CPT code 41512 denotes surgical suture suspension of the tongue base to enlarge the retrolingual airway and reduce obstructive events during sleep. This procedure is an otolaryngology airway surgery intended to address tongue-base collapse contributing to sleep-disordered breathing. Nationally, procedures that alter the retrolingual airway are significant for management of obstructive sleep apnea and related breathing disorders because they can affect surgical care pathways, payer coverage decisions, and perioperative resource use.

Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of the clinical purpose of the code, the typical sites of service where the procedure is performed, and the common modifiers associated with billing for this service. The publication outlines benchmarks and billing practice context, summarizes how payers commonly approach coverage, and highlights clinical context relevant to coding and documentation. Data not available in the input where specific payer policies, ICD-10 pairings, and related codes would normally be presented.