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    OpenPayerBilling CodesIncision Procedures on the AnusCPT cpt-46060-perirectal-abscess-incision-drainage-fistula-management
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    CPT 46060: Incision and Drainage of Abscess with Fistula Treatment

    Medicare pays $503 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 46060 describes an operative procedure for incision and drainage of a perirectal or rectal abscess with treatment of an associated anal fistula, which may include placement of a seton in the fistula tract; service type: surgical anorectal abscess and fistula procedure; typical site of service: operating room or ambulatory surgery center (procedural setting for anorectal surgery).

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Surgical Procedures, Outpatient Surgical Procedures - Site of Service, Site of Service Ambulatory Service Center (ASC) Select — Surgical or Diagnostic Procedures in Adults.

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 34-year-old patient presents to the emergency department with a 3-day history of severe perianal pain, erythema, and fluctuance with fever. On exam there is a tender, fluctuant perianal mass with cellulitis consistent with a perirectal abscess; there is also purulent drainage from a chronic external opening suggesting an anal fistula. The colorectal surgeon evaluates the patient, obtains informed consent, and arranges for an urgent procedure in the operating room or procedure room under regional or general anesthesia. The provider performs incision and drainage of the perirectal/anal abscess, explores the fistula tract, places a seton when indicated, and achieves hemostasis and wound care. Postoperative orders include wound packing or drain management, analgesia, tetanus status review, and outpatient follow-up with the surgeon for wound checks and potential definitive fistula repair.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    46060Incision and drainage of perirectal abscess; with fistulectomy or placement of setonPrimary procedure for combined abscess drainage and fistula treatment
    46040Excision of anal fistula; simpleMay be performed as a definitive fistula procedure following abscess drainage in a non-complex fistula
    46050Fistulectomy, trans-sphincteric or complicated anal fistulaUsed for more complex fistula tracts that require sphincter-involving dissection beyond seton placement
    46255Fistulectomy; advancement flap for high trans-sphincteric or suprasphincteric fistulaPerformed in staged definitive repair for complex fistulas after initial drainage/seton placement
    11721Debridement of nail; or paronychia — (example minor perianal skin debridement may be billed separately)Occasionally used for separate significant perianal skin debridement if distinct from abscess I&D

    Related Modifiers

    12 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…
    51Modifier –51 (Multiple Procedures) is used when the same provider performs multiple procedures in the same session to identify secondary, non‑exempt procedures and indicate payment reduction logic…- Use modifier -51 when the same provider performs multiple distinct procedures during the same patient encounter: report the highest‑valued procedure first (no modifier) and append -51 to…
    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…
    58Modifier 58 (Staged or related procedure/service by the same physician during the postoperative period) indicates that a subsequent procedure performed by the same provider during the…- Use modifier 58 when the same physician/QHP performs a procedure during the postoperative/global period of an earlier procedure and the subsequent procedure is either planned or anticipated…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    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…

    Showing 1–10 of 12

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    251S00000X
    207KA0200X
    363LC0200X
    302F00000X
    246R00000X
    207RA0000X
    332G00000X
    207SG0203X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    20 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    A48.0Gas gangrene
    B37.7Candidal sepsis
    K57.20Diverticulitis of large intestine with perforation and abscess without bleeding
    K57.30Diverticulosis of large intestine without perforation or abscess without bleeding
    K57.40Diverticulitis of both small and large intestine with perforation and abscess without bleeding
    K57.50Diverticulosis of both small and large intestine without perforation or abscess without bleeding
    K57.92Diverticulitis of intestine, part unspecified, without perforation or abscess without bleeding
    K58.0Irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea
    K60.0Acute anal fissure
    K60.1Chronic anal fissure

    Showing 1–10 of 20

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: General Surgery1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Surgical ProceduresUnitedHealthcare2026-09-01
    Outpatient Surgical Procedures - Site of ServiceUnitedHealthcare2026-09-01
    Site of Service Ambulatory Service Center (ASC) Select — Surgical or Diagnostic Procedures in AdultsPremera Bluecross2026-09-01
    Site of Service Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Select — Surgical or Diagnostic Procedures in AdultsPremera Bluecross2026-09-01
    Site of Service Ambulatory Service Center (ASC) SelectPremera Bluecross2026-09-01
    Site of Service Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Select — Site of Service for Ambulatory Surgical Procedures (ASC Select)Premera Bluecross2026-09-01
    Site of Service Ambulatory Service Center (ASC) SelectPremera Bluecross2026-09-01
    Outpatient Surgical Procedures - Site of Servicesierra health and life2026-08-01
    Medical Necessity Guidelines — Inpatient Surgical CareMass General Brigham Health Plan2026-08-01
    Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) - Site of Care PolicyKaiser Permanente2026-08-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-46020-ANAL-SETON-PLACEMENT

    CPT 46020: Placement of Anal Seton

    CPT-46030-ANAL-SETON-REMOVAL-ANAL-FISTULA

    CPT 46030: Removal of Anal Seton or Marker

    CPT-46040-INCISION-DRAINAGE-ANORECTAL-ISCHIORECTAL-ABSCESS

    CPT 46040: Incision and Drainage of Anal/Ischiorectal Abscess

    CPT-46045-RECTAL-PERIRECTAL-ABSCESS-DRAINAGE-TRANSANAL

    CPT 46045: Transanal Incision and Drainage of Rectal/Perirectal Abscess

    CPT-46050-PERIANAL-SUPERFICIAL-ABSCESS-INCISION-DRAINAGE

    CPT 46050: Incision and Drainage of Superficial Perianal Abscess

    CPT-46070-ANAL-MEMBRANE-INCISION-INFANT

    CPT 46070: Incision of Congenital Anal Membrane in Infant

    CPT-46080-ANAL-SPHINCTEROTOMY-RELEASE-OF-ANAL-CONTRACTURE

    CPT 46080: Anal Sphincterotomy to Release Anal Contracture

    CPT-46083-EXTERNAL-HEMORRHOID-THROMBECTOMY-INCISION-DRAINAGE

    CPT 46083: Incision and Thrombectomy of External Hemorrhoid

    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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