CPT 69711 Removal/Repair Reimbursement & Policy | OpenPayer

Summary & Overview

CPT 69711: Removal or Repair of Implanted Electromagnetic Bone Conduction Device

CPT code 69711 covers the surgical removal or repair of previously implanted electromagnetic bone conduction hearing devices anchored in the temporal bone. These devices transmit sound energy by driving a magnet adjacent to middle ear vibratory structures; they require explantation when irreparable or in the presence of infection. Nationally, this code is relevant to otolaryngology and neurotology practices, hospital surgical services, and ambulatory surgery centers that manage implantable hearing technologies.

Key payers commonly engaged with claims for this service include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The publication provides a concise overview of clinical context, expected sites of service, and payer coverage considerations. Readers will find benchmarks for utilization and reimbursement patterns where available, summaries of relevant policy updates affecting implantable hearing-device procedures, and practical coding notes to support accurate claim submission.

This resource is intended for billing professionals, practice managers, and clinicians involved in implantable hearing-device care who need a national-level reference for coding, site-of-service expectations, and the clinical circumstances that typically justify removal or repair of electromagnetic bone conduction systems.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicare69711CPTotolaryngologyimplantable-hearing-devicedevice-removaltemporal-bonesurgical-procedureambulatory-surgeryneurotology

Billing Code Overview

CPT code 69711 describes the removal or repair of a previously implanted electromagnetic bone conduction hearing device in the temporal bone. These devices deliver sound by converting electrical current into motion via a coil and magnet that couple to vibratory structures of the middle ear (for example, the tympanic membrane, ossicles, or round window). Removal is performed when the device cannot be repaired or when there is associated infection.

Service type: Surgical procedure — device removal/repair of implanted middle ear bone conduction system

Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or ambulatory surgical center, with possible performance in inpatient settings when clinically indicated.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 58-year-old patient with a previously implanted electromagnetic bone conduction hearing device presents with progressive pain, erythema, and purulent drainage at the postauricular incision site. Conservative management including oral antibiotics and device deactivation failed to control infection and the device demonstrates mechanical failure on audiologic and device interrogation. The patient is scheduled for operative removal of the implanted electromagnetic bone conduction hearing device from the temporal bone under general anesthesia. Preoperative workflow includes otologic examination, device imaging (CT temporal bone) to define implant position and surrounding anatomy, perioperative antibiotic planning, anesthesia evaluation, and informed consent addressing potential need for repair versus complete explantation and management of middle ear structures. Intraoperative steps include postauricular incision, soft-tissue dissection to access the implant, careful separation of the coil and magnet components from the temporal bone and any attached middle ear vibratory structure, device explantation or repair as indicated, irrigation and debridement if infected tissue is present, hemostasis, and layered closure. Postoperative workflow includes pain control, wound care instructions, culture-directed antibiotics if infection was present, audiologic assessment, and planning for future hearing rehabilitation (replacement implant, alternative hearing device, or referral to audiology). Typical site of service is an ambulatory surgery center or hospital operating room with otolaryngology/otology capability. Typical providers include otolaryngologists (otologists/neurotologists) with surgical privileges for middle ear and temporal bone procedures. Typical patient scenario: device cannot be repaired or is associated with infection and requires removal, or device malfunction necessitating surgical revision or replacement.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use

CPT 69700: Closure of Postauricular Fistula of Mastoid

CPT-69716-BONE-ANCHORED-MAGNETIC-AUDITORY-IMPLANT-MASTOID

CPT 69716: Bone‑Anchored Magnetic Auditory Implant, Mastoid

CPT-69725-FACIAL-NERVE-DECOMPRESSION-MIDDLE-EAR

CPT 69725: Decompression of Intratemporal Facial Nerve, Middle Ear

CPT-69706-EUSTACHIAN-TUBE-BALLOON-DILATION-TRANSNASAL-ENDOSCOPY

CPT 69706: Transnasal Eustachian Tube Balloon Dilation

CPT-69726-BONE-ANCHORED-HEARING-IMPLANT-EXPLANTATION

CPT 69726: Bone-Anchored Hearing Implant Explantation

CPT-69705-BALLOON-DILATION-EUSTACHIAN-TUBE-SINGLE-SIDE

CPT 69705: Nasal Endoscopy with Eustachian Tube Balloon Dilation

CPT-69740-FACIAL-NERVE-SUTURE-MIDDLE-EAR

CPT 69740: Suture of Facial Nerve in Middle Ear, With/Without Graft

CPT-69714-BONE-ANCHORED-SKULL-IMPLANT-AUDITORY-DEVICE

CPT 69714: Bone‑Anchored Skull Implant for Auditory Sound Transmission

CPT-69719-BONE-ANCHORED-AUDITORY-IMPLANT-REPLACEMENT-MASTOID

CPT 69719: Bone-Anchored Auditory Implant Replacement, Mastoid

CPT-69729-BONE-ANCHORED-TRANSCUTANEOUS-AUDITORY-IMPLANTATION

CPT 69729: Bone-Anchored Transcutaneous Auditory Implantation

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Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`207XS0102X`	Otolaryngology	Surgeons who commonly perform temporal bone and middle ear implant explantation.
`2084P0800X`	Otology/Neurotology	Subspecialists focused on ear surgery and implant management.
`208000000X`	General Surgery (Otolaryngology overlap)	Sometimes listed for hospital credentialing; primary responsibility remains otolaryngology.
`367500000X`	Audiology	Involved pre- and postoperatively for device testing and rehabilitation planning.
`363A00000X`	Physician Assistant	Common surgical assistant role in otolaryngology procedures.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`H60.3`	Other chronic otitis externa	Local soft tissue infection near postauricular incision may necessitate device removal when contiguous.
`H66.9`	Otitis media, unspecified	Middle ear infection associated with implant infection or dysfunction prompting explantation.
`T85.898A`	Other complications of internal prosthetic devices, implants and grafts, initial encounter	General code for implant complications such as mechanical failure or infection requiring removal.
`H81.9`	Disorder of vestibular function, unspecified	Vestibular symptoms may be evaluated when auditory implant malfunction affects balance; not primary but associated.
`H91.90`	Unspecified hearing loss, unspecified ear	Underlying indication for initial implant placement; relevant to decisions about removal and future rehabilitation.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`69711`	Removal or repair of previously placed electromagnetic bone conduction hearing device in temporal bone	Primary procedure code for explantation or repair of an electromagnetic bone conduction implant when removal or repair is performed.
`69990`	Use of operating microscope (separate procedure)	Often reported when an operating microscope is used for precise middle ear dissection during implant removal.
`69620`	Tympanoplasty, tympanic membrane repair with ossicular chain repair when performed	May be performed concurrently if explantation requires middle ear reconstruction or ossicular chain repair.
`69436`	Tympanostomy (myringotomy) with insertion of ventilating tube	May be performed if middle ear ventilation is needed at time of explantation.
`20550`	Injection(s); single tendon sheath, ligament, or ganglion cyst	Not directly related; included here per instruction? Data not available in the input.

`00`	No modifier (default)	Use when no additional modifier applies to the service.
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the procedure is partially reduced or not completed as originally intended (e.g., attempted removal but device inaccessible).
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when the procedure is terminated due to extenuating circumstances after anesthesia induction.
`62`	Two surgeons	Use when two surgeons of different specialties perform distinct, medically necessary portions of the procedure.
`66`	Surgical team (several surgeons)	Use when a surgical team is required for the procedure.
`78`	Return to operating room for related procedure by same physician	Use when the patient returns to the OR for an unplanned procedure related to the original explant (e.g., postoperative hemorrhage requiring reoperation).
`79`	Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician during the postoperative period	Not in raw list; omitted.
`AS`	Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery	Use to indicate assistant-at-surgery services by eligible non-physician clinicians where allowed.
`LT`	Left side	Use when the device removal is performed on the left temporal bone.
`RT`	Right side	Use when the device removal is performed on the right temporal bone.
`51`	Multiple procedures	Use when additional distinct procedures are performed the same day (e.g., explant plus tympanoplasty).
`22`	Increased procedural services	Use when the procedure involves substantially greater work than typical (e.g., extensive scarring or complex explantation).
`23`	Unusual anesthesia	Use when general anesthesia is required for a procedure normally performed with local/regional anesthesia and documentation supports it (rare in explantation with comorbidity).
`26`	Professional component	Use when only the professional component (interpretation) of an associated diagnostic service is billed.

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