Deleted CPT Codes for 2026: What’s Removed (and How Dental Billers Avoid Denials)
Published by the American Dental Coders Association
Every January, “inactive code” denials surge for one simple reason: a practice (or clearinghouse) submits a CPT® code that has been deleted in the new code year. For dental teams that cross-code to medical—especially oral surgery (OMS), anesthesia workflows, imaging, pathology, and medically necessary dental claims—deleted CPT codes can derail cashflow fast.
For CPT 2026, the update includes 84 deleted codes (along with 288 new and 46 revised codes). :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
In this WordPress-ready post, you’ll get:
- A clear explanation of what “deleted” means and why it impacts dental-to-medical billing
- A workable way to verify your own deleted-code exposure (without guessing)
- A sample list of CPT codes shown as deleted effective January 1, 2026 from a public lookup tool
- A dental-focused checklist to prevent denials in Q1
- Training exercises you can use with staff and students
Important note about CPT® code lists (read this first)
The CPT code set is owned and maintained by the American Medical Association (AMA). Many websites publish partial lists, summaries, and lookups, but the official CPT book/encoder remains the source of truth. This article is designed to help you operationalize 2026 deletions safely and correctly—especially if you support medical cross-coding in dental billing.
What does “deleted CPT code” mean?
A CPT code is considered “deleted” when it is removed from the active CPT code set and is no longer valid for dates of service on/after its deletion effective date. In the real world, that can cause:
- Front-end rejections (clearinghouse edits catch it immediately)
- Payer denials (the claim processes but comes back as invalid/inactive)
- Downstream delays with authorizations, medical necessity review, and appeals
For dental teams, deleted codes matter most when you are billing medical insurance for dental-related services (OMS cases, trauma, pathology, imaging, medically necessary dentistry, etc.). Even if your clinic primarily uses CDT, CPT deletion issues can surface when a medical payer requires CPT reporting or when you coordinate with medical providers/facilities that bill CPT.
How to find deleted CPT codes effective January 1, 2026
Here’s the practical approach I recommend for dental billers and coders:
Step 1: Build your “Top Medical CPT Use List”
Pull a report of your medical claims (or cross-coded claims) from the last 90–180 days of 2025 and list your top CPT codes used. Most practices only use a small subset repeatedly.
Step 2: Validate each code for 2026 status
Use at least one reputable reference (your encoder, your clearinghouse edit list, or a trusted lookup tool) to confirm whether each CPT is:
- Active (no change)
- Revised (descriptor changed)
- Deleted (inactive for 2026)
One publicly available lookup is AAPC’s “Deleted CPT® Codes” page, which lists codes alongside deletion effective dates. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Step 3: Replace, crosswalk, or update policy
When a code is deleted, you usually have one of these outcomes:
- Replacement code exists (most common): update your charge master + templates
- Reporting rule changed: you may need a different code family or add-on logic
- Service is no longer reportable the same way: update clinical workflow and documentation
Sample list: CPT codes shown as deleted effective January 1, 2026
Below is a sample of codes that appear in the AAPC deleted-code lookup with a deletion date of 01 Jan 2026. Use this as a starting point and verify against your official tools before changing billing policy. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Examples shown as deleted effective 01 Jan 2026 (sample)
- 0034A :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
- 0042T :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
- 0131U :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
- 0132U :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
- 0135U :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
- 0363T :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
- 0396T :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
- 0423T :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
- 0509U :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
- 0544U :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}
- 0550U :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}
- 0551U :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}
- 0619T :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}
- 0623T :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}
- 0624T :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}
- 0625T :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}
- 0626T :contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}
- 0631T :contentReference[oaicite:20]{index=20}
- 0662T :contentReference[oaicite:21]{index=21}
- 0663T :contentReference[oaicite:22]{index=22}
- 0720T :contentReference[oaicite:23]{index=23}
- 75958 :contentReference[oaicite:24]{index=24}
- 75959 :contentReference[oaicite:25]{index=25}
Why I’m calling this a sample: the AAPC page is a very large index of deleted codes across many years. For your practice, the right move is to validate your own most-used CPT codes (the ones that actually appear on your claims), then crosswalk only what you need.
Dental billing reality: where deleted CPT codes cause the most pain
1) OMS and facility-related workflows
If you coordinate OMS cases that touch a hospital or ASC, you may interact with multiple billing entities:
- Surgeon/professional claim
- Anesthesia claim
- Facility claim
- Radiology/pathology claims
When any one party uses a deleted CPT, the entire episode can get bogged down—especially when authorizations or “matching” reviews are involved.
2) Medical cross-coding for trauma and medically necessary dental care
Deleted CPT codes can appear in your workflow when:
- Your superbill templates are copied forward year to year
- Your practice management system wasn’t updated promptly in January
- A provider’s “favorite code list” or macros were never refreshed
3) New-year payer edits and Q1 “noise”
Even if your codes are correct, Q1 can bring payer system lag. The bigger the year-to-year change volume, the more likely you are to see inconsistent edits early on. CPT 2026 includes hundreds of total changes, and the AMA highlighted major modernization in some code sections. :contentReference[oaicite:26]{index=26}
2026 Deleted-Code Prevention Checklist (printable)
- Update systems: Confirm your practice management software, clearinghouse edits, and coding references are updated for 2026.
- Audit your top CPT list: Validate your most-used medical CPT codes for 2026 (active/revised/deleted).
- Lock your templates: Replace old superbills/macros and remove deleted codes from favorites lists.
- Train providers: Quick 10-minute huddle: “If the system prompts an inactive code, stop and flag it.”
- Monitor daily rejections: In January, review clearinghouse rejections every day for a week.
- Create a denial playbook: If denial reason = invalid/inactive CPT, assign a standard fix workflow (replace code, rebill, document change).
- Track payer behavior: Keep a log of payer responses when 2026 updates cause inconsistent adjudication.
Staff training exercises (great for billers, coders, and students)
Exercise 1: “Spot the deleted code”
Task: Pull 20 medical claims from late 2025. Highlight every CPT used. Validate each CPT for 2026 status (active/revised/deleted). Record your findings in a spreadsheet.
Exercise 2: Template cleanup drill
Task: Review your top 5 superbills, procedure macros, and “favorite code lists.” Remove any CPT that is no longer valid for 2026 and document the replacement plan.
Exercise 3: Q1 denial triage
Task: Categorize your first 15 ERAs/EOBs of 2026:
- Eligibility/coverage
- Invalid/inactive code
- Medical necessity
- Missing documentation
- Prior auth/referral
- Bundling/edit logic
Then write one prevention step for each.
Keep improving your cross-coding skills with ADCA
If you want a structured pathway to reduce denials and strengthen compliance—especially when you cross-code dental services to medical—training matters.
- Certified Dental Billing Specialist (CDBS)
- Certified Dental Coder (CDC)
- Certification options: CDBS Exam and CDC Exam
- Ask coding questions anytime using Ask-The-Coder (a Knowledge Base where anyone can ask Dental Billing and Dental Coding questions for free)
Want ongoing support and resources? Join ADCA Membership.
Bottom line
The safest way to handle 2026 deletions is not to hunt the entire internet for lists—it’s to validate the CPT codes you actually use, remove deleted codes from templates, and watch rejections closely in January. CPT 2026 includes 84 deleted codes overall, so a proactive cleanup now can prevent weeks of avoidable denials later. :contentReference[oaicite:27]{index=27}
Deleted CPT Codes for 2026: What’s Removed (and How Dental Billers Avoid Denials)
Published by the American Dental Coders Association
Every January, “inactive code” denials surge for one simple reason: a practice (or clearinghouse) submits a CPT® code that has been deleted in the new code year. For dental teams that cross-code to medical—especially oral surgery (OMS), anesthesia workflows, imaging, pathology, and medically necessary dental claims—deleted CPT codes can derail cashflow fast.
For CPT 2026, the update includes 84 deleted codes (along with 288 new and 46 revised codes). :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
In this WordPress-ready post, you’ll get:
- A clear explanation of what “deleted” means and why it impacts dental-to-medical billing
- A workable way to verify your own deleted-code exposure (without guessing)
- A sample list of CPT codes shown as deleted effective January 1, 2026 from a public lookup tool
- A dental-focused checklist to prevent denials in Q1
- Training exercises you can use with staff and students
Important note about CPT® code lists (read this first)
The CPT code set is owned and maintained by the American Medical Association (AMA). Many websites publish partial lists, summaries, and lookups, but the official CPT book/encoder remains the source of truth. This article is designed to help you operationalize 2026 deletions safely and correctly—especially if you support medical cross-coding in dental billing.
What does “deleted CPT code” mean?
A CPT code is considered “deleted” when it is removed from the active CPT code set and is no longer valid for dates of service on/after its deletion effective date. In the real world, that can cause:
- Front-end rejections (clearinghouse edits catch it immediately)
- Payer denials (the claim processes but comes back as invalid/inactive)
- Downstream delays with authorizations, medical necessity review, and appeals
For dental teams, deleted codes matter most when you are billing medical insurance for dental-related services (OMS cases, trauma, pathology, imaging, medically necessary dentistry, etc.). Even if your clinic primarily uses CDT, CPT deletion issues can surface when a medical payer requires CPT reporting or when you coordinate with medical providers/facilities that bill CPT.
How to find deleted CPT codes effective January 1, 2026
Here’s the practical approach I recommend for dental billers and coders:
Step 1: Build your “Top Medical CPT Use List”
Pull a report of your medical claims (or cross-coded claims) from the last 90–180 days of 2025 and list your top CPT codes used. Most practices only use a small subset repeatedly.
Step 2: Validate each code for 2026 status
Use at least one reputable reference (your encoder, your clearinghouse edit list, or a trusted lookup tool) to confirm whether each CPT is:
- Active (no change)
- Revised (descriptor changed)
- Deleted (inactive for 2026)
One publicly available lookup is AAPC’s “Deleted CPT® Codes” page, which lists codes alongside deletion effective dates. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Step 3: Replace, crosswalk, or update policy
When a code is deleted, you usually have one of these outcomes:
- Replacement code exists (most common): update your charge master + templates
- Reporting rule changed: you may need a different code family or add-on logic
- Service is no longer reportable the same way: update clinical workflow and documentation
Sample list: CPT codes shown as deleted effective January 1, 2026
Below is a sample of codes that appear in the AAPC deleted-code lookup with a deletion date of 01 Jan 2026. Use this as a starting point and verify against your official tools before changing billing policy. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Examples shown as deleted effective 01 Jan 2026 (sample)
- 0034A :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
- 0042T :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
- 0131U :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
- 0132U :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
- 0135U :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
- 0363T :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
- 0396T :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
- 0423T :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
- 0509U :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
- 0544U :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}
- 0550U :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}
- 0551U :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}
- 0619T :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}
- 0623T :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}
- 0624T :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}
- 0625T :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}
- 0626T :contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}
- 0631T :contentReference[oaicite:20]{index=20}
- 0662T :contentReference[oaicite:21]{index=21}
- 0663T :contentReference[oaicite:22]{index=22}
- 0720T :contentReference[oaicite:23]{index=23}
- 75958 :contentReference[oaicite:24]{index=24}
- 75959 :contentReference[oaicite:25]{index=25}
Why I’m calling this a sample: the AAPC page is a very large index of deleted codes across many years. For your practice, the right move is to validate your own most-used CPT codes (the ones that actually appear on your claims), then crosswalk only what you need.
Dental billing reality: where deleted CPT codes cause the most pain
1) OMS and facility-related workflows
If you coordinate OMS cases that touch a hospital or ASC, you may interact with multiple billing entities:
- Surgeon/professional claim
- Anesthesia claim
- Facility claim
- Radiology/pathology claims
When any one party uses a deleted CPT, the entire episode can get bogged down—especially when authorizations or “matching” reviews are involved.
2) Medical cross-coding for trauma and medically necessary dental care
Deleted CPT codes can appear in your workflow when:
- Your superbill templates are copied forward year to year
- Your practice management system wasn’t updated promptly in January
- A provider’s “favorite code list” or macros were never refreshed
3) New-year payer edits and Q1 “noise”
Even if your codes are correct, Q1 can bring payer system lag. The bigger the year-to-year change volume, the more likely you are to see inconsistent edits early on. CPT 2026 includes hundreds of total changes, and the AMA highlighted major modernization in some code sections. :contentReference[oaicite:26]{index=26}
2026 Deleted-Code Prevention Checklist (printable)
- Update systems: Confirm your practice management software, clearinghouse edits, and coding references are updated for 2026.
- Audit your top CPT list: Validate your most-used medical CPT codes for 2026 (active/revised/deleted).
- Lock your templates: Replace old superbills/macros and remove deleted codes from favorites lists.
- Train providers: Quick 10-minute huddle: “If the system prompts an inactive code, stop and flag it.”
- Monitor daily rejections: In January, review clearinghouse rejections every day for a week.
- Create a denial playbook: If denial reason = invalid/inactive CPT, assign a standard fix workflow (replace code, rebill, document change).
- Track payer behavior: Keep a log of payer responses when 2026 updates cause inconsistent adjudication.
Staff training exercises (great for billers, coders, and students)
Exercise 1: “Spot the deleted code”
Task: Pull 20 medical claims from late 2025. Highlight every CPT used. Validate each CPT for 2026 status (active/revised/deleted). Record your findings in a spreadsheet.
Exercise 2: Template cleanup drill
Task: Review your top 5 superbills, procedure macros, and “favorite code lists.” Remove any CPT that is no longer valid for 2026 and document the replacement plan.
Exercise 3: Q1 denial triage
Task: Categorize your first 15 ERAs/EOBs of 2026:
- Eligibility/coverage
- Invalid/inactive code
- Medical necessity
- Missing documentation
- Prior auth/referral
- Bundling/edit logic
Then write one prevention step for each.
Keep improving your cross-coding skills with ADCA
If you want a structured pathway to reduce denials and strengthen compliance—especially when you cross-code dental services to medical—training matters.
- Certified Dental Billing Specialist (CDBS)
- Certified Dental Coder (CDC)
- Certification options: CDBS Exam and CDC Exam
- Ask coding questions anytime using Ask-The-Coder (a Knowledge Base where anyone can ask Dental Billing and Dental Coding questions for free)
Want ongoing support and resources? Join ADCA Membership.
Bottom line
The safest way to handle 2026 deletions is not to hunt the entire internet for lists—it’s to validate the CPT codes you actually use, remove deleted codes from templates, and watch rejections closely in January. CPT 2026 includes 84 deleted codes overall, so a proactive cleanup now can prevent weeks of avoidable denials later. :contentReference[oaicite:27]{index=27}
