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CPT 36478: Endovenous Laser Ablation of First Diseased Vein
CPT code 36478 covers percutaneous endovenous laser ablation of a diseased extremity vein, reported for the first vein treated. This minimally invasive venous ablation procedure is widely used for symptomatic varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency; it matters nationally because it affects outpatient vascular procedure volumes, bundled payment considerations, and utilization of ambulatory surgery centers. Key payers addressed in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.
Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context and procedural setting, national benchmarks for utilization and site-of-service trends where available, common billing and modifier considerations, and policy updates that affect coverage and reimbursement frameworks. The publication summarizes how CPT code 36478 is positioned within venous treatment workflows, identifies areas where coding clarity is important (for example, first-vein reporting versus additional-vein reporting), and outlines the typical ambulatory settings where the service is delivered. Data not available in the input will be noted as such in relevant sections.
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Billing Code Overview
CPT code 36478 describes a percutaneous endovenous laser ablation procedure in which a provider inserts a specially designed laser ablation catheter probe through the skin and destroys the wall of a diseased vein in an extremity. This code is reported for treatment of the first vein treated during the same session.
Service type: Minimally invasive endovascular venous ablation.
Typical site of service: Ambulatory surgery center or hospital outpatient department, with some procedures performed in office-based procedure suites when appropriate.