2025 CPT code 36405
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Surgery - Cardiovascular System Feed
Venipuncture, younger than age 3 years, necessitating the skill of a physician or other qualified health care professional, not to be used for routine venipuncture; scalp vein.
Modifiers may apply.Common modifiers include 52 (Reduced Services), 53 (Discontinued Procedure), or 59 (Distinct Procedural Service) if appropriate.
Medical necessity should be established by documenting the clinical condition requiring venipuncture, explaining why a scalp vein was specifically chosen (e.g., difficult venous access, critical condition), and noting the procedure's importance for diagnosis or treatment.
The physician is responsible for positioning the patient, ensuring proper blood flow, preparing the puncture site, inserting the needle, confirming placement, performing the blood draw or injection, withdrawing the needle, and applying pressure to stop bleeding.This requires specialized skill due to the patient's young age and the use of a scalp vein.
In simple words: This procedure involves a doctor drawing blood from a vein in the scalp of a child under 3 years old.It's only used when special skills are needed, not for regular blood draws.
This code describes a venipuncture procedure performed on a patient younger than 3 years old using a scalp vein. It is specifically for situations requiring the expertise of a physician or other qualified healthcare professional and should not be used for routine venipunctures.
Example 1: A 2-year-old child requires emergency IV access for medication administration, and due to difficult venous access, a scalp vein is chosen by the physician., A 1-year-old infant with dehydration requires a blood draw for lab tests, and the physician determines that accessing a scalp vein is necessary., A newborn with suspected sepsis requires a blood culture. Due to the critical condition and small size of the patient, the physician decides to draw blood from a scalp vein.
Documentation should include the patient's age, the reason for the procedure (blood draw or IV access), the site of venipuncture (scalp vein), any challenges encountered, and confirmation of successful access.
- Revenue Code: P6C - MINOR PROCEDURES - OTHER (MEDICARE FEE SCHEDULE)
- Specialties:Emergency Medicine, Pediatrics, Neonatology, Critical Care Medicine
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Emergency Room - Hospital, Office, Home, Skilled Nursing Facility, Nursing Facility, Mobile Unit