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Thoracic Surgery billing

Thoracic & Cardiothoracic Surgery Billing

Lung, esophageal and cardiac surgery are among the highest-value procedures in medicine. Specialist billers make sure every component, team role and modifier is paid.

  • VATS, robotic and open thoracic procedures coded from op notes
  • CABG, valve and TAVR team-surgery rules applied correctly
  • Critical care and post-operative services tracked in the global

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96%
Clean-claim rate target
90-day
Global periods tracked
< 40
Days in A/R goal
Overview

What makes cardiothoracic billing complex

Thoracic surgeons perform lobectomies, segmentectomies, wedge resections, decortications and esophageal surgery using open, video-assisted (VATS) or robotic approaches, and the approach changes the code. Cardiac surgeons bill CABG by the number and type of grafts, valve procedures and structural heart interventions.

Many cases involve team surgery: two surgeons sharing a procedure as co-surgeons (modifier 62), or a heart team for TAVR in which both surgeons report the procedure. Assistant surgeons, intra-operative TEE by another provider and perfusion services add more claims to coordinate.

These procedures have 90-day global periods, and patients frequently need critical care afterwards. Critical care unrelated to the surgery may be billed separately with the right documentation and modifiers. A cardiothoracic billing partner gets each case coded accurately and makes sure high-value claims are never delayed.

Why it's hard

Common thoracic surgery billing challenges

01

Approach-specific coding

Open, VATS and robotic procedures have different codes for similar resections.

02

CABG graft counting

Arterial and venous graft combinations must be coded exactly.

03

Team and co-surgeon rules

TAVR and complex cases require modifier 62 and coordinated claims.

04

Critical care in the global

Post-operative critical care is billable only when unrelated to the surgery and documented.

05

High-dollar denials

Authorization or documentation issues on a single case can cost tens of thousands.

06

Hospital and ASC coordination

Facility and professional claims must align on procedures and dates.

What's included

What a thoracic surgery billing partner should handle

  • Pre-surgical authorization and benefits checks
  • Thoracic and cardiac operative note coding
  • Co-surgeon and team surgery billing
  • Assistant surgeon billing review
  • Global period and modifier management
  • Critical care and hospital service capture
  • Structural heart program billing support
  • Denial management and appeals
  • Patient estimates and statements
  • Case volume and revenue reporting
Coding focus

Key codes in thoracic surgery billing

Code(s)What it covers
32663Thoracoscopy (VATS) with lobectomy.
32480Removal of lung, single lobe (lobectomy), open.
32551Tube thoracostomy (chest tube) with or without water seal.
33533Coronary artery bypass using arterial graft, single arterial graft.
33405Aortic valve replacement with prosthetic valve other than homograft or stentless.
33361Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), percutaneous femoral approach.
32554 / 32555Thoracentesis without / with imaging guidance.

Code examples are for orientation only. Always code from the current CPT®, HCPCS and ICD-10-CM code sets and payer policies.

Team surgery documentation

When co-surgeons each perform distinct parts of a procedure, each surgeon must document their own portion. Co-surgery claims with modifier 62 should be submitted with matching codes so payers can process both.

How it works

Find the right billing partner in four steps

1

Share your goals

Tell us your specialty, monthly claim volume, EHR and the problems you want fixed, denials, slow A/R or staffing gaps.

2

Get a free audit

We review a sample of your claims and aging report to show where revenue is leaking and what a specialist could recover.

3

Compare vetted companies

Shortlist billers with proven thoracic surgery experience, transparent pricing and verified client reviews.

4

Onboard with confidence

Sign a BAA, connect your EHR and clearinghouse, and track clean-claim rate, days in A/R and collections from month one.

Compare

Top-rated medical billing companies

Billing companies listed on BillerFirms, ranked by client reviews. Ask each one about their thoracic surgery experience.

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5.0 5 reviews

Who We Are We are Prime Medical Billing Solutions, LLC, a results-driven medical billing and revenue cycle partner headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Since about 2015, we have operated with the belief that true value lies in partnering, rather than merely contracting, with providers to ensure personalized attention and peak revenue performance. Founded by seasoned billing professionals with 20+ years of combined expert experience, our home office in Atlanta supports both individual practices and larger provider groups. Our team is passionate about maximizing reimbursements and simplifying the billing journey step by step. What Services We Offer We provide a comprehensive suite of services designed to optimize every phase of the revenue cycle: Claims processing & billing management, including electronic, UB‑04, and HCFA‑1500 formats Accounts receivable and collections, focusing on paid-to...

Atlanta, Georgia
Founded 2015
Claims ProcessingDenial ManagementCredentialing (Payer & License)
No reviews yet

GreenSense Billing is a trusted leader in medical billing and revenue cycle management, providing comprehensive solutions tailored to the unique needs of healthcare providers across the United States. Our mission is to streamline administrative complexities, optimize reimbursements, and enhance financial performance, allowing medical professionals to focus on delivering exceptional patient care. Our Services • We offer end-to-end medical billing and revenue management solutions, including: •  Medical Billing & Coding - Accurate claims processing to maximize reimbursements and minimize denials. •  Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) - A holistic approach to managing claims, payments, and collections. •  Provider Credentialing - Seamless enrollment with insurance networks to ensure timely reimbursements. •  Financial Solutions - Data-driven insights and financial reporting to optimize practice...

Las Vegas, Nevada
Founded 2003
Claims ProcessingDenial ManagementRevenue Cycle Management
No reviews yet

Let’s face it, medical billing shouldn’t be the most challenging part of running a practice. At Medical Lean Management, we take the chaos out of revenue cycle management so you can get back to what matters: delivering excellent patient care. Based in Corona, California, we’re not just another faceless billing company, we’re your partners in efficiency, here to simplify the financial side of healthcare. Why Us? Because We Get It. Paperwork piles up. Claims get denied. Regulations keep changing. It’s enough to make anyone’s head spin. That’s where we step in. We don’t just process claims, we optimize your entire revenue cycle, cutting through the red tape to get you paid faster and with fewer headaches. Our goal? To make your billing so smooth, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without us. Here’s How We Help: ✔ Fewer Denials, More Revenue - Our precision-driven approach slashes claim den...

Corona, California
Founded 1994
Claims ProcessingDenial ManagementRevenue Cycle Management
No reviews yet

Overview & Mission Access Revenue Hawaii, founded in 2022 in Holualoa, Hawai‘i, is a specialized medical billing and revenue cycle management (RCM) company with a primary focus on behavioral and mental health providers. Drawing deeply from social work roots, the leadership team recognized the administrative friction mental health professionals face, credentialing delays, complex payer regulations, EMR documentation requirements, and chose to build a firm that helps clinicians focus fully on patient care. Their mission centers on removing financial and operational barriers so therapists, counselors, and behavioral health groups can thrive financially while delivering quality care to Hawai‘i’s communities. Origin Story & Local Presence The company was born out of a clear insight: behavioral health providers in Hawai‘i suffer unique administrative challenges. From intricate Medicaid billing...

Chandler, Arizona
Founded 2007
Claims ProcessingDenial ManagementRevenue Cycle Management
Pricing

How much does thoracic surgery billing cost?

Most billing companies charge a percentage of what they actually collect, so their incentive matches yours. Complex specialties sit at the higher end of the range because of prior authorizations, modifiers and appeal work.

Percentage of collections
3% - 6%

Most common. You pay only on money collected.

Per claim
$4 - $10

Predictable for high-volume, low-complexity claims.

Hourly / FTE
$12 - $35/hr

Dedicated billers working inside your systems.

Typical market ranges; actual quotes depend on claim volume, payer mix and scope. Compare quotes from several companies.

FAQ

Thoracic Surgery billing FAQs

With thoracoscopic codes such as 32663, which differ from the open lobectomy codes.

Typically by two physicians as co-surgeons using modifier 62, with additional codes for access and support when documented.

Yes, when it is for a condition unrelated to the surgery or meets payer criteria, with documentation and appropriate modifiers.

By the number and type of grafts: venous-only, arterial-only, or combined arterial-venous code combinations.

Common reasons include missing authorizations, mismatched co-surgeon claims and global-period bundling errors.

Typically 3% to 6% of collections due to high case values.

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