Find policies, billing codes, payers, states, and providers
CPT 92502: ENT Examination Under General Anesthesia
CPT code 92502 documents an examination of the ears, nose, and throat performed while the patient is under general anesthesia. This code captures diagnostic ENT evaluation when an awake exam is impossible or unsafe, such as in uncooperative pediatric patients, anesthetized adults, or trauma victims who have already received anesthesia. Nationally, accurate use of this code affects clinical documentation, coding compliance, and appropriate facility/service-level reporting for perioperative ENT care.
Key payers relevant to this code include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find context on clinical scenarios that prompt use of the code, common sites of service, and typical service descriptors. The publication includes benchmarking of utilization patterns and reimbursement considerations across major payers, plus notes on documentation elements that support correct coding and billing. Where input data is incomplete, the text flags those gaps rather than adding unsupported details.
This summary equips coding managers, billing staff, and clinical leaders with a focused understanding of the clinical purpose of 92502, the payers commonly involved in coverage, and the types of operational and documentation issues that influence claims processing and compliance at a national level.
Customize your policy alerts
Sign up for cpt 92502 policy alerts
Get alerted when payer policies referencing 92502 are released or updated.
Monitor payer policy activity
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 92502 describes an examination of the ears, nose, and throat performed on a patient who is under general anesthesia. The procedure is used when an awake examination is not possible or safe — for example, in an uncooperative child or an adult, or in a trauma patient who has already received anesthesia.
-
Service type: Diagnostic ENT examination under general anesthesia
-
Typical site of service: Operating room, procedure suite, or other inpatient/outpatient setting where general anesthesia is administered