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    OpenPayerBilling CodesIncision Procedures on the Vulva, Perineum and IntroitusCPT cpt-56420-bartholins-gland-abscess-incision-drainage
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    CPT 56420: Incision and Drainage of Bartholin's Gland Abscess

    Medicare pays $188 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 56420 describes the incision and drainage of a Bartholin's gland abscess in the female genital area, a minor surgical procedure performed to evacuate pus and relieve pain and infection; service type: surgical incision and drainage, typical site of service: outpatient clinic, ambulatory surgical center, or emergency department.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Abortion Services, Prolonged Services for Labor Management, Prolonged Services for Labor Management.

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is a reproductive-age woman presenting to an urgent care clinic or emergency department with a painful, swollen vulvar mass near the introitus, fever, and purulent drainage consistent with a Bartholin gland abscess. Examination reveals a tense, fluctuant 1–4 cm labial/perivaginal mass at the 4 or 8 o'clock position of the vaginal introitus. After history and focused exam, the clinician documents the indication, obtains informed consent, performs local anesthesia (usually infiltration of lidocaine with or without epinephrine), and performs a sterile incision and drainage of the Bartholin gland abscess to evacuate purulence and relieve pain. Procedure steps commonly include preparation and draping of the perineum, anesthesia, a small incision on the mucocutaneous junction or aspiration, evacuation of pus, irrigation, and placement of a Word catheter or packing if indicated (the incision and drainage described by 56420 covers simple incision and drainage of the Bartholin gland abscess). Postprocedure instructions include wound care, analgesia, possible antibiotics if cellulitis or systemic signs exist, and follow-up with gynecology or primary care. Typical sites of service are ambulatory surgery centers, hospital emergency departments, urgent care clinics, and office-based gynecology clinics. The service type is minor surgical procedure (incision and drainage) performed in an outpatient or ED setting.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    56420Incision and drainage of Bartholin gland(s)Primary code describing incision and drainage of a Bartholin gland abscess — the procedure in question.
    56405Marsupialization of Bartholin glandAlternative or subsequent procedure to create a permanent drainage tract when recurrent cyst/abscess is managed surgically; may follow or replace simple I&D in definitive management.
    69210Removal impacted cerumen (not directly related)Data not available in the input.
    A4212Catheter, transurethral — not applicableData not available in the input.
    11042Debridement, subcutaneous tissue (example wound debridement)May be billed if extensive debridement of infected tissue is required in addition to drainage.
    99024Postoperative follow-up visit global periodMay apply for routine postoperative follow-up when payer requires separate reporting for aftercare.

    Related Modifiers

    13 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    25CPT modifier 25 indicates that on the same day as another procedure or service, the same physician or other qualified health care professional provided a significant, separately identifiable…- When to apply: Use modifier 25 only on an E/M code to indicate the same provider delivered a significant, separately identifiable E/M service on the same day as another procedure or service — i.e.,…
    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…
    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…
    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…
    77Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…
    78CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…
    79Modifier 79 indicates a surgical procedure performed during the postoperative global period of a prior surgery that is unrelated to the original procedure. Per AMA/CPT and CMS guidance, it is…- Use modifier 79 when the same physician (or same‑specialty physician in the same group) performs a surgical procedure during the postoperative global period of a prior surgery and the new procedure…
    24Modifier 24 denotes an unrelated evaluation and management (E/M) service performed by the same physician or qualified healthcare professional during a postoperative global period. Per CPT guidance,…- Use modifier 24 when you report an evaluation and management (E/M) service performed by the same physician or same-specialty group during a procedure’s postoperative global period that is unrelated…
    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…

    Showing 1–10 of 13

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207V00000X
    163W00000X
    208D00000X
    213E00000X
    282NC0060X
    2471M2300X
    3140N1450X
    2086X0206X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    24 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    A49.02Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection, unspecified site
    A49.9Bacterial infection, unspecified
    A54.89Other gonococcal infections
    B95.0Streptococcus, group A, as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere
    B95.1Streptococcus, group B, as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere
    B95.61Methicillin susceptible Staphylococcus aureus infection as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere
    L02.91Cutaneous abscess, unspecified
    L03.116Cellulitis of left lower limb
    N73.9Female pelvic inflammatory disease, unspecified
    N75.0Cyst of Bartholin's gland

    Showing 1–10 of 24

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Obstetrics/Gynecology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Abortion ServicesNew Mexico Health Care Authority2027-01-01
    Prolonged Services for Labor ManagementPremera Bluecross2027-01-01
    Prolonged Services for Labor ManagementPremera Bluecross2027-01-01
    Maternal Serum Testing for Prediction of Adverse Obstetric OutcomesPremera Bluecross2026-10-01
    Maternal Serum Testing for Prediction of Adverse Obstetric OutcomesPremera Bluecross2026-10-01
    Maternal Serum Testing for Prediction of Adverse Obstetric OutcomesBlue Cross Blue Shield - Massachusetts2026-10-01
    Cervical Cancer ScreeningOscar Health2026-10-01
    Prenatal Testing for Fetal AneuploidyOscar Health2026-10-01
    Diagnosis of VaginitisOscar Health2026-10-01
    Prenatal Screening (Nongenetic)Oscar Health2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-56405-GENITAL-ABSCESS-INCISION-DRAINAGE-FEMALE

    CPT 56405: Incision and Drainage of Female Genital Abscess

    CPT-56440-BARTHOLINS-GLAND-CYST-MARSUPIALIZATION

    CPT 56440: Marsupialization of Bartholin's Gland Cyst

    CPT-56441-DESTRUCTION-FIBROUS-BANDS-EXTERNAL-GENITALIA-FEMALE

    CPT 56441: Destruction of Fibrous Bands Adhering to External Female Genitals

    CPT-56442-HYMENOTOMY-INTROITUS-RELEASE

    CPT 56442: Incision of Hymen or Vaginal Opening to Widen Obstruction

    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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