CPT code 0561T designates the first 3D anatomic drilling or cutting guide or tool printed from one or more image data sets using a 3D printer. This code captures the creation and delivery of a patient-specific, image-guided device intended to direct drilling or cutting during surgical procedures. Its use reflects growing adoption of additive manufacturing for personalized surgical planning and intraoperative guidance, with implications for operative accuracy and supply-chain coordination.

Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find national insights on coding intent and clinical applications, typical sites of service, common billing modifiers and service-line context, and what to expect in payer coverage patterns. The publication provides benchmarks and policy context relevant to hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and surgical specialty groups utilizing 3D-printed patient-specific guides. It also summarizes administrative considerations for billing and documentation.

This executive summary addresses the code’s purpose, the clinical scenarios where a 3D-printed guide is applied, and the payer landscape readers can expect when submitting claims for CPT code 0561T. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.