Nashville: Elevate 2026: Advancing Surgical Coding Excellence Across Otolaryngology

August 21, 2026

Staying current with accurate, high‑quality coding has never been more essential—and the 2026 Otolaryngology Surgical Procedure Coding Course is your opportunity to stay ahead of the curve. This intensive, fast‑paced program distills the most critical updates and best practices in Otolaryngology coding into one power‑packed day designed to elevate your accuracy, confidence, and productivity.

This year’s agenda delivers everything you need to code and document with precision for 2026 and beyond. You’ll learn why documentation is just as important as the codes you choose and how strategic improvements to your notes can help capture every dollar of legitimate reimbursement. We’ll walk you through the proper use of surgical payment modifiers, giving you the tools to optimize payment, minimize denials, and strengthen appeals.

You’ll also receive deep, clinically grounded instruction across key specialty areas—including Otology, Rhinology, Laryngology, Facial plastics, Complex repairs, ATTs, flaps, grafts, and Head and Neck procedures—ensuring you can confidently navigate even the most challenging coding scenarios.

Rich with real-world clinical examples, the course includes a comprehensive, practical workbook that will quickly become your go-to reference long after the session ends.

Target Audience

Physicians, Non-Physician Providers, Billing Managers, Coding/Billing Staff, Administrators, and Revenue Cycle Directors.

Learning Objectives

 

  • Use surgery coding that meets CPT rules and government regulations for commonly performed procedures.
  • Integrate ENT subspecialty coding principles in otology/neurotology, rhinology, laryngology, facial plastics, and head and neck procedures
  • Correctly code common Otolaryngology surgical procedures
  • Recognize the impact of modifiers on global periods and reimbursement
  • Accurately apply modifiers when they are required and understand their impact on reimbursement

Commercial Support
There is no commercial support for this activity.

 

Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 6.00 AAPA Category 1 CME

    AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare has been authorized by the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 6.00 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.

  • 6.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit

    Physicians
    AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare designates this Live Activity for a maximum of 6.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 6.00 Attendance

    Credits: 6.00

  • 6.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ Non-MD

    Non-Physicians Seeking AMA Credit
    AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare designates this Live Activity for a maximum of 6.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

     

Course opens: 
08/21/2026
Course expires: 
10/22/2026
Event starts: 
08/21/2026 - 9:00am EDT
Event ends: 
08/21/2026 - 5:00pm EDT
Cost:
$0.00
Rating: 
0

AGENDA

Coding and Reimbursement Current Issues: (NEW)

  • How the wRVU (work RVU) drives Practitioner Compensation
  • Understanding NCCI and Bundled Services and the impact on reimbursement

8:00am–8:30am

The Global Surgical Package

  • Global Surgical Package
  • Coding for pre-op visits
    • Post-op visits related to the procedure

Post-op visits unrelated to the procedure

Using Modifiers to Get Paid

  • Commonly used modifiers in an ENT practice – when to use them and how they impact reimbursement
  • Modifiers 22 (increased service) vs. 52 (reduced service) vs. 53 (discontinued procedure)
  • Modifiers 50 (bilateral procedure) and 51 (multiple procedures)
  • Unravel the confusion between modifiers 51 vs. 59 vs. Medicare’s X- modifiers
  • Performing a procedure when you’re already in a global period – is it included in the global period you’re already in or can it be separately reported? 
  • Using modifiers 58 (staged/anticipated procedure), 78 (unplanned procedure) and 79 (unrelated procedure)
  • Explanation of the assistant surgeon (80, 82) vs. co-surgeon (62) modifiers
  • KZA’s “quick guide” to surgery code modifiers

8:30am–10:00am

Break

10:00am–10:15am

 

Otology/Neurotology

  • Using an unlisted code – when to use one, how to value the code, payor coverage policy and strategies for reimbursement
  • Operative Report Dictation Tips
  • Otology/Neurotology
    • Microscope codes
    • Eustachian Tube Dilation
    • Automated tympanostomy tube delivery
    • Tympanostomy tubes
    • Transtympanic injection
    • Epley maneuver
    • Mastoid debridement
    • Tympanic membrane repair procedures
    • Eustachian tube dilation
    • Mastoidectomy
    • Osseointegrated Implants
    • Diagnostic analysis, programming, and verification of an auditory Osseointegrated sound processor
    • Vestibular device Implants 
    • Cochlear implant
    • Repair of semicircular canal dehiscence
    • Cerebellopontine Angle Tumor Excisions

10:15am–11:30am

Lunch

11:30am–12:30pm

 

Rhinology/Laryngology/Airway

  • Rhinology
    • Diagnostic Endoscopies (nasal endoscopy, flexible laryngoscopy, nasopharyngoscopy, endoscopic sinus debridement
    • Nasal swell body treatment
    • Cryotherapy and Radiofrequency Ablation
    • Minimally invasive procedures for chronic rhinitis and nasal vestibular stenosis:
    • Control of Nasal hemorrhage
    • Inferior turbinate procedures
    • Endoscopic sinus surgery and sinus dilation
    • Excision of Pituitary Tumor
  • Laryngology/Airway
    • Flexible laryngoscopy procedures including laser ablation, tracheostomy and tube change, Botox injections
    • Tracheostomy Placement and Tube Changes
  • Billing for Drug Administration and Waste

12:30pm–1:30pm

Facial Plastics

  • Facial Plastics
    • Coding for skin biopsy and lesion removal
    • Wound/laceration repairs
    • Adjacent tissue transfer
    • Paramedian forehead flap
    • Skin grafts, Rhinoplasty
    • Repair of nasal vestibular stenosis
    • Repair of nasal valve collapse with lateral wall implant code
    • Energy-based repair of nasal valve collapse
    • Closed Nasal fracture repair

1:30pm–2:15pm

Break

2:15pm–2:30pm

 

Head and Neck Procedures

  • Fine needle aspiration
  • Diagnostic head/neck ultrasound
  • TORS (transoral robotic surgery)
  • Tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy and postop bleed scenarios
  • Direct laryngoscopy
  • Bronchoscopy
  • Esophagoscopy
  • Tongue biopsies
  • Lymph node procedures
  • Thyroidectomy/parathyroidectomy,
  • Parotidectomy
  • Glossectomy
  • Laryngectomy
  • Skull base surgery (open and endoscopic endonasal)
  • LeFort Procedure (NEW)
    • LeFort I
    • LeFort II
    • Lefort III

2:30pm–4:00pm

Loews Nashville Hotel at Vanderbilt Plaza
Nashville, TN
United States

AKH Inc. and KarenZupko & Associates, Inc staff and reviewers have no financial relationships with  ineligible companies to disclose. Identified conflicts of interest are mitigated by AKH prior to accreditation of the activity.

Disclaimer 
This course is designed solely to provide the healthcare professional with information to assist in his/her practice and professional development and is not to be considered a diagnostic tool to replace professional advice or treatment. The course serves as a general guide to the healthcare professional, and therefore, cannot be considered as giving legal, nursing, medical, or other professional advice in specific cases. AKH Inc. specifically disclaim responsibility for any adverse consequences resulting directly or indirectly from information in the course, for undetected error, or through participants misunderstanding of the content. If you would like to opt out from future communications from AKH please send an email to [email protected] with your information with "Opt Out" in the subject line.

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use and Investigational Product

This educational activity may include discussion of uses of agents that are investigational and/or unapproved by the FDA. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare and KarenZupko & Associates, Inc. AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

 

This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 6.0 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit for learning and change.             

 

Available Credit

  • 6.00 AAPA Category 1 CME

    AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare has been authorized by the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 6.00 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.

  • 6.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit

    Physicians
    AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare designates this Live Activity for a maximum of 6.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 6.00 Attendance

    Credits: 6.00

  • 6.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ Non-MD

    Non-Physicians Seeking AMA Credit
    AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare designates this Live Activity for a maximum of 6.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

     

Price

Cost:
$0.00
Please login or register to take this course.