Add-on code for removal of a previously placed deep (subfascial) drug-delivery device performed during a separate primary surgical procedure.

Verified May 8, 2026 · 6 sources ↓

Medicare: $65.80
Work RVU: 1.1
Global, days
Region: General

Drawn from CMSAAPCSidwinhealthcare

Documentation requirements

What must appear in the operative or office note to support the claim.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in 6 cited references ↓

Identify the primary procedure 20701 is being reported in addition to — the add-on relationship must be explicit in the note.
Specify the anatomic location and tissue depth (subfascial) where the device was seated.
Document the type of device removed (e.g., antibiotic beads, antibiotic spacer, therapeutic construct).
Describe closure technique, confirming layered closure of the subfascial defect.
Note any complications or increased complexity encountered during removal if modifier 22 is appended.

Applicable modifiers

Modifiers commonly billed with this code.

Source · AMA CPT modifier descriptors · CMS NCCI Policy Manual

22 Increased complexity 51 Multiple procedures 52 Reduced services 59 Distinct service 76 Repeat, same physician 77 Repeat, another physician LT Left side RT Right side

What this code covers

Source · Editorial summary grounded in 6 cited references ↓

20701 is an add-on code — never reported alone. It describes the removal of a drug-delivery device from subfascial tissue (e.g., antibiotic beads, spacers, or other therapeutic constructs) when that removal is performed as part of a separate primary procedure. Always pair it with the primary procedure code.

The code sits in a family: 20700/20701 cover subfascial placement and removal, 20702/20703 cover intramedullary, and 20704/20705 cover intra-articular. If you are removing the device as a standalone procedure with no qualifying primary procedure, report 20680 instead. Report 20701 once per anatomic location regardless of how many devices are removed at that site.

The ZZZ global period means 20701 inherits the global period of the primary procedure it is attached to. No separate post-op period is assigned to the add-on code itself. Bill it on the same claim line session as the primary, and ensure the operative note documents the subfascial location and device type removed — vague documentation is the top audit trigger for this code family.

RVU & reimbursement

Component RVUs and Medicare national rate. Actual payment varies by GPCI locality.

Source · CMS Physician Fee Schedule, RVU26A · January 2026

Work RVU vs. total RVU

The work RVU (1.1) is the surgeon's own effort — the figure physician pay and productivity targets are built on. The total RVU (1.97) adds practice overhead and malpractice, and is what drives the Medicare payment below.

Work RVU	1.1
Practice expense RVU	0.66
Malpractice RVU	0.21
Total RVU	1.97
Medicare national rate	$65.80
Global period	days

Payment by site of service

Medicare pays different rates by setting. HOPD typically pays substantially more than ASC for the same procedure.

Source · CMS OPPS Addendum B·ASC HCPCS payment rates·2026

Setting	Medicare rate (national)
Office (PFS non-facility) Procedure performed in physician's office	$65.80

Common denial reasons

The recurring reasons claims for CPT 20701 get rejected.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in CMS NCCI edits, AAOS coding appeals, and cited references ↓

Billed without a qualifying primary procedure — 20701 is an add-on code and cannot stand alone.
Anatomic location not documented as subfascial; payers may deny if depth is ambiguous or recorded only as 'deep tissue'.
Submitted when removal was the only procedure performed; 20680 is the correct code in that scenario.
More than one unit billed for a single anatomic location, conflicting with the once-per-site rule.
Primary procedure code on the claim does not correspond to a recognized host procedure for this add-on.

Frequently asked questions

Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 6 cited references ↓

01Can 20701 be reported as a standalone code?

No. It is an add-on code and requires a qualifying primary procedure on the same claim. If the removal is performed without a concurrent primary procedure, report 20680 instead.

02What is the difference between 20701 and 20703?

20701 covers removal of a deep drug-delivery device from subfascial tissue. 20703 covers removal from the intramedullary space. The tissue compartment drives the code selection — document the location precisely.

03How many units of 20701 can be reported in a single session?

One unit per anatomic location. Multiple devices removed from the same site still count as one unit of service. Different anatomic locations may each support a separate unit.

04What global period applies to 20701?

ZZZ — the add-on code inherits the global period of the primary procedure it accompanies. No independent post-op period is assigned to 20701 itself.

05When is modifier 22 appropriate with 20701?

Append modifier 22 when removal is substantially more complex than typical — for example, extensive scarring, fragmented devices, or infection complicating dissection. Support it with a detailed operative note explaining the added work and time.

06Should modifier 51 be appended to 20701?

Add-on codes are generally exempt from modifier 51, as they are by definition secondary to a primary procedure. Check your payer's specific instructions, but most follow the AMA convention exempting add-on codes from modifier 51 requirements.

Sources & references

Editorial content was developed using the following public sources. Last verified May 8, 2026.

Mira Scribe

Mira's AI scribe captures the subfascial tissue depth, the specific device type removed (antibiotic beads, spacer, etc.), the anatomic location, and the primary procedure being performed concurrently. That prevents the two most common denials: missing add-on linkage and unspecified tissue depth that auditors flag as insufficient to support a subfascial claim.

See how Mira captures CPT 20701 documentation