CPT 36014 Selective Pulmonary Angiography Reimbursement | OpenPayer

Summary & Overview

CPT 36014: Selective Pulmonary Artery Angiography

CPT code 36014 denotes selective catheter placement in the left or right pulmonary artery for angiographic evaluation. Pulmonary artery angiography is a diagnostic imaging procedure that uses contrast-enhanced X‑ray to visualize pulmonary vasculature and support diagnosis and management of conditions such as pulmonary embolism, pulmonary hypertension, and vascular malformations. Nationally, this procedural code matters for facility billing, interventional radiology and cardiology service lines, and payer coverage policies for advanced vascular imaging.

Key payers addressed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical context for the procedure, typical sites of service, and an overview of payer coverage considerations. The publication provides benchmarks and coding guidance where available, highlights relevant policy updates affecting imaging authorization and documentation, and explains common billing modifiers used with invasive diagnostic vascular procedures. This summary is intended to inform billing staff, clinical coders, and health policy stakeholders about the scope and billing context of CPT code 36014 at a national level. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicareCPT 36014pulmonary angiographyvascular imaginginterventional radiologydiagnostic catheterizationpulmonary arteryhospital radiologyangiographyfluoroscopy

Billing Code Overview

CPT code 36014 describes a diagnostic angiography procedure involving selective placement of a catheter in the left or right pulmonary artery. Angiography uses a radiopaque contrast agent to visualize blood vessels on X‑ray, assisting clinicians in diagnosing and planning treatment for pulmonary vascular conditions.

Service type: Diagnostic vascular imaging procedure (selective pulmonary artery catheterization)
Typical site of service: Hospital radiology or cardiology catheterization laboratory; may also be performed in an interventional suite where fluoroscopic angiography is available.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 62-year-old patient with acute shortness of breath and hypoxemia is admitted from the emergency department for evaluation of suspected pulmonary embolism and complex pulmonary vascular disease. After initial stabilization and noninvasive imaging (chest radiograph and computed tomography pulmonary angiography) are performed, the interventional radiology or cardiology team plans a diagnostic pulmonary angiography. Under fluoroscopic guidance the operator selectively places a catheter into the left or right pulmonary artery to obtain focused contrast injections, define the location and extent of thromboembolus or vascular abnormality, and guide potential endovascular therapy (for example, catheter-directed thrombolysis or embolectomy). The procedure is typically performed in an angiography suite, cardiac catheterization lab, or hybrid operating room with continuous hemodynamic monitoring and conscious sedation or general anesthesia as indicated. Post-procedure care includes vascular access site monitoring, pulse oximetry, serial neurovascular checks, and imaging follow-up as clinically indicated.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`59`	Distinct procedural service	When a separate, distinct pulmonary artery catheterization is performed in addition to another procedure that might be bundled.
`76`

CPT 36011: First-Order Branch Vein Catheter Placement, Diagnostic/Therapeutic

CPT-36005-EXTREMITY-VENOGRAPHY-CONTRAST-INJECTION

CPT 36005: Extremity Venography with Contrast Injection

CPT-36012-SELECTIVE-CATHETERIZATION-SECOND-ORDER-VENOUS-BRANCH

CPT 36012: Selective Catheterization of Second-Order Venous Branch

CPT-36015-SELECTIVE-PULMONARY-ARTERY-ANGIOGRAPHY-CATHETER-PLACEMENT

CPT 36015: Selective Pulmonary Artery Catheterization for Angiography

CPT-36002-PSEUDOANEURYSM-THROMBOTIC-INJECTION-UPPER-OR-LOWER-EXTREMITY

CPT 36002: Injection of Thrombotic Agent into Arm or Leg Pseudoaneurysm

CPT-36013-RIGHT-HEART-MAIN-PULMONARY-ARTERY-CATHETER-INTRODUCTION-ANGIOGRAPHY

CPT 36013: Right Heart/Main Pulmonary Artery Catheter Introduction for Angiography

CPT-36010-CENTRAL-VENOUS-CATHETERIZATION-CAVA-ANGIOGRAPHY-ANGIOPLASTY

CPT 36010: Central Venous Catheterization for Cardiac Angiography/Angioplasty

CPT-36000-VENOUS-ACCESS-NEEDLE-OR-INTRACATHETER-INSERTION

CPT 36000: Venous Access — Needle or Intracatheter Insertion

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207RX0200X	Interventional Radiology	Most common specialty performing selective pulmonary artery catheter angiography for diagnostic imaging and endovascular therapy.
207RC0200X	Interventional Cardiology	Performs selective pulmonary artery catheterization when cardiac catheterization lab is used or for right heart/pulmonary vascular interventions.
2085P0200X	Pulmonology (Interventional Pulmonology)	May perform diagnostic or therapeutic pulmonary vascular procedures in specialized centers.
2088S0205X	Thoracic Surgery	Performs catheter-based or hybrid procedures involving pulmonary vasculature in operative settings.
207LP3000X	Vascular Surgery	May be involved when vascular surgical intervention is anticipated following angiographic findings.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`I26.99`	Other pulmonary embolism without acute cor pulmonale	Pulmonary angiography is used to localize thromboembolic occlusions and guide catheter-directed therapy.
`I26.90`	Pulmonary embolism without acute cor pulmonale, unspecified	Common indication when imaging and intervention for suspected PE are required.
`I27.20`	Pulmonary hypertension, unspecified	Selective pulmonary angiography can delineate vascular lesions and evaluate operability.
`I80.9`	Phlebitis and thrombophlebitis of unspecified site	When venous thromboembolism is suspected to have embolized to the pulmonary circulation.
`R09.02`	Hypoxemia	Diagnostic angiography may be indicated when hypoxemia is unexplained and pulmonary vascular disease is suspected.
`I74.9`	Arterial embolism and thrombosis of unspecified artery	When embolic disease involves pulmonary arteries and requires localization.
`Q25.4`	Pulmonary artery stenosis	Congenital or acquired pulmonary artery stenosis can be evaluated with selective angiography.
`I99.89`	Other specified disorders of circulatory system	Used for other vascular disorders of the pulmonary circulation that require diagnostic angiography.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`36200`	Introduction of catheter, thoracic aorta, percutaneous, with diagnostic angiography	May be performed if thoracic/central access is required before selective pulmonary artery catheterization.
`36011`	Introduction of catheter, pulmonary artery, diagnostic, non-selective	Performed for non-selective pulmonary artery catheterization; `36014` denotes selective placement into left or right pulmonary artery.
`37184`	Transcatheter therapy, embolization, any method, non-central pulmonary arteries	Performed when angiography identifies lesions requiring embolization; may follow selective pulmonary artery catheterization.
`36216`	Selective catheterization, pulmonary artery, each additional branch when performed in addition to primary selective pulmonary artery catheterization	Used when multiple selective catheter placements into additional pulmonary arterial branches are performed during the same session.
`36010`	Introduction of catheter, pulmonary artery, diagnostic, (e.g., Swan-Ganz)	Right heart catheterization codes that may be performed in the same session for hemodynamic assessment.
`37211`	Transcatheter therapy, infusion for lysis, pulmonary embolism (catheter-directed thrombolysis)	Therapeutic infusion often performed after or during selective pulmonary artery catheter placement to treat pulmonary embolism.
`93503`	Catheter placement in vena cava or pulmonary artery for diagnostic angiography	May be used in related workflows for catheter placement into central pulmonary circulation.
`76000`	Fluoroscopic guidance for needle placement (e.g., vascular access)	Fluoroscopic guidance is integral to angiography procedures and may be billed when documented separately.

OpenPayer