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    OpenPayerBilling CodesOtolaryngologic and Binocular Microscopy ProceduresCPT cpt-92502-ent-examination-under-general-anesthesia
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    CPT 92502: Diagnostic ENT Examination Under General Anesthesia

    Medicare pays $89 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 92502 describes an examination of the ears, nose, and throat performed by a provider while the patient is under general anesthesia, typically used for uncooperative children, adults who require anesthetic management, or trauma patients already anesthetized; service type: diagnostic ENT examination under general anesthesia; typical site of service: operating room or procedure suite.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Office-based Laryngeal Procedures, Injectable Dermal Fillers and Bulking Agents (for New Mexico Only), Injectable Dermal Fillers and Bulking Agents (for Kentucky Only).

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 4-year-old child with recurrent otitis media and significant behavioral distress presents for diagnostic ear, nose, and throat (ENT) examination while under general anesthesia. The child has failed outpatient cooperative exam attempts and the surgeon plans a comprehensive evaluation of the external auditory canals, tympanic membranes, nasal passages, nasopharynx, and oropharynx while the patient is anesthetized. The clinical workflow: preoperative assessment by anesthesia and ENT, induction of general anesthesia in the operating room, performance of the diagnostic ENT endoscopic and microscope exam by the provider, documentation of findings (eg, chronic effusion, obstructing adenoid tissue, foreign body), immediate intraoperative decision-making if procedures are required (eg, myringotomy with tube placement, foreign body removal, adenoidectomy) which would be reported with separate operative CPT codes, recovery from anesthesia, and postoperative documentation noting that the diagnostic exam was performed under general anesthesia due to patient noncooperation and/or trauma status.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    31575Laryngoscopy, flexible or rigid, diagnostic, with or without stroboscopyMay be performed during the anesthetized ENT exam to evaluate the larynx and vocal cords as part of the comprehensive airway assessment.
    69436Tympanostomy (myringotomy) with insertion of ventilation tube(s) (requiring general anesthesia in some children)Common therapeutic procedure performed immediately after diagnostic otologic exam under anesthesia when chronic effusion or recurrent otitis media is identified.
    42830Adenoidectomy, primary; simplePerformed if obstructing adenoid tissue is identified during the anesthetized nasopharyngeal exam.
    69300Removal of foreign body, external auditory canal; without general anesthesiaWhen foreign body removal requires general anesthesia due to patient noncooperation or complexity, the diagnostic exam under anesthesia precedes the removal, which is coded separately (eg, remove FB codes as appropriate).
    31622Bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible; diagnostic, with or without cell washings, with or without culture(s)Performed if airway evaluation during anesthesia extends to the bronchi in trauma or complex airway assessments.

    All codes above are commonly performed alongside, before, or after an anesthetized diagnostic ENT examination and should be reported separately when applicable.

    Related Modifiers

    8 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    23Modifier -23 (Unusual Anesthesia) is used on anesthesia service CPT codes when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia…- Use modifier -23 only on anesthesia CPT codes (00100–01999) when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia because of…
    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…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    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…
    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…
    80CPT® Modifier 80 (Assistant Surgeon) is appended to a surgical CPT code when a physician (MD or DO) provides full, continuous assistance throughout the operative procedure. It is intended only for…- Use CPT Modifier -80 when a physician (MD or DO) serves as an assistant surgeon and provides full, continuous assistance throughout the entire operative procedure; append -80 to the surgical CPT…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207RC0000X
    208000000X
    2080P0206X
    367A00000X
    261QI0500X
    341600000X
    2080I0007X
    207RA0201X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Otorhinolaryngology (ENT)1 / 2

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Office-based Laryngeal ProceduresPremera Bluecross2026-10-06
    Injectable Dermal Fillers and Bulking Agents (for New Mexico Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Injectable Dermal Fillers and Bulking Agents (for Kentucky Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Hearing Aids and Devices Including Wearable, Bone-Anchored, and Semi-Implantable (for Indiana Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Otoacoustic Emissions Testing (for Oxford Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Injectable Dermal Fillers and Bulking AgentsUnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Injectable Dermal Fillers and Bulking AgentsUnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Sinus Surgeries and Interventions (for North Carolina Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Injectable Dermal Fillers and Bulking Agents (for Nebraska Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Injectable Dermal Fillers and Bulking Agents (for Kansas Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-92504-MICROSCOPIC-EAR-EXAMINATION-OTOSCOPY

    CPT 92504: Otoscopic Examination with Microscope

    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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