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CPT 69635: Tympanic Membrane Reconstruction with Mastoidectomy
Headline: CPT code 69635 defines combined tympanic membrane reconstruction with mastoidectomy — a key otologic procedure for chronic ear disease. Lead: CPT code 69635 covers initial or revision tympanoplasty performed with removal of all or part of the mastoid to address chronic infection and tympanic membrane perforation; ossicular chain reconstruction is explicitly excluded.
CPT code 69635 represents a significant surgical service in otolaryngology addressing chronic middle ear disease and persistent eardrum perforations. Nationally, this procedure matters because it can restore hearing, control chronic infection, and reduce recurrent healthcare utilization. Common sites of service include hospital operating rooms and ambulatory surgery centers where otologic surgical care is delivered.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise review of clinical context, common service settings, and the elements that define the procedure. The publication outlines typical billing considerations, common modifiers used in practice (listed separately), and related coding where available. It also highlights benchmarks and policy updates relevant to payers and providers, and clarifies what is included in the CPT descriptor versus services that would require additional codes. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
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Billing Code Overview
CPT code 69635 describes an initial or revision surgical procedure that reconstructs the tympanic membrane (eardrum) to repair a perforation and includes removal of all or part of the mastoid to treat chronic infection. The procedure may involve reconstruction of the ear canal, an incision into the tympanic attic, tympanic membrane repair, and other surgeries of the middle ear. This descriptor specifies that reconstruction of the ossicular chain is not included.
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Service type: Otologic surgery combining tympanoplasty with mastoidectomy (initial or revision)
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Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or ambulatory surgery center