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CPT 37191: Inferior Vena Cava Filter Placement

CPT code 37191 covers percutaneous placement of an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter via groin or neck venous access under imaging guidance. The procedure is performed to prevent venous thromboemboli from lower extremity deep vein thrombosis from reaching the pulmonary circulation, and it is a commonly billed endovascular intervention in interventional radiology and vascular surgery. Nationally, IVC filter placement is clinically significant for patients with acute venous thromboembolism who cannot receive anticoagulation or require temporary embolic protection.

Key payers included in this analysis are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of clinical context for use of the code, typical sites of service, common modifiers associated with procedural billing, and the payer landscape. The publication summarizes reimbursement and billing considerations, identifies coding nuances relevant to documentation and imaging guidance, and highlights what to expect across major commercial insurers and Medicare. This summary is intended for revenue cycle professionals, billing coders, and clinical managers seeking a concise reference to the clinical and payer context of CPT code 37191.

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Billing Code Overview

CPT code 37191 describes the percutaneous insertion of a filter into the inferior vena cava (IVC) via venous access at the groin or neck, with catheter manipulation and imaging guidance to deploy a device that prevents thromboemboli from lower-extremity deep vein thrombosis from reaching the heart and lungs. This procedure is an endovascular IVC filter placement intended to reduce risk of pulmonary embolism in patients with contraindications to anticoagulation or other clinical indications for filter use.

Service Type: Endovascular device placement / Interventional radiology procedure

Typical Site of Service: Hospital-based interventional radiology suite or catheterization laboratory; may also be performed in outpatient surgical centers equipped for vascular procedures

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CPT 37191: Inferior Vena Cava Filter Placement

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Billing Code Overview

Service Type: Endovascular device placement / Interventional radiology procedure

Typical Site of Service: Hospital-based interventional radiology suite or catheterization laboratory; may also be performed in outpatient surgical centers equipped for vascular procedures

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A typical patient is a 65-year-old hospitalized individual with a documented proximal lower-extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and either contraindication to anticoagulation (active gastrointestinal bleeding, recent major surgery) or recurrent pulmonary embolism despite anticoagulation. The patient is referred to interventional radiology or vascular surgery for placement of an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter. Pre-procedure workflow includes informed consent, review of imaging (ultrasound of lower extremities, contrast CT or venography if available), assessment of coagulation status, and temporary withholding of anticoagulants as clinically indicated.

On the day of service the patient is brought to an angiography suite or hybrid operating room. Under sterile conditions and conscious sedation or monitored anesthesia care, the operator obtains venous access (common femoral vein at the groin or internal jugular vein at the neck), advances a guidewire and diagnostic catheter under fluoroscopic guidance to the infrarenal IVC, performs cavography to define anatomy and rule out thrombus at the deployment site, and deploys a retrievable or permanent IVC filter. Post-deployment venography confirms filter position and patency. The patient is observed in recovery; discharge planning includes documentation of indication, device type (retrievable vs permanent), retrieval plan if applicable, and instructions for follow-up imaging and anticoagulation management.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`26`	Professional component	Use when only the physician professional component is billed separate from technical component for imaging or interpretation related to the procedure
`50`	Bilateral procedure	Rarely applicable; use if bilateral separate access procedures are billed and payer requires bilateral modifier (uncommon for single IVC filter insertion)
`51`	Multiple procedures	Use when additional unrelated CPT-coded procedures are performed the same day and primary procedure rules require modifier for secondary codes
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the service is partially reduced or not completed as documented (e.g., aborted filter deployment)
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when the procedure is started but discontinued due to extenuating circumstances or patient condition
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Use to indicate a procedure or service that is distinct or independent from other services performed on same day (e.g., separate venous access or diagnostic venography billed separately when appropriate)
`62`	Two surgeons	Use when two surgeons with distinct roles perform the procedure concurrently and payer allows shared operative participation
`66`	Surgical team	Use when a surgical team performs the procedure and billing reflects team documentation
`73`	Discontinued outpatient hospital/ambulatory surgery center (ASC) procedure prior to anesthesia	Use when procedure cancelled after patient prepared but before anesthesia in ASC or outpatient setting
`78`	Return to operating room for a related procedure during postoperative period	Use if patient returns to OR/IR suite for a related complication requiring reintervention during global period
`79`	Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician during the postoperative period	Use when an unrelated procedure is performed during the global period
`26`	Professional component (duplicate entry removed)	Use per above
`TC`	Technical component	Use when billing only the technical component (facility equipment, radiology suite) separate from the professional component

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207P00000X	Vascular Surgery	Primary surgical specialty performing IVC filter placement in many centers
2086S0123X	Interventional Radiology	Common proceduralists for image-guided IVC filter deployment
2084P0200X	Internal Medicine - Hospitalist	Often manages inpatient pre- and post-procedure care and coordinates anticoagulation
207L00000X	Cardiovascular Disease	Interventional cardiologists may perform venous interventions including IVC filters in some institutions
261QU0200X	Anesthesiology	Provides monitored anesthesia care or anesthesia services during placement as needed

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`I82.401`	Acute embolism and thrombosis of unspecified deep veins of right lower extremity	Proximal lower-extremity DVT is a common indication for IVC filter to prevent pulmonary embolism when anticoagulation is contraindicated
`I82.402`	Acute embolism and thrombosis of unspecified deep veins of left lower extremity	Same clinical relevance as right-sided DVT; DVT source for emboli avoided by IVC filter
`I82.403`	Acute embolism and thrombosis of unspecified deep veins of bilateral lower extremities	Bilateral DVT increases embolic risk and may prompt filter placement when anticoagulation is not possible
`I26.99`	Other pulmonary embolism without acute cor pulmonale	History of pulmonary embolism or recurrent PE despite anticoagulation is an indication for IVC filter placement
`D68.51`	Anticoagulant-induced hemorrhage	Active bleeding while on anticoagulation is a common contraindication to continued anticoagulation and a reason to consider an IVC filter

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`37191`	Placement of IVC filter, percutaneous, including radiological supervision and interpretation	Primary procedure described; deployment of an IVC filter via venous access under imaging guidance
`36221`	Selective catheter placement, arterial system; initial single vessel, arterial catheterization for diagnostic purposes	May be performed if arterial access/angiography is needed in the same session for evaluation of anatomy or complications (rare adjunct)
`36011`	Introduction of needle or intracatheter, percutaneous, for central venous access, with imaging guidance	Describes central venous access introduction techniques that may be performed when obtaining jugular or femoral venous access prior to filter placement
`75820`	Venography, radiological supervision and interpretation, percutaneous, IVC or other central venous system	Performed to document IVC anatomy and thrombus prior to filter deployment; often bundled but may be separately reported when appropriate
`76937`	Ultrasound guidance for vascular access requiring ultrasound imaging and documentation	Used when ultrasound guidance is used for femoral or jugular vein puncture during access for filter placement

CPT 37192: Image-Guided Repositioning of IVC Filter

CPT-37193-IVC-FILTER-REMOVAL-PERCUTANEOUS

CPT 37193: Percutaneous Removal of Inferior Vena Cava Filter

CPT-37195-CEREBRAL-THROMBOLYTIC-INFUSION

CPT 37195: Cerebral Thrombolytic Infusion for Clot Dissolution

CPT-37197-PERCUTANEOUS-ENDOVASCULAR-FOREIGN-BODY-REMOVAL

CPT 37197: Percutaneous Endovascular Foreign Body Removal

CPT-37200-TRANSCATHETER-VASCULAR-BIOPSY

CPT 37200: Transcatheter Vascular Biopsy, Intravascular Tissue Sampling

CPT-37211-CATHETER-DIRECTED-THROMBOLYSIS-ARTERIAL

CPT 37211: Catheter-Directed Arterial Thrombolytic Infusion

CPT-37212-CATHETER-DIRECTED-THROMBOLYSIS-VENOUS

CPT 37212: Catheter-Directed Venous Thrombolysis

CPT-37213-CATHETER-DIRECTED-THROMBOLYTIC-INFUSION

CPT 37213: Catheter-Directed Thrombolytic Infusion

CPT-37214-CATHETER-DIRECTED-THROMBOLYTIC-INFUSION

CPT 37214: Catheter-Directed Thrombolytic Infusion

CPT-37215-CAROTID-ARTERY-STENT-PLACEMENT-EMBOLIC-PROTECTION

CPT 37215: Carotid Artery Stent Placement with Embolic Protection

Showing 1–10 of 13

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.

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Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`26`	Professional component	Use when only the physician professional component is billed separate from technical component for imaging or interpretation related to the procedure
`50`	Bilateral procedure	Rarely applicable; use if bilateral separate access procedures are billed and payer requires bilateral modifier (uncommon for single IVC filter insertion)
`51`	Multiple procedures	Use when additional unrelated CPT-coded procedures are performed the same day and primary procedure rules require modifier for secondary codes
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the service is partially reduced or not completed as documented (e.g., aborted filter deployment)
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when the procedure is started but discontinued due to extenuating circumstances or patient condition
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Use to indicate a procedure or service that is distinct or independent from other services performed on same day (e.g., separate venous access or diagnostic venography billed separately when appropriate)
`62`	Two surgeons	Use when two surgeons with distinct roles perform the procedure concurrently and payer allows shared operative participation
`66`	Surgical team	Use when a surgical team performs the procedure and billing reflects team documentation
`73`	Discontinued outpatient hospital/ambulatory surgery center (ASC) procedure prior to anesthesia	Use when procedure cancelled after patient prepared but before anesthesia in ASC or outpatient setting
`78`	Return to operating room for a related procedure during postoperative period	Use if patient returns to OR/IR suite for a related complication requiring reintervention during global period
`79`	Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician during the postoperative period	Use when an unrelated procedure is performed during the global period
`26`	Professional component (duplicate entry removed)	Use per above
`TC`	Technical component	Use when billing only the technical component (facility equipment, radiology suite) separate from the professional component

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207P00000X	Vascular Surgery	Primary surgical specialty performing IVC filter placement in many centers
2086S0123X	Interventional Radiology	Common proceduralists for image-guided IVC filter deployment
2084P0200X	Internal Medicine - Hospitalist	Often manages inpatient pre- and post-procedure care and coordinates anticoagulation
207L00000X	Cardiovascular Disease	Interventional cardiologists may perform venous interventions including IVC filters in some institutions
261QU0200X	Anesthesiology	Provides monitored anesthesia care or anesthesia services during placement as needed

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`I82.401`	Acute embolism and thrombosis of unspecified deep veins of right lower extremity	Proximal lower-extremity DVT is a common indication for IVC filter to prevent pulmonary embolism when anticoagulation is contraindicated
`I82.402`	Acute embolism and thrombosis of unspecified deep veins of left lower extremity	Same clinical relevance as right-sided DVT; DVT source for emboli avoided by IVC filter
`I82.403`	Acute embolism and thrombosis of unspecified deep veins of bilateral lower extremities	Bilateral DVT increases embolic risk and may prompt filter placement when anticoagulation is not possible
`I26.99`	Other pulmonary embolism without acute cor pulmonale	History of pulmonary embolism or recurrent PE despite anticoagulation is an indication for IVC filter placement
`D68.51`	Anticoagulant-induced hemorrhage	Active bleeding while on anticoagulation is a common contraindication to continued anticoagulation and a reason to consider an IVC filter

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`37191`	Placement of IVC filter, percutaneous, including radiological supervision and interpretation	Primary procedure described; deployment of an IVC filter via venous access under imaging guidance
`36221`	Selective catheter placement, arterial system; initial single vessel, arterial catheterization for diagnostic purposes	May be performed if arterial access/angiography is needed in the same session for evaluation of anatomy or complications (rare adjunct)
`36011`	Introduction of needle or intracatheter, percutaneous, for central venous access, with imaging guidance	Describes central venous access introduction techniques that may be performed when obtaining jugular or femoral venous access prior to filter placement
`75820`	Venography, radiological supervision and interpretation, percutaneous, IVC or other central venous system	Performed to document IVC anatomy and thrombus prior to filter deployment; often bundled but may be separately reported when appropriate
`76937`	Ultrasound guidance for vascular access requiring ultrasound imaging and documentation	Used when ultrasound guidance is used for femoral or jugular vein puncture during access for filter placement

CPT 37192: Image-Guided Repositioning of IVC Filter

CPT-37193-IVC-FILTER-REMOVAL-PERCUTANEOUS

CPT 37193: Percutaneous Removal of Inferior Vena Cava Filter

CPT-37195-CEREBRAL-THROMBOLYTIC-INFUSION

CPT 37195: Cerebral Thrombolytic Infusion for Clot Dissolution

CPT-37197-PERCUTANEOUS-ENDOVASCULAR-FOREIGN-BODY-REMOVAL

CPT 37197: Percutaneous Endovascular Foreign Body Removal

CPT-37200-TRANSCATHETER-VASCULAR-BIOPSY

CPT 37200: Transcatheter Vascular Biopsy, Intravascular Tissue Sampling

CPT-37211-CATHETER-DIRECTED-THROMBOLYSIS-ARTERIAL

CPT 37211: Catheter-Directed Arterial Thrombolytic Infusion

CPT-37212-CATHETER-DIRECTED-THROMBOLYSIS-VENOUS

CPT 37212: Catheter-Directed Venous Thrombolysis

CPT-37213-CATHETER-DIRECTED-THROMBOLYTIC-INFUSION

CPT 37213: Catheter-Directed Thrombolytic Infusion

CPT-37214-CATHETER-DIRECTED-THROMBOLYTIC-INFUSION

CPT 37214: Catheter-Directed Thrombolytic Infusion

CPT-37215-CAROTID-ARTERY-STENT-PLACEMENT-EMBOLIC-PROTECTION

CPT 37215: Carotid Artery Stent Placement with Embolic Protection

Showing 1–10 of 13

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.

Published by

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CPT 37191: Inferior Vena Cava Filter Placement

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Billing Code Overview

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Billing Code Overview

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References