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CPT 19296: Balloon Catheter Placement for Breast Brachytherapy
CPT code 19296 represents image-guided placement of a single- or multichannel expandable balloon catheter at the treatment site after partial mastectomy for delivery of radiotherapy (brachytherapy). This targeted, cavity-directed approach supports breast-conserving therapy and can impact care pathways, facility utilization, and post-surgical radiation scheduling across the country. Nationally, the code is relevant to hospital outpatient departments, ambulatory surgery centers, and specialty cancer treatment centers performing breast-conserving procedures.
Key payers included in the analysis are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of clinical context for catheter-based breast brachytherapy, payer coverage themes, and common coding considerations tied to facility and imaging resources. The publication presents benchmarks where available, highlights recent policy or coding updates impacting use of this code, and explains how service setting and image guidance contribute to coding and billing workflows. This summary is intended to orient clinicians, coding professionals, and policy analysts to the primary uses and implications of CPT code 19296 at a national level.
Data not available in the input for specific associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, related codes, and payer-specific reimbursement rates.
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Billing Code Overview
CPT code 19296 describes placement of a single- or multichannel expandable balloon catheter at the lumpectomy or partial mastectomy site for administration of radiotherapy. The procedure includes image guidance to ensure correct placement of the catheter within the surgical cavity.
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Service type: Image-guided placement of an expandable balloon catheter for brachytherapy following partial mastectomy
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Typical site of service: Outpatient surgical suite or hospital outpatient department where breast-conserving surgery and post-operative brachytherapy are performed