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CPT 49904: Omental Flap Transfer for Chest Reconstruction
CPT code 49904 represents the open harvest and rotational transfer of an omental flap to fill a chest defect while maintaining the flap's native blood supply. This reconstructive procedure is used in complex chest surgeries, including management of nonhealing wounds and chest wall defects that require well-vascularized tissue for coverage and healing. Nationally, the code is relevant to surgical departments, plastic and reconstructive surgeons, and hospital reimbursement workflows for operative chest reconstruction.
Key payers considered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise review of clinical context, common sites of service, and the service type associated with the code. The publication summarizes typical billing considerations and common modifiers used with surgical procedures, provides benchmark and policy context where available, and outlines areas where coding clarity affects clinical and administrative workflows.
This piece serves clinicians, coding professionals, and policy analysts seeking a national-level overview of CPT code 49904, its clinical purpose, and the types of payer coverage contexts in which it commonly occurs. Data not available in the input are noted where applicable.
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Billing Code Overview
CPT code 49904 describes the surgical creation and transfer of an omental flap: the provider opens the abdomen, prepares a flap of omentum (a fatty membrane in the abdominal cavity), and rotates that flap to fill a chest defect while preserving its vascular supply. This procedure is performed as part of reconstructive chest surgery for issues such as nonhealing wounds or complex chest wall defects.
Service type: Surgical, reconstructive flap transfer
Typical site of service: Operating room or inpatient surgical setting, with abdominal and chest operative sites
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