Summary & Overview
CPT 0562T: Additional 3D Anatomic Drilling or Cutting Guide or Tool
CPT code 0562T describes an add‑on code for each additional 3D anatomic drilling or cutting guide or tool produced from image data sets using a 3D printer, reported alongside the primary code for the first 3D‑printed guide or tool. As 3D printing becomes more integrated into surgical planning and intraoperative guidance, this code enables itemized reporting of multiple patient‑specific guides or tools used in a single episode of care. Nationally, clear coding for additive manufacturing outputs matters for clinical documentation, device tracking, and payment transparency.
Key payers discussed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an explanation of the code’s clinical and billing scope, typical sites of service, and what the code signifies for providers and payers. The publication covers benchmarks and utilization context where available, recent policy and coding updates relevant to 3D‑printed surgical guides, and practical considerations for documentation and billing workflows. Data not available in the input will be noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 0562T is reported for each additional 3D anatomic drilling or cutting guide or tool printed from one or more image data sets using a 3D printer, billed in conjunction with the primary code for the first 3D‑printed guide or tool. This code captures additional patient‑specific surgical guides or tools produced by additive manufacturing when more than one guide or tool is created from imaging data.
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Service type: 3D‑printed anatomic surgical guide or tool production (additional guide/tool)
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Typical site of service: Surgical planning and operative support settings, including hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and specialty surgical clinics where 3D‑printed guides or tools are used to assist intraoperative drilling or cutting
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 58-year-old patient with advanced mandibular osteomyelitis and prior segmental resection is scheduled for reconstructive oral and maxillofacial surgery involving placement of a free fibula flap and dental implant-supported reconstruction. Preoperative CT imaging is used to design a primary patient-specific 3D-printed anatomic drilling and cutting guide to ensure accurate osteotomies and implant trajectories. Because the reconstruction requires separate guides for the mandible, fibula donor segment, and an additional occlusal positioning guide, the facility bills the primary code for the first 3D-printed guide and reports 0562T for each additional printed guide or tool generated from the same imaging data set.
The clinical workflow includes: imaging acquisition (CT/CBCT), virtual surgical planning by the surgeon and biomedical engineer, design and segmentation of multiple guides, 3D printing and post-processing of each guide, sterilization and delivery to the operating room, intraoperative use to guide drilling and cutting, and documentation of guide identifiers and use in the operative record. Typical site of service is an outpatient surgery center or hospital operating room where complex craniofacial or orthopedic reconstruction occurs.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
22 | Increased procedural services | When work required to design or adapt guides is substantially greater than typical and supported in documentation |