2025 CPT code 77799
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Radiation Oncology Feed
Unlisted procedure, clinical brachytherapy.
Modifiers may be applicable depending on the specific circumstances of the procedure. Modifier 26 may be used to indicate only the professional component was provided.
Medical necessity should be documented by demonstrating that the brachytherapy procedure is appropriate for the patient's cancer type and stage, and is a medically accepted treatment approach. Justification for using an unlisted code must also be clearly articulated.
The radiation oncologist is responsible for planning, performing, and supervising the brachytherapy procedure, including source placement, dosimetry calculations, and patient safety.
In simple words: This code represents a brachytherapy procedure that doesn't have its own specific code. Brachytherapy is a type of radiation treatment where a radiation source is placed inside or very close to the tumor to kill the cancer cells while protecting the nearby healthy tissues.
This code is used for clinical brachytherapy procedures not otherwise described in the CPT code set.Clinical brachytherapy involves placing radioactive sources near or inside a tumor to deliver a high radiation dose while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues. The procedure requires precise placement and dosimetry calculations performed by a radiation oncologist.
Example 1: A patient with a recurrent cervical cancer after external beam radiation therapy undergoes interstitial brachytherapy using a custom applicator and radioactive seeds, a procedure not described by a specific CPT code. Code 77799 would be used., A patient with a soft tissue sarcoma of the extremity receives high-dose-rate brachytherapy using a novel applicator and treatment technique not covered by existing codes.This would be reported with 77799., A patient with prostate cancer undergoes brachytherapy with a radioactive source and a new, experimental delivery method not yet included in the CPT codebook. This would be reported with 77799.
Documentation should include details of the procedure, such as the type and location of the tumor, the method of brachytherapy used, the radioactive source employed, dosimetry calculations, applicator details (if used), treatment time, and physician supervision.
** When using 77799, it's vital to append clear documentation substantiating the uniqueness of the performed brachytherapy procedure that necessitates the use of an unlisted code. Insufficient or inadequate description may lead to claim denial.
- Revenue Code: P7A
- Payment Status: Active
- Modifier TC rule: Modifier TC is not applicable for 77799 as it describes the technical component of a procedure, whereas 77799 represents the entire unlisted brachytherapy procedure performed by the physician.
- Specialties:Radiation Oncology
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center, Freestanding Radiation Therapy Center, Physician's Office