General Surgery Coding Alert

Get to Know the CV Access Placement Codes

CPT provides 13 codes to describe placement of central venous (CV) access devices:

• 36555 -- Insertion of non-tunneled centrally inserted central venous catheter; younger than 5 years of age

• 36556 -- ... age 5 years or older

• 36557 -- Insertion of tunneled centrally inserted central venous catheter, without subcutaneous port or pump; younger than 5 years of age

• 36558 -- ... age 5 years or older

36560 -- Insertion of tunneled centrally inserted central venous access device, with subcutaneous port; younger than 5 years of age

• 36561 -- ... age 5 years or older

• 36563 -- Insertion of tunneled centrally inserted central venous access device with subcutaneous pump

• 36565 -- Insertion of tunneled centrally inserted central venous access device, requiring two catheters via two separate venous access sites; without subcutaneous port or pump (e.g., Tesio type catheter)

• 36566 -- ... with subcutaneous port(s)

• 36568 -- Insertion of peripherally inserted central venous catheter (PICC), without subcutaneous port or pump; younger than 5 years of age

• 36569 -- ... age 5 years or older

• 36570 -- Insertion of peripherally inserted central venous access device, with subcutaneous port; younger than 5 years of age

• 36571 -- ... age 5 years or older.