CurrentEmblemHealthPolicy MG.MM.SU.04gC3

Septoplasty

Defines EmblemHealth medical guideline coverage criteria, limitations/exclusions, applicable procedure and diagnosis codes, and documentation requirements for septoplasty (submucosal resection of the septum).

Policy Summary

PayerEmblemHealth

PolicySeptoplasty

Policy CodePolicy MG.MM.SU.04gC3

Change TypeMultiple revisions (including added OSA indication and investigational device language)

Effective Date

Next Review Date

Key ActionTreating physicians must submit clinical evidence (symptoms, radiologic findings, conservative management failure, allergy testing results where applicable) for preauthorization or post-payment review.

SourceLink

POLICY UPDATE CHANGES

Transferred policy content to individual company branded template.

Added documentation note pertaining to obstructive sleep apnea indication.

Added obstructive sleep apnea as a covered indication (effective 2022-02-12).

Added investigational language for absorbable nasal implants to Limitations/Exclusions.

Substituted language 'clinically significant obstruction' for prior '50 percent obstruction' wording.

Added septoplasty coverage when performed with cleft palate repair, and when an asymptomatic deformity impacts surgical access.

8Primary covered indication categories listed

2Applicable procedure codes

1Investigational procedure code (device)

Coverage Summary

Defines EmblemHealth medical guideline coverage criteria, limitations/exclusions, applicable procedure and diagnosis codes, and documentation requirements for septoplasty (submucosal resection of the septum). Applicable procedure codes include 30520 and 30620. The guideline requires treating clinicians to submit clinical evidence and documentation to demonstrate medical necessity and benefit plan applicability for preauthorization or post-payment review.

Policy metadata and thresholds

Policy NumberMG.MM.SU.04gC3

StatusCURRENT

Last Review DateJanuary 23, 2026

Primary covered indication count8

Applicable procedure codes count2

Investigational device count1

Recurrent Purulent Sinusitis frequency> 3 episodes per year

Chronic rhinosinusitis symptom duration> 12 weeks

Recurrent Epistaxis frequency>= 4 episodes

Medical-Necessity Criteria

Covered Indications

Members are eligible for coverage of septoplasty when at least 1 of the following conditions exists:

ANY of the following

Chronic nasal obstruction attributable to deviated septum that results in significant medical disabilities, such as:
- Recurrent purulent sinusitis (> 3 episodes per year) with clinically significant obstruction; conservative management has failed to alleviate or prevent episodes, including antibiotics, antihistamines, decongestants, nasal sprays or topical steroids, and attempts to discontinue nasal irritants such as smoking, drugs and inadequate humidification.> 3 episodes per year
  Diagnosis must be documented by both symptoms (including purulent nasal drainage) and radiologic evidence of either recurrent acute sinusitis (> 3 episodes per year) or chronic rhinosinusitis (symptoms > 12 weeks; clouding of sinuses, thickening of sinus membranes on limited CT).
- Nasal septal deformity or spur with clinically significant obstruction:

Limitations and Not Covered

Absorbable nasal implants for nasal valve collapse (e.g., Latera® — CPT 30468) are specifically listed as investigational / not covered for Commercial and Medicaid. No other investigational exclusions are added in this policy.

Coding

Applicable Procedure CodesCPTCovered

30520	Septoplasty or submucous resection, with or without cartilage scoring, contouring or replacement with graft.
30620	Septal or other intranasal dermatoplasty (does not include obtaining graft).

Investigational / Not Covered Device Code MentionCPTNot Covered

30468

Absorbable nasal implant for nasal valve collapse (e.g., Latera®) — considered investigational for Commercial and Medicaid.

Applicable Diagnosis CodesICD-10

C30.0	Malignant neoplasm of nasal cavity.
C31.0	Malignant neoplasm of maxillary sinus.
C31.1	Malignant neoplasm of ethmoidal sinus.
C31.2	Malignant neoplasm of frontal sinus.
C31.3	Malignant neoplasm of sphenoid sinus.
C31.8	Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of accessory sinuses.
C41.0	Malignant neoplasm of bones of skull and face.
C79.89	Secondary malignant neoplasm of other specified sites.
C79.9	Secondary malignant neoplasm of unspecified site.
D14.0	Benign neoplasm of middle ear, nasal cavity and accessory sinuses.

1–10 of 35

1/4

mixed

No codes listed

Provider Actions

Documentation Required

Submit clinical evidence for preauthorization or review

Treating physician or primary care provider must submit clinical evidence that the member meets the criteria (symptoms, radiologic evidence, documentation of conservative management failure, allergy testing results where applicable) for preauthorization or post-payment review; requests cannot be properly reviewed without this documentation.

Symptoms (including purulent nasal drainage)
Radiologic evidence (e.g., limited CT showing clouding of sinuses or thickening of sinus membranes)
Documentation of conservative management failure
Allergy testing/results where applicable

Documentation Required

Conservative management documentation

Background

Septoplasty is the surgical correction or reconstruction of the nasal septum to address misalignment causing breathing impairment. EmblemHealth bases coverage decisions on clinical evidence and specialty-matched review and requires documentation to demonstrate medical necessity and that the benefit plan covers the service.

Septoplasty: Surgical correction or reconstruction of the nasal septum (submucosal resection of the septum) to correct breathing impairment from septal misalignment.

Clinically significant obstruction: Policy term replacing prior '50 percent obstruction' wording; denotes obstruction sufficient to cause the medical disabilities specified in the coverage criteria.

Evidence summary:

• Specialty-matched clinical peer review — Referenced.

• Selected literature — Multiple historical references cited (Dinis 2002; Doyle; Godley; Grossman; Huerter; Lund; Marshall; Schuller).

Revision History

Feb. 14, 2025revisionLatest

Transferred policy content to individual company branded template.

Jan. 19, 2023addition

Added documentation note pertaining to obstructive sleep apnea indication.

Nov. 12, 2021addition

Added obstructive sleep apnea as a covered indication (effective 2022-02-12).

Policy Summary

PayerEmblemHealth

PolicySeptoplasty

Policy CodePolicy MG.MM.SU.04gC3

Change TypeMultiple revisions (including added OSA indication and investigational device language)

Effective Date

Next Review Date

SourceLink

On This Page

Nasal septal deformity or spur (congenital or acquired) with clinically significant obstruction; assessment and testing for allergic conditions completed if appropriate; conservative management failure in presence of allergic rhinitis (allergic precautions, antihistamines, topical nasal steroids and ± desensitization injections); and general conservative management failure (reduction of nasal irritants such as smoking, occupational exposures, drugs and inadequate humidification).

Recurrent epistaxis (at least 4 episodes), or an episode of severe epistaxis associated with a septal deviation or spur seen on exam; conservative treatment measure failure such as avoidance of medications affecting coagulation, addition of environmental humidity and cauterization; and nasal spur or septal deformity shown to be the etiology of abnormal airflow.>= 4 episodes

Impending septal perforation (hole through the septum) with significant septal deviation causing airflow obstruction and failure of conservative measures including humidification, desisting further digital trauma, reduction of nasal irritants (smoking, drugs) and drug therapy (decongestants, antihistamines, nasal steroids), if indicated.

Unusual facial pain originating from the nasal area and relieved by septal anesthesia.

Asymptomatic deformity that prevents surgical access to other intranasal or paranasal areas (e.g., sinuses, turbinates).

Septoplasty with cleft palate repair: Septoplasty when performed in association with cleft palate repair.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): Obstructive sleep apnea — to aid in ability to utilize CPAP and help upper airway obstruction (effective 2022-02-12). For members with allergic rhinitis who also have OSA, documentation of conservative management failure in the presence of allergic rhinitis (allergic precautions, antihistamines, topical nasal steroids and ± desensitization injections) should be submitted.

For indications requiring conservative management failure (sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, epistaxis, impending septal perforation), document trials of specified conservative measures; these must be shown to have failed prior to approval.

Antibiotics
Antihistamines
Decongestants
Nasal sprays or topical steroids
Humidification
Avoidance of nasal irritants (e.g., smoking, occupational exposures, drugs)
Cauterization (where applicable)

Documentation Required

OSA-specific documentation

For an obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) indication, document how septoplasty will aid CPAP use or address upper airway obstruction. When allergic rhinitis is present in members with OSA, also document failure of conservative allergic rhinitis measures (allergic precautions, antihistamines, topical nasal steroids and +/- desensitization injections).

G47.33
G47.30
G47.31
G47.32

Jun. 1, 2021addition

Added investigational language for absorbable nasal implants to Limitations/Exclusions.

Sept. 14, 2018revision

Substituted language 'clinically significant obstruction' for prior '50 percent obstruction' wording.

Aug. 12, 2016addition

Added septoplasty coverage when performed with cleft palate repair, and when an asymptomatic deformity impacts surgical access.