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.

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, […]

In plastic surgery billing, accounts receivable, often referred to as AR, rarely deteriorates overnight. More often, AR slowly drifts. Denials increase, aging stretches out, cash flow tightens, and leadership assumes it is a payer issue. AR is a slow burn… once you notice a fire is it often too late or at least you’ve lost […]

CPT 15877 Overview Procedure: Suction-assisted lipectomy (liposuction) of the trunkCategory: Integumentary system – Other Repair (Closure)Typical Use: Liposuction of abdomen, flanks, or backGlobal Period: 90 daysCommon Modifiers: 59, 51, 22, 50, 52 What Is CPT 15877? CPT code 15877 describes suction-assisted lipectomy of the trunk, the medical term for liposuction of areas like the abdomen, […]

If you code or bill for reconstructive or plastic surgery procedures, accuracy can make or break your claims.  CPT 15832, excision of excessive skin and subcutaneous tissue (includes lipectomy); thigh, is one of those codes that looks simple but requires precision to document and bill correctly. This guide from The Auctus Group breaks down CPT […]

CPT 15830: Complete Guide to Billing CPT 15830 is the code for the removal of excessive abdominal skin and fat below the belly button, known as an infraumbilical panniculectomy.  This procedure is often performed after significant weight loss or when an abdominal pannus causes medical issues such as infections, rashes, or difficulty with mobility. Insurers […]

CPT 15839: What You Need to Know If you work in medical billing or run a practice that offers plastic or reconstructive surgery, you’ve probably come across CPT 15839.  And like most CPT codes, it’s more than just numbers, getting it right can mean the difference between reimbursement and denial.  Here’s a complete breakdown of […]

Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Billing Services Billing for plastic and reconstructive surgery isn’t straightforward.  Unlike other specialties, surgeons here deal with both cosmetic procedures and reconstructive cases.  Insurance carriers demand strong proof of medical necessity, pre-authorizations are frequent, and coding mistakes can lead to costly denials.  Practices that don’t specialize in this type of medical […]

Plastic Surgery Billing: A Complete 2025 Guide Plastic surgery billing can get complicated fast.  Between figuring out whether a procedure is cosmetic or reconstructive, staying on top of 2025 CPT code updates, and making sure every claim is backed by proper documentation, there’s a lot that can go wrong.  And in this field, mistakes mean […]

Choosing the Right EMR for Your Plastic Surgery Practice in 2025 As the aesthetics and plastic surgery space evolves, so must your technology. From mobile-first documentation to all-in-one quoting and billing platforms, practices now have more options than ever to streamline operations and enhance the patient experience. At The Auctus Group, we cut through the […]