February 2008 Coding Tip (View Coding Tip Archive)

Is there reimbursement for needle and/or catheter placement for brachytherapy procedures other than the prostate?

Three new CPT codes were introduced in 2008 to reimburse hospitals and physicians for work performed when placing needles and/or catheters prior to brachytherapy.  The technical component of these procedure codes should be billed by the facility where the procedure is performed and the professional component by the physician who is placing the needles and/or catheters.

20555 Placement of needles or catheters into muscle and/or soft tissue for subsequent interstitial radioelement application (at the time of or subsequent to the procedure)

41019 Placement of needles, catheters, or other device(s) into the head and/or neck region (percutaneous, transoral, or transnasal) for subsequent interstitial radioelement application

55920 Placement of needles or catheters into pelvic organs and/or genitalia (except prostate) for subsequent interstitial radioelement application