Summary & Overview
CPT 36565: Tunneled Central Venous Catheter Placement
CPT code 36565 describes the percutaneous insertion of a tunneled central venous access device whose tip terminates in a central vein or the right atrium. This procedure is commonly used for long-term intravenous therapy, chemotherapy, hemodialysis access bridging, and frequent blood draws. Nationally, tunneled central line placement is a high-volume, high-clinical-impact service that affects inpatient and outpatient surgical workflows, radiology departments, and vascular access programs.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of the code’s clinical intent and typical settings, plus coverage and billing context for major commercial and public payers. The publication also summarizes common modifiers associated with procedural reporting, typical sites of service, and the clinical scenarios that drive use of tunneled central venous catheters.
This report is useful for coding and billing professionals, practice administrators, and clinicians who need clear, national-level information about when CPT code 36565 applies, how it is documented in procedure notes, and the operational settings where the procedure is delivered. Data not available in the input.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 36565 describes placement of a central venous access device/catheter with tunneling under the skin between the vein entry and the external access site. The device’s tip must terminate in a central vein such as the brachiocephalic (innominate) or iliac vein, subclavian vein, the superior or inferior vena cava, or the right atrium.
Service type: Insertion of a tunneled central venous catheter
Typical site of service: Hospital inpatient or outpatient surgical suite, ambulatory surgical center, or interventional radiology suite, where sterile technique and imaging guidance are available for central venous access and subcutaneous tunneling.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is a 62-year-old with advanced malignancy requiring long-term venous access for chemotherapy and frequent laboratory draws. The interventional radiology or surgery team schedules placement of a tunneled central venous catheter with a subcutaneous port or external tunneled catheter when peripheral access is inadequate. The patient arrives to an ambulatory surgery center or hospital procedural suite after pre-procedure assessment including consent, allergy review, medication reconciliation, and coagulation status check. Under sterile conditions and ultrasound and fluoroscopic guidance, the physician selects an appropriate central vein (internal jugular or subclavian), creates a subcutaneous tunnel from the venous entry to the exit site, advances the catheter tip to the superior vena cava or cavoatrial junction, and secures the catheter with a cuff and sutures. Post-procedure imaging confirms tip location and absence of immediate complications. The patient is observed for hemodynamic stability and for pneumothorax when subclavian access is used, discharged with catheter care instructions, and scheduled for follow-up for dressing changes and device use.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | No modifier (default) | Use when no special circumstances or billing modifiers apply |
62 |