2025 CPT code 61650

Placement of a catheter into an intracranial artery for long-term drug administration (excluding thrombolytics), including diagnostic angiography and imaging guidance.

Refer to the current CPT manual and payer-specific guidelines for complete coding instructions and limitations.

Modifiers may be applicable depending on circumstances. Consult the CPT manual and payer guidelines for appropriate modifier use.Modifiers such as 59 (distinct procedural service) or 76 (repeat procedure) may be necessary under specific circumstances.

Medical necessity for this procedure is established when a patient requires prolonged administration of a non-thrombolytic medication directly into the intracranial vasculature, and the route is deemed medically necessary over alternative routes of administration. The treating physician must document the specific clinical indications, and the chosen method must be supported by the medical evidence and guidelines.

The physician is responsible for making a small incision, inserting a needle and guidewire, advancing a catheter into the artery, performing diagnostic angiography, and connecting the catheter to a drug delivery system for long-term drug infusion.

IMPORTANT For injection procedures for cerebral angiography, refer to codes 36100-36218. For injection procedures for ventriculography, see 61026, 61120. For injection procedures for pneumoencephalography, use 61055.

In simple words: The doctor inserts a thin tube into an artery in the skull to give medicine over a long period.This includes taking x-ray images to guide the tube and check the artery's condition.

This CPT code encompasses the endovascular placement of a catheter into an intracranial artery for the prolonged administration of non-thrombolytic pharmacologic agents.The procedure includes catheter placement, diagnostic angiography (contrast-enhanced imaging of vascular structures), and imaging guidance (real-time image projection for catheter placement).This code covers access to the initial or first artery. The physician makes a small incision, inserts a needle and guidewire into the artery, advances a catheter, performs angiography, and connects the catheter to a drug delivery system.

Example 1: A patient with a brain tumor receives a catheter for long-term chemotherapy administration via an intracranial artery.Code 61650 is used to report the catheter placement, angiography, and imaging guidance., A patient with a stroke receives a catheter for long-term administration of medication to improve blood flow. Code 61650 is used to bill for the procedure., A patient with recurrent seizures is implanted with a catheter for long-term delivery of an anti-seizure medication. The implantation, imaging, and angiography are coded using 61650.

Complete medical record with the following documentation:* Pre-procedure diagnosis and rationale for the procedure (medical necessity).* Detailed operative report specifying the artery accessed, catheter type, length of catheter placement, type of imaging guidance, and any complications.* Anesthesiology records (if applicable).* Pathology reports (if any tissue was removed).* Post-operative course and recovery documentation.

** This procedure may be considered investigational by some payers and may not be covered by insurance. Always confirm coverage with the payer before performing the procedure.The code bundles catheter placement, diagnostic angiography, and imaging guidance; therefore, these services should not be separately coded.

  • Revenue Code: P1G (MAJOR PROCEDURE - OTHER)
  • RVU: This information requires accessing specific payer fee schedules and RVU data which is not available in provided sources. RVUs vary by location and payer.
  • Global Days : The global period for this procedure is not explicitly defined in the provided data.Refer to payer-specific guidelines for clarification.
  • Payment Status: Active (however, coverage may vary depending on payer and whether the procedure is considered investigational).
  • Modifier TC rule: Information regarding the Technical Component (TC) modifier is not available in the provided data.Consult payer specific guidelines.
  • Fee Schedule : Historical fee schedule data is not included.This information will vary depending on location, payer, and year.
  • Specialties:Neurology, Neurosurgery, Interventional Radiology
  • Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center
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