42000 Drainage mouth roof lesion
Also known as: palatal abscess drainage, hard palate drainage
Surgical incision and drainage of a lesion or abscess located in the mucous membrane of the roof of the mouth (hard palate).
In Plain Language
drainage of infection in roof of mouth; pus drainage from hard palate
Clinical Context
Oral surgical procedure for infected lesions, abscesses, or cysts involving the hard palate requiring drainage to relieve symptoms and treat infection.
RVU Breakdown
| Work RVU | 1.25 |
| Total RVU | 1.25 |
Est. Medicare Payment
National estimate based on 2026 CMS PFS Conversion Factor ($33.40). Actual payment varies by locality (GPCI adjustment).
Billing & Documentation
As a surgical CPT code, proper documentation must include the operative report detailing the procedure performed, patient positioning, approach, findings, and any complications. This code has a 10-day global period — follow-up visits within 10 days of the procedure are included in the reimbursement. Ensure the diagnosis code (ICD-10) supports medical necessity for the procedure.
How This Code Compares
With a work RVU of 1.25, this code ranks in the 6th percentile among Surgery codes — 6.4x below the median (8.00). The highest wRVU in this category is 106.19.
Specialties
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CPT code 42000?
CPT 42000 (Drainage mouth roof lesion) is a Surgery code. Surgical incision and drainage of a lesion or abscess located in the mucous membrane of the roof of the mouth (hard palate).
What is the wRVU value for CPT 42000?
The work RVU for CPT 42000 is 1.25. This code is primarily used by Oral Surgery, Dentistry. It has a 10-day global period.
When is CPT 42000 used?
Oral surgical procedure for infected lesions, abscesses, or cysts involving the hard palate requiring drainage to relieve symptoms and treat infection.
Track This Code in RVU Edge
Log procedures, calculate wRVUs, and benchmark against national data — all in one app.
CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association. Data sourced from CMS Physician Fee Schedule RVU26A. Descriptions, synonyms, and clinical context are original content by RVU Edge.