2025 CPT code 47579
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Surgery - Digestive System Feed
Unlisted laparoscopy procedure, biliary tract.
Modifiers may be applicable to 47579. Commonly used modifiers may include -50 (Bilateral Procedure), -52 (Reduced Services), -53 (Discontinued Procedure), and others, depending on the specific circumstances.
Medical necessity must be established for all procedures billed with 47579.Documentation must clearly demonstrate the clinical rationale for the procedure and why a less invasive or less extensive procedure was not a viable option.
The physician performs a laparoscopic procedure on the biliary tract that is not described by other CPT codes. This requires expertise in laparoscopic techniques and biliary tract anatomy and pathology.
In simple words: This code is for a laparoscopic (keyhole surgery) procedure on your bile ducts (tubes that carry bile) that doesn't have its own specific code. Bile helps with digestion, and these procedures might involve removing stones, fixing blockages, or treating other problems in these ducts.
This code is used for laparoscopic procedures performed on the biliary tract that do not have a dedicated CPT code. The biliary tract includes the organs and ducts that make and transport bile, including the liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts inside and outside the liver.
Example 1: A patient with a history of cholecystectomy presents with recurrent biliary pain. Diagnostic laparoscopy reveals a stricture in the common hepatic duct. The surgeon performs a laparoscopic revision of the stricture, a procedure not otherwise described in the CPT manual. Code 47579 would be appropriate., During a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the surgeon incidentally discovers a small, benign cyst on the common bile duct. The surgeon laparoscopically resects the cyst. This specific procedure is not described in the CPT manual, thus 47579 would be appropriate., A patient presents with a biliary obstruction due to a large stone lodged in the cystic duct remnant after a prior cholecystectomy. The surgeon performs a laparoscopic exploration and removal of the stone from the cystic duct remnant. As there is no specific code for this, 47579 would be used.
Operative report detailing the specific procedure performed, including the indication, approach, instruments used, and findings. Pre- and post-operative diagnoses should be clearly documented. Supporting documentation such as imaging studies and pathology reports should also be included.
** Always check with individual payers for specific billing and documentation requirements.
- Specialties:General Surgery, Hepatobiliary Surgery, Surgical Oncology
- Place of Service:Ambulatory Surgical Center, Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital