Summary & Overview
CPT 0670T: Donor Uterus Preparation for Transplantation, Single Arterial Anastomosis
CPT code 0670T identifies the surgical preparation of a donor uterus from a cadaver or living donor for transplantation, specified for a single arterial anastomosis. This code captures a highly specialized, resource-intensive component of uterine transplant programs. Nationally, accurate coding for donor organ preparation supports clinical documentation, transplant program metrics, and reimbursement pathways for an emerging field of reproductive transplantation.
Key payers addressed in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The review outlines how payers approach coverage and claims processing for donor organ procurement and graft preparation, and highlights common modifiers used in billing workflows.
Readers will find a concise clinical and billing context for 0670T, including the service definition, typical setting (operating room during donor retrieval), and the relevance of a single arterial anastomosis specification. The publication summarizes benchmark considerations, common billing modifiers, and where to look for policy updates or payer-specific guidance. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable, and this piece is intended as a national overview for billing, coding, and transplant program stakeholders.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 0670T describes preparation of a donor uterus from a cadaveric or living donor for transplantation. The procedure includes dissection and preparation of the graft for implantation and is specified for a single arterial anastomosis (connection).
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Service type: Surgical organ procurement and graft preparation for uterine transplantation
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Typical site of service: Operating room or surgical suite during organ retrieval from a cadaver or during donor surgery for a living donor
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 32-year-old woman with absolute uterine factor infertility is listed for uterus transplantation. A matched cadaveric donor is identified; the donor uterus is procured in the operating room by a transplant surgeon and an assistant. The provider performs surgical preparation of the donor uterus, isolating and mobilizing the uterine arteries and associated vasculature, assessing tissue viability, and trimming vessels to prepare for a single arterial anastomosis. The specimen is flushed with preservation solution, placed on ice, and handed off to the implant team for transport to the recipient operating room. Documentation includes donor demographics, warm and cold ischemia times, vessels isolated (single arterial pedicle), organ viability assessment, and chain-of-custody. Typical team members include transplant surgeons, organ procurement coordinators, anesthesiology, and operating room nursing. Typical site of service is an acute-care hospital operating room during an organ procurement procedure.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
22 | Increased procedural services | Use when the work required to prepare the donor uterus is substantially greater than typical and documentation supports increased work. |
51 | Multiple procedures | Use when other distinct procedures are billed on the same date for the same donor and payer requires a multiple-procedure modifier. |
52 | Reduced services | Use when the preparation was partially reduced or not completed as described by the full procedure. |
53 | Discontinued procedure | Use when the donor uterus preparation was started but terminated due to extenuating circumstances. |
54 | Surgical care only | Use when only the surgical procurement/preparation service is billed and pre-/post-operative care is billed separately. |
55 | Postoperative management only | Use when billing only for postoperative management of the donor after procurement. |
56 | Preoperative management only | Use when only preoperative evaluation/management of the donor is billed separately. |
62 | Two surgeons | Use when two surgeons of different specialties perform distinct parts of the donor uterus preparation and documentation supports co-surgery. |
66 | Surgical team | Use when more than two surgeons participate as a recognized surgical team for complex procurement. |
73 | Discontinued outpatient procedure prior to anesthesia | Use if the procurement was cancelled before anesthesia in an outpatient setting (rare for organ procurement). |
78 | Return to OR for related procedure during global period | Use when a related reoperation on the donor is performed during the global period for a complication of the procurement. |
80 | Assistant surgeon | Use when a surgical assistant performs part of the donor uterus preparation and payer allows billing for an assistant. |
81 | Minimum assistant surgeon | Use when a minimum assistant surgeon service is provided and billed per payer rules. |
82 | Assistant surgeon (when qualified resident not available) | Use when an assistant surgeon is required because no qualified resident is available. |
AS | Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery | Use when an advanced practice clinician serves as the assistant at surgery and payer allows the AS modifier. |
| Taxonomy Code | Specialty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
2080S0003X | Transplant Surgeon | Leads organ procurement and donor organ preparation for uterine transplantation. |
2080P0200X | Obstetrics & Gynecology (Gynecologic Surgeon) | May participate in uterine procurement and assessment of uterine tissue. |
207L00000X | Surgery | General surgical expertise for organ procurement procedures and vascular anastomosis preparation. |
208D00000X | Vascular Surgery | Assists with vascular dissection and vessel preparation for arterial anastomosis. |
363L00000X | Anesthesiology | Provides anesthesia care during donor procurement procedures. |
Related Diagnoses
| ICD-10 Code | Description | Clinical Relevance |
|---|---|---|
N97.9 | Female infertility, unspecified | Uterus transplantation is performed for patients with absolute uterine factor infertility; this diagnosis represents the recipient indication in many cases. |
N97.0 | Female infertility due to tubal origin | Some recipients may have combined infertility etiologies; uterine factor remains the indication but coding may include additional infertility diagnoses. |
Q51.5 | Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome (congenital absence of uterus and vagina) | A common congenital indication for uterine transplantation in recipients lacking a functional uterus. |
N80.1 | Endometriosis of ovary | Severe uterine pathology or prior uterine surgery compromising uterine function can be an indication for transplantation. |
Z52.4 | Organ donor status | Identifies a patient as an organ donor; used for donor documentation during procurement and preparation of the donor uterus. |
Related CPT Codes
| CPT Code | Description | Relationship to This Procedure |
|---|---|---|
00630 | Anesthesia for procedures on the integumentary system and breast; not otherwise specified | Anesthesia services for organ procurement procedures including donor uterus preparation when anesthesia is billed separately. |
01960 | Anesthesia for allogeneic bone marrow transplant procedures | Example anesthesia coding for complex transplant procedures when specific transplant anesthesia codes are required (some payers use transplant-specific anesthesia coding). |
0680T | The provider prepares a donor uterus from a cadaver or living donor for transplantation. This code applies to multiple arterial anastomoses (connection). | Use when donor uterus preparation requires more than a single arterial pedicle and multiple arterial anastomoses are anticipated. |
43770 | Donor hepatectomy, living donor; total hepatectomy | Illustrative of living donor organ procurement procedures; procedural workflow parallels living donor uterus procurement in coordination and organ preservation steps. |
99024 | Postoperative follow-up visit (typically included in global) | Billing for postoperative donor follow-up only when separate postoperative management is billed (modifier 55). |