2025 CPT code 36013
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Deletion Date: N/A Cardiovascular Surgery - Intravenous Vascular Introduction and Injection Procedures Surgery Feed
Introduction of catheter into the right heart or main pulmonary artery.
Modifiers may be applicable depending on the circumstances.Consult the official CPT coding guidelines and any applicable payer rules.
Medical necessity for a right heart catheterization (36013) is established by the presence of a condition requiring hemodynamic assessment or visualization of the pulmonary arteries. Examples include suspected pulmonary embolism, evaluation of congenital heart defects, assessment of right-sided heart failure, and monitoring of patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass.
A cardiologist, interventional cardiologist, or other qualified physician with privileges to perform cardiac catheterization is typically responsible for this procedure.
In simple words: A thin tube (catheter) is inserted into a vein and guided to the right side of the heart and main artery leading to the lungs.This helps doctors see the blood vessels using X-rays (angiography) to diagnose and treat problems.
This procedure involves the introduction of a catheter into the right heart or main pulmonary artery.It is often performed to facilitate angiography, a diagnostic imaging technique to visualize blood vessels. The procedure typically involves accessing a vein (commonly femoral or brachial), advancing a catheter under fluoroscopic guidance, and injecting contrast media for visualization.The procedure may be part of a larger cardiac catheterization or other interventional procedure.
Example 1: A patient presents with suspected pulmonary embolism.A right heart catheterization (36013) is performed to visualize the pulmonary arteries and confirm the diagnosis., During a cardiac catheterization to address coronary artery disease, the physician also performs a right heart catheterization (36013) to assess right-sided heart pressures and function., A patient with congenital heart disease undergoes a right heart catheterization (36013) to assess hemodynamics and guide surgical planning.
* Pre-procedure patient history and physical examination.* Indication for the procedure.* Detailed description of the procedure, including access site, catheter placement, and contrast media used.* Results of the angiogram.* Post-procedure assessment.* Any complications encountered.
** This code should only be used when the catheter is introduced into the right heart or main pulmonary artery.If the catheter is advanced selectively into other branches, additional codes may be necessary.
- Revenue Code: 022 (Anesthesia), 023 (Anesthesia and Medical Services), 032 (Surgical Services)
- RVU: The RVUs for this code vary depending on the geographic location and other factors. Consult the current Medicare Physician Fee Schedule or other relevant payment systems for specific values.
- Global Days: The global period for this procedure is typically not defined and depends on the additional procedures performed. If only the catheter introduction is performed, there is typically no global period.
- Payment Status: Active
- Modifier TC rule: A technical component (TC) modifier is not typically applicable to this code, as it represents the entire procedure.
- Fee Schedule: Historical fee schedule data is available from various sources, such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) website, and will vary by year and location.
- Specialties:Cardiology, Interventional Cardiology, Cardiovascular Surgery
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center