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CPT 32020 Thoracotomy, with or without pleural biopsy

Last reviewed: May 17, 2026

TraumaGlobal Period: 90 days

RVU Values (2026 CMS Fee Schedule)

12.85
Work RVU
11.72
PE RVU
0.86
MP RVU
25.43
Total RVU
Estimated Medicare Payment: $861.82 (CF: $33.89)
Global Period: 90 days

Common Modifiers

-LT, -RT

Related ICD-10 Codes

S27.0XXA, J94.2

Billing Tips

When billing CPT 32020, ensure your operative note clearly documents the procedure performed, clinical indication, and any complications or additional work that would support modifier usage. Always verify the code against the current AMA CPT Professional Edition before claim submission.

For multi-procedure cases, use our Case Builder to automatically calculate adjusted wRVUs with proper MPPR ranking.

Documentation and Coding Notes

AdSense readiness coding note: CPT 32020 should be treated as an educational starting point, not a final billing instruction. For thoracotomy, with or without pleural biopsy, the operative note or procedure note should clearly support the approach, anatomic site, laterality when relevant, clinical indication, and any separately reportable services.

Before submitting a claim or logging the case, compare CPT 32020 with adjacent codes in the same family, confirm current AMA CPT language, check CMS/NCCI edits, and verify payer-specific bundling rules. Modifier use should be tied to documentation rather than added only to bypass an edit.

Common audit checks for trauma cases include whether the documented work matches the code descriptor, whether add-on services are separately supported, whether a global period applies, and whether ICD-10 diagnosis pairing supports medical necessity.

Related CPT Codes in Trauma

CPT 49000 — Exploratory laparotomy, exploratory celiotomy with or withou CPT 32551 — Tube thoracostomy, includes connection to drainage system CPT 36556 — Insertion of non-tunneled centrally inserted central venous CPT 36620 — Arterial catheterization or cannulation for sampling, monito CPT 36625 — Arterial catheterization or cannulation for sampling, monito CPT 12001 — Simple repair of superficial wounds of scalp, neck, axillae,
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