Summary & Overview
CPT 37271: Peripheral Atherectomy, Femoral/Popliteal Territory
CPT code 37271 covers atherectomy, with possible angioplasty, for a straightforward stenotic lesion in an initial vessel of the femoral and popliteal bed. This intervention targets plaque removal or debulking in the common femoral/profunda femoris or superficial femoral/popliteal arteries and includes all necessary access, catheterization, lesion crossing, and imaging guidance. The approach may be percutaneous or open, making the code applicable across ambulatory surgery centers and hospital interventional suites.
Nationally, CPT code 37271 is relevant for vascular surgery, interventional radiology, and cardiology practices that manage peripheral arterial disease and limb ischemia. Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise synthesis of the code’s clinical context, typical sites of service, and what to expect in billing and coverage conversations. The publication summarizes common benchmarking considerations and policy themes affecting reimbursement for peripheral atherectomy procedures, and highlights clinical indications tied to femoral and popliteal interventions.
This summary provides clinicians, practice managers, and billing professionals with the clinical framing of CPT code 37271, payer scope, and the primary topics addressed in the full publication: coding scope and definitions, typical service settings, and high-level payer coverage landscape. Data not available in the input for specific modifiers, taxonomies, ICD-10 pairings, or related codes.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 37271 describes an atherectomy of a peripheral artery for a straightforward lesion in an initial vessel of the femoral and popliteal vascular territory, which may include adjunctive angioplasty. The procedure removes or debulks plaque within the artery and may be performed by open or percutaneous approach. The service includes all vascular access, catheterization, lesion crossing, and imaging guidance necessary to complete the intervention.
Service type: Peripheral vascular interventional procedure — atherectomy with possible angioplasty
Typical site of service: Hospital-based vascular interventional suite or ambulatory surgery center (percutaneous or open operative setting)
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 72-year-old patient with progressive lifestyle-limiting claudication of the right lower extremity despite conservative therapy presents for endovascular intervention. Noninvasive testing and angiography demonstrate a focal, straightforward atherosclerotic stenosis in the superficial femoral artery within the femoral-popliteal vascular territory. The vascular surgeon or interventional radiologist performs an atherectomy (37271) via percutaneous common femoral arterial access under fluoroscopic guidance. The procedure workflow includes arterial access, catheterization and selective angiography of the target vessel, crossing the lesion with guidewires and catheters, performing atherectomy to debulk plaque, adjunctive balloon angioplasty as needed, and completion angiography to confirm vessel patency. Hemostasis is achieved with manual compression or a closure device and the patient is monitored in a post-procedure recovery area before discharge or admission based on clinical status.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Use when billing only the physician’s interpretation/technical component is billed separately for imaging or diagnostic consultation related to the procedure. |
59 | Distinct procedural service | Use when a separate, distinct procedural service is performed on the same day that is not typically bundled with (ensure documentation supports distinctness).