk, and signs of deep neck infection. Imaging such as point-of-care ultrasound or a contrast CT of the neck may be used to confirm a localized submental abscess and to assess extent and proximity to the airway and other deep spaces. After confirming a contained submental collection amenable to external drainage, the patient is counseled on the procedure, risks, and alternatives and appropriate consent is obtained.

    The procedure 41016 is performed under local anesthesia with or without conscious sedation in an emergency department, minor procedure room, or operating room, depending on patient factors (cooperation, airway risk, comorbidities). The provider makes an external incision into the submental space, evacuates purulent material or hematoma, obtains cultures if indicated, irrigates and places a drain if necessary, and provides wound care instructions and antibiotic therapy as indicated. Post-procedure observation is performed to monitor for bleeding, airway compromise, or spread of infection. Discharge planning includes prescriptions, wound care follow-up, and return precautions for worsening pain, fever, or respiratory difficulty.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    10060Incision and drainage of simple or single abscess (eg, carbuncle, suppurative hidradenitis, cutaneous or subcutaneous abscess, cyst, or furuncle)May be used for superficial submental skin or subcutaneous abscesses when no deeper submental space involvement is present; distinct from 41016 which targets submental space from an external approach.
    10061Incision and drainage of multiple or complicated skin/subcutaneous abscessesUsed if multiple adjacent superficial collections require drainage in addition to submental space drainage.
    10140Incision and drainage of abscess, complicated or multiple, deeper than subcutaneous tissue; e.g., peritonsillar abscess drainage via intraoral approach (note: 41016 is external submental approach)Represents drainage of deeper head and neck collections when a different approach (intraoral) is used or when additional deep drainage is required.
    41800Incision and drainage of deep abscess, cyst, or hematoma of the neck; external approach (general code for neck deep drainage)Related for deeper or adjacent neck space infections; may be used when the anatomic site is the neck broadly rather than specifically submental.
    32220Diagnostic endoscopic procedures of the larynx/airway (bronchoscopy/airway evaluation)Performed when airway assessment is necessary prior to or after drainage in patients with airway compromise risk (adjunctive procedure).

    Related Modifiers

    9 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    23Modifier -23 (Unusual Anesthesia) is used on anesthesia service CPT codes when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia…- Use modifier -23 only on anesthesia CPT codes (00100–01999) when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia because of…
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    50Modifier –50 (Bilateral Procedure) is appended to a CPT code when an identical procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures during the same operative session. The AMA states to add…- Use modifier -50 when the same CPT surgical, diagnostic, or radiology procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures (both sides of the body) during the same operative/session by the same…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    56Modifier ‑56 indicates the reporting provider furnished only the preoperative management for a surgical procedure and did not perform the intraoperative or postoperative care. It is used in…- Use Modifier -56 when a provider performs only the preoperative management in a split‑care situation (one physician manages preop care while a different physician performs the intraoperative…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207P00000X
    207RI0001X
    207R00000X
    2086S0127X
    1835I0206X
    208D00000X
    2084B0002X
    171W00000X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Orthopedics/Musculoskeletal1 / 2

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Orthopedic Joint Procedures of the Knee for Managed Medicaid (MMC), Health and Recovery Plan (HARP), Child Health Plus (CHP), and Essential Plan (EP) Membersuniverahealthcare2027-01-01
    Autologous Chondrocyte Transplantation or Implantation Corporate Medical Policybcbsvermont2026-12-01
    Autologous Platelet-Derived Growth Factors (Platelet-Rich Plasma [PRP])Cigna2026-10-15
    Metatarsophalangeal Joint ReplacementCigna2026-10-15
    Shoulder Arthroplasty (Total, Partial, Reverse, Revision and Resurfacing)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Hip Arthroplasty (partial and total hip replacement)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Artificial Lumbar Intervertebral Disc (Lumbar Total Disc Arthroplasty)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Osteochondral Grafting of the Kneeuniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Lumbar Fusion (arthrodesis) with decompressionuniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Metal-on-Metal Total Hip Resurfacinguniverahealthcare2026-10-15

    Related Codes

    CPT-41000-INTRAORAL-INCISION-AND-DRAINAGE-TONGUE

    CPT 41000: Intraoral Incision and Drainage of Tongue Abscess

    CPT-41005-SUBLINGUAL-INTRAORAL-INCISION-DRAINAGE

    CPT 41005: Sublingual Intraoral Incision and Drainage

    CPT-41006-SUBLINGUAL-INTRAORAL-DRAINAGE-ABSCESS-CYST-HEMATOMA

    CPT 41006: Deep Intraoral Incision and Drainage, Sublingual

    CPT-41007-SUBMENTAL-INTRAORAL-DRAINAGE-ABSCESS-CYST-HEMATOMA

    CPT 41007: Intraoral Incision and Drainage of Submental Space

    CPT-41008-SUBMANDIBULAR-INTRAORAL-INCISION-DRAINAGE

    CPT 41008: Intraoral Submandibular Incision and Drainage

    CPT-41009-INTRAORAL-DRAINAGE-MASTICATOR-SPACE

    CPT 41009: Intraoral Drainage of Masticator Space

    CPT-41010-LINGUAL-FRENUM-INCISION-TONGUE-TIE-RELEASE

    CPT 41010: Lingual Frenotomy (Release of Tongue-Tie)

    CPT-41015-SUBLINGUAL-SPACE-INCISION-AND-DRAINAGE

    CPT 41015: Sublingual Space Incision and Drainage

    CPT-41017-SUBMANDIBULAR-SPACE-DRAINAGE-EXTERNAL-INCISION

    CPT 41017: External Incision and Drainage of Submandibular Space

    CPT-41018-EXTRAORAL-INCISION-DRAINAGE-MASTICATOR-SPACE

    CPT 41018: Extraoral Incision and Drainage of Masticator Space

    Showing 1–10 of 11

    Frequently Asked Questions

    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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