Summary & Overview
CPT 36200: Aortic Catheterization via Distal Arterial Access
CPT code 36200 denotes insertion of a catheter through a distal artery with guidewire advancement into the aorta for aortography or measurement of intra-aortic pressure. This diagnostic vascular access procedure is central to cardiovascular imaging and hemodynamic assessment and is commonly performed in hospital-based interventional radiology and cardiology settings. Nationally, accurate coding for 36200 matters for clinical documentation, appropriate billing, and ensuring capture of resource use tied to invasive arterial diagnostic procedures.
Key payers included in this analysis are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of the clinical context for CPT code 36200, typical sites of service, commonly associated billing modifiers, and how this code fits within related vascular and interventional procedure families. The publication also summarizes benchmark considerations and policy-relevant points affecting authorization and documentation for aortic catheterization procedures.
The content is intended to inform billing staff, compliance officers, and clinical program leaders about code definition and use, expected settings, and the types of clinical indications that drive use of CPT code 36200. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 36200 describes catheter insertion into a distal artery with advancement into the aorta using a needle and guidewire for purposes such as aortography or aortic pressure measurement. This procedure establishes arterial access and catheter position within the aorta to enable diagnostic imaging or hemodynamic assessment.
-
Service type: Invasive vascular diagnostic procedure (arterial catheterization for aortography/pressure measurement)
-
Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient department, inpatient hospital setting, or specialized vascular/interventional radiology suite where imaging and hemodynamic monitoring are available.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult admitted for evaluation of suspected aortic pathology (e.g., traumatic aortic injury, suspected aortic dissection, or preoperative assessment of large-vessel disease) or for invasive hemodynamic measurement of aortic pressure during cardiac catheterization. The patient is brought to the angiography suite or cardiac catheterization lab after consent and pre-procedure assessment (IV access, coagulation review, sedation plan). Under fluoroscopic guidance, the interventionalist obtains arterial access (commonly via a femoral or brachial puncture), inserts a needle into a distal peripheral artery, advances a guidewire, and threads a catheter retrograde into the aorta to perform aortography or measure intra-aortic pressure. Post-procedure workflow includes hemostasis at the access site, monitoring for complications (bleeding, hematoma, arterial compromise), interpretation of angiographic images or pressure tracings, and documentation of the procedure and findings in the medical record. Typical site of service is the hospital-based angiography/cardiac catheterization laboratory or interventional radiology suite.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | When billing only the physician’s interpretation or professional work separate from technical facility resources. |
50 |