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CPT 36583: Complete Replacement of Tunneled Central Venous Catheter
CPT code 36583 designates the complete removal and replacement of a tunneled central venous access catheter when the device is blocked, damaged, or otherwise malfunctioning. This code captures a common interventional procedure that restores long-term central venous access for infusion therapy, hemodialysis adjuncts, or prolonged medication delivery. It matters nationally because tunneled catheter management impacts inpatient and outpatient procedural volumes, vascular access complication rates, and resource use across hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and radiology suites. Key payers in national coverage and reimbursement discussions include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.
Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context and common sites of service, along with payer coverage considerations and benchmark-oriented content. The publication reviews typical billing considerations for CPT code 36583, summarizes common modifiers and related coding practice (where available), and outlines areas where policy updates or payer-specific rules can affect claims processing. When clinical or administrative data elements are not provided in the input, the text notes that those items are not available. This piece is written for a national audience to support coding, billing, and policy staff who manage vascular access procedures and related reimbursement topics.
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Billing Code Overview
CPT code 36583 describes a complete replacement of a tunneled central venous access (CVA) catheter performed when an existing tunneled catheter is blocked, damaged, or malfunctioning. The procedure involves removing the dysfunctional tunneled catheter and inserting a new tunneled central venous catheter to reestablish long-term central venous access.
Service type: Tunneled central venous catheter replacement (complete exchange)
Typical site of service: Hospital operating room, ambulatory surgery center, or interventional radiology suite