Which CPT codes apply for Dr Bruce Prentice for dates of service August 12 through August 22?

• A. 32480, +38746
• B. 32490, +38746
• C. 32480, 38746
• D. 32460, +38746

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is how add-on CPT codes work. Add-on codes describe extra work performed during the same surgical session and must always be reported with a primary procedure code; they cannot stand alone. In this scenario, the appropriate primary procedure code is 32480, and the additional component is captured with the add-on code 38746. The plus sign before 38746 signals an add-on code that must be attached to a qualifying primary procedure.

Therefore, the correct pairing is the primary code 32480 with the add-on 38746. The other options either use a different primary procedure code that doesn’t match the described surgery, or omit the add-on symbol (which would fail to report the additional work). The dates of service spanning August 12 through August 22 do not change the rule: the add-on code must accompany the correct primary procedure when the extra work is performed in the same surgical session.