Summary & Overview

CPT 36576: Repair of Implanted Central Venous Access Catheter with Port or Pump

CPT code 36576 denotes the surgical repair of an implanted central venous access catheter with a subcutaneous port or pump that the provider originally placed centrally or peripherally. This code captures a distinct, device-focused procedure that restores function of long-term vascular access used for infusion therapy, chemotherapy, parenteral nutrition, and other chronic vascular needs. Nationally, accurate coding for device repair affects quality tracking, device management, and facility billing workflows.

Key payers in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find clinical context about the procedure, typical sites of service, and where this code fits among related vascular access services. The publication outlines benchmarks for utilization and coverage considerations at a national level, highlights coding nuances relevant to repair versus replacement or new placement, and summarizes policy trends that influence reimbursement and facility billing. Data not available in the input will be noted where applicable, and the content focuses on clarifying what the code represents, expected service settings, and the operational implications for providers and billing teams.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicare36576CPTcentral venous accessport repairvascular accesssurgical repairoutpatient surgeryambulatory surgical center

Billing Code Overview

CPT code 36576 describes a procedure to repair a central venous access catheter with a subcutaneous port or pump that the provider previously placed either centrally or peripherally. The procedure involves surgically addressing malfunctions, damage, or wear of an implanted port or pump catheter system to restore its intended vascular access function.

Service type: Surgical repair of implanted central venous access catheter with subcutaneous port or pump
Typical site of service: Ambulatory surgical center or hospital outpatient department, and in some cases an operating room depending on complexity and patient condition

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 56-year-old patient with a previously implanted subcutaneous central venous port for long-term chemotherapy presents with malfunction of the port due to catheter fracture at the junction site. The patient reports difficulty with infusion and intermittent swelling at the port site. The interventional radiology or surgical oncology team evaluates the patient, performs imaging (chest radiograph or fluoroscopy) to localize the fracture, and schedules a procedure to repair the existing central venous access catheter and subcutaneous port. The procedure is performed in an outpatient interventional radiology suite or ambulatory surgical center under monitored anesthesia care or local anesthesia with sedation. The workflow includes consent, sterile prep, pocket incision reopening, catheter repair or replacement of the external catheter segment while preserving the existing port reservoir, integrity testing with saline/contrast, hemostasis, wound closure, and post-procedure observation with discharge instructions for port care and activity restrictions.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`00`	No modifier — standard reporting	Use when no specific modifier applies and service is reported as usual.
`11`

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
208000000X	General Surgery	Surgeons who perform port revisions and catheter repairs.
208600000X	Vascular Surgery	Vascular surgeons who manage central venous catheters and complex catheter repairs.
2084P0800X	Interventional Radiology	Common specialty performing image-guided port and catheter repairs.
362M00000X	Vascular & Interventional Radiology (alternate taxonomy)	Radiology subspecialists performing endovascular access and port repairs.
363LP0800X	Surgical Oncology	Oncologic surgeons who manage implantable ports for chemotherapy delivery.

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`T85.698A`	Other mechanical complication of other specified internal prosthetic devices, implants and grafts, initial encounter	Mechanical catheter fracture or malfunction of the implanted port leading to repair.
`T82.820A`	Traumatic puncture and laceration of heart and pericardium during cardiac procedure, initial encounter	Data not directly typical for port repair but may appear when there are procedural complications requiring repair.
`I82.409`	Acute embolism and thrombosis of unspecified deep veins of lower extremity	Thrombosis related to central venous catheter may prompt evaluation and repair or replacement of port.
`I82.90`	Acute embolism and thrombosis of unspecified vein, unspecified site	General thrombotic complications associated with central venous catheters.
`Z45.2`	Encounter for adjustment and management of vascular device, implant and graft	Used for follow-up care and management of an implanted port including repairs and adjustments.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`36561`	Insertion of tunneled centrally inserted central venous catheter, with subcutaneous port or pump, without subcutaneous port reservoir; age 5 years or older	Performed when initial placement of a tunneled catheter with port is required rather than repair; may be an alternative if repair is not feasible.
`36556`	Insertion of non-tunneled centrally inserted central venous catheter; age 5 years or older	Related when temporary central access is needed before or after port repair in complex cases.
`36578`	Replacement, complete, of infusion device implant system, components and subcutaneous port or pump, when performed (e.g., replacement of the port reservoir)	Performed when the port reservoir requires complete replacement rather than repair of the catheter.
`36575`	Insertion of tunneled centrally inserted central venous catheter, with subcutaneous port or pump, younger than 5 years	Pediatric equivalent for initial placement when repair is not appropriate in young children.
`76937`	Ultrasound guidance for vascular access requiring ultrasound evaluation and documentation	Often used during access or localization steps when ultrasound guidance is employed during port repair.
`76000`	Fluoroscopy (separate charge)	Used to document image guidance (fluoroscopy) during catheter localization and repair when billed separately.

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