The following graph is to illustrate that single surgical procedures–even complex ones do not reimburse in the tens of thousands. Most complex procedures require multiple procedures and the most of the high hospital costs go to the facility–the hospital and not the surgeon.
The takeaway here that reimbursement for liposuction for lipedema close to the actual charged fees is a huge win. On a strict RVU comparison basis few CPT codes pay more than $5,000. We are working with surgeons and patients to get the highest reimbursement. Just remember that actual reimbursement for liposuction for lipedema can be anywhere between $300, $1,200 and the full amount ($7K to $15K).
| CPT | DESCRIPTION | TOTAL | Medicare | |
| FACILITY RVU’S | Allowable | |||
| 39503 | Repair of diaphragm hernia | 173.2 | $6,250.72 | 1 |
| 47135 | Transplantation of liver | 157.05 | $5,667.87 | 2 |
| 43116 | Partial removal of esophagus | 145.06 | $5,235.16 | 3 |
| 49605 | Repair umbilical lesion | 144.61 | $5,218.92 | 4 |
| 33935 | Transplantation heart/lung | 143.67 | $5,184.99 | 5 |
| 32854 | Lung transplant with bypass | 141.2 | $5,095.85 | 6 |
| 33945 | Transplantation of heart | 141.12 | $5,092.96 | 7 |
| 61698 | Brain aneurysm repr complx | 138.04 | $4,981.81 | 8 |
| 47142 | Partial removal donor liver | 137.42 | $4,959.43 | 9 |
| 61686 | Intracranial vessel surgery | 134.17 | $4,842.14 | 10 |
| 32853 | Lung transplant double | 132.95 | $4,798.11 | 11 |
| 43123 | Partial removal of esophagus | 131.17 | $4,733.87 | 12 |
| 43108 | Removal of esophagus | 129.57 | $4,676.13 | 13 |
| 43113 | Removal of esophagus | 126.47 | $4,564.25 | 14 |
| 47141 | Partial removal donor liver | 124.55 | $4,494.96 | 15 |
| 61682 | Intracranial vessel surgery | 123.73 | $4,465.37 | 16 |
| 46748 | Repair of cloacal anomaly | 123.42 | $4,454.18 | 17 |
| 61697 | Brain aneurysm repr complx | 122.67 | $4,427.11 | 18 |
| 33916 | Surgery of great vessel | 122.44 | $4,418.81 | 19 |
| 61576 | Skull base/brainstem surgery | 121.37 | $4,380.19 | 20 |
| 33305 | Repair of heart wound | 118.96 | $4,293.22 | 21 |
| 61702 | Inner skull vessel surgery | 117.1 | $4,226.09 | 22 |
| 20808 | Replantation hand complete | 114.52 | $4,132.98 | 23 |
| 46746 | Repair of cloacal anomaly | 113.71 | $4,103.75 | 24 |
| 43124 | Removal of esophagus | 110.54 | $3,989.34 | 25 |
| 26554 | Double transfer toe-hand | 110.28 | $3,979.96 | 26 |
| 43288 | Esphg thrsc moblj | 109.81 | $3,963.00 | 27 |
| I included the procedures below as being comparable; you will need to argue the procedure should be reimbursed higher. | ||||
| 15830 | Exc skin abd | 33.98 | $1,226.32 | |
| 15832 | Excise excessive skin thigh | 26.57 | $ 958.90 | |
| 15833 | Excise excessive skin leg | 25.23 | $ 910.54 | |
| 15834 | Excise excessive skin hip | 25.73 | $ 928.59 | |
| 15835 | Excise excessive skin buttck | 26.98 | $ 973.70 |