2025 CPT code 36569
Effective Date: N/A Surgery - Cardiovascular System Feed
Insertion of peripherally inserted central venous catheter (PICC), without subcutaneous port or pump; age 5 years or older.
Modifiers may be applicable to indicate specific circumstances, such as increased procedural services (modifier 22), or reduced services (modifier 52).
Medical necessity for a PICC line is established when the patient requires mid- to long-term intravenous access for medications, fluids, or nutrition.The documentation must support the need for central venous access over peripheral access.
The physician is responsible for prepping and anesthetizing the patient, locating a suitable peripheral vein, inserting the catheter and guidewire, advancing the catheter to the correct central location, removing the guidewire, controlling bleeding, and irrigating the insertion site.
In simple words: Placement of a PICC line (a thin, flexible tube) into a vein in the arm of a patient 5 years or older. This line is then guided to a large vein near the heart. This procedure does not include a port or pump under the skin and does not involve the use of imaging technology like ultrasound or x-ray.
Insertion of a peripherally inserted central venous catheter (PICC) in a patient 5 years or older, without a subcutaneous port or pump. This includes the introduction of the catheter through a peripheral vein (e.g., basilic or cephalic) and advancement to a central venous location (e.g., superior vena cava, right atrium). Imaging guidance is not included in this code.
Example 1: A 6-year-old patient requires long-term intravenous antibiotics for osteomyelitis. A PICC line is placed to avoid repeated needle sticks., A 70-year-old patient with metastatic cancer needs chemotherapy infusions. A PICC line is inserted for convenient and safe administration of chemotherapy drugs., A 30-year-old patient with Crohn's disease requires long-term parenteral nutrition. A PICC line is placed to provide access for the administration of nutrients.
Documentation should include the patient's age, the site of insertion, the final position of the catheter tip, the type of catheter used, and any complications encountered during the procedure.
- Specialties:Interventional radiology, vascular surgery, critical care medicine, oncology
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Office, Home