A Deviated Septum Doesn’t Get Paid. Documented Obstruction Does.
Septoplasty (30520) is covered for functional nasal obstruction, not for a deviated septum on its own. The line is documented obstruction plus failed medical therapy.
Blog posts by John Gwin
We stay up to date on the ever-changing insurance market's impacts on your specialty for you...because it's basically a full time job in and of itself.
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June 10, 2026
In-House Plastic Surgery Billing Is a System, Not a Hire
Running plastic surgery billing in-house isn’t one hire — it’s a full revenue-cycle system. Here’s the whole machine, end to end.
June 10, 2026
In-House vs Outsourced Plastic Surgery Billing
In-house or outsourced plastic surgery billing — the real trade isn’t cost. It’s who owns your AR, your follow-up, and your denials.
June 2, 2026
Outsourced vs. In-House Dermatology Billing
Outsourced or in-house billing for your dermatology practice? The real cost, where revenue leaks, and five questions to answer before you switch.
June 1, 2026
The 2026 Skin Substitute Rule: Margin Gone, Flap Intact
On January 1, 2026, Medicare cut skin substitute pay ~90% to a flat $127.14/cm². What survives for plastic surgery and dermatology — and what doesn’t.
May 9, 2026
Gender-Affirming Surgery Billing: What the Code Actually Pays (And What It Doesn’t)
The Core Problem: One Code, Many Techniques The technique changes depending on the patient. The CPT code doesn’t. For top surgery — augmentation, reduction, mastectomy with nipple reconstruction — reimbursement is tied to the standard diagnosis for that procedure type. A reduction for macromasty and a reduction for masculinization carry the same code, same reimbursement, […]
