Insertion of tunneled centrally inserted central venous access device, with subcutaneous port; age 5 years or older

CPT 36571 is the billing code for "Insertion of tunneled centrally inserted central venous access device, with subcutaneous port; age 5 years or older". Insertion of tunneled central venous access device with subcutaneous port in patient age 5 years or older

Medicare pays approximately $1151.54 for CPT 36571 (national average). Actual payment varies by geographic location due to GPCI adjustments. Hospital and commercial insurance rates are typically 2-4x higher than Medicare rates.

CPT 36571 has a total RVU of 10.36, broken down as: Work RVU 4.50, Practice Expense RVU 5.50, and Malpractice RVU 0.36. RVUs (Relative Value Units) determine Medicare reimbursement rates.

Key documentation requirements for CPT 36571 include: Age of patient documented (5+); Tunneled catheter with port documented; Port type documented; Insertion site documented. Missing or incomplete documentation is a leading cause of claim denials for this code.

Bundling considerations for CPT 36571: Tunneled catheter. Includes subcutaneous port Use an NCCI bundling checker to verify specific code combinations before billing.

Common modifiers for CPT 36571 include: 59 (Distinct procedural service when multiple procedures performed), 50 (Bilateral procedure), LT (Left side). Modifiers indicate special circumstances and can affect reimbursement or prevent claim denials.

The typical time requirement for CPT 36571 is Typically 60-90 minutes. Time-based codes require documentation of the actual time spent providing the service.