Summary & Overview
CPT 0602T: Transdermal GFR Measurement with Fluorescent Pyrazine Agent
CPT code 0602T identifies a novel, point-of-care diagnostic procedure that derives glomerular filtration rate (GFR) by placing a proprietary skin sensor and administering a single dose of a fluorescent pyrazine agent, with real-time GFR displayed on a monitor. The code matters nationally as it documents an emerging, noninvasive method for quantifying renal function that can affect testing pathways, monitoring strategies, and care decisions in outpatient and ambulatory settings.
Key payers included in this analysis are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise review of clinical context and service setting, national reimbursement and coverage considerations where available, and benchmarking for utilization and payment where payor data exist. The publication also summarizes coding implications and expected documentation elements tied to this diagnostic service.
This summary equips clinicians, billers, and policy analysts with the essential facts about what 0602T represents, why it may shift renal function assessment practices, and what to expect regarding payer engagement and administrative handling of this specific CPT code. Data not available in the input will be noted in relevant sections.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 0602T describes a point-of-care test in which the provider places a proprietary sensor device on the patient’s skin, injects one dose of a fluorescent pyrazine agent, and uses a monitor to display the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), a quantitative measure of renal function.
Service Type: Diagnostic renal function test using transdermal fluorescent agent
Typical Site of Service: Outpatient clinic, ambulatory care setting, or point-of-care locations where monitoring equipment and the proprietary sensor can be applied to the patient’s skin.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult with known or suspected chronic kidney disease (CKD), acute kidney injury (AKI), or a need for objective assessment of renal function prior to nephrotoxic therapy or contrast administration. The patient arrives to an outpatient infusion suite, ambulatory clinic, or hospital observation unit. The provider explains the test, places a proprietary adhesive sensor on intact skin (typically on the torso or flank), and injects a single intravenous dose of a fluorescent pyrazine agent. A bedside or portable monitor records the fluorescent signal over a short interval, and software derives the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). The clinical workflow includes: pre-procedure verification of indications and allergies, venous access placement, injection of the agent, real-time monitoring of the sensor output, interpretation of the displayed GFR by the ordering clinician, documentation of the result in the medical record, and post-procedure observation for a brief monitoring period for adverse reactions. Typical site of service: outpatient clinic, ambulatory infusion center, or hospital outpatient department. Service type: diagnostic renal function testing using topical sensor with injected fluorescent tracer.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
22 | Increased procedural services | Use when work required is substantially greater than typically required for the procedure (document reasons). |