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    OpenPayerBilling CodesEndovascular RevascularizationCPT cpt-37279-femoral-popliteal-intravascular-lithotripsy
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    CPT 37279: Intravascular Lithotripsy During Femoral/Popliteal Revascularization

    Medicare pays $4854 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 37279 describes performing intravascular lithotripsy in a femoral or popliteal vessel during the same session as an initial femoral or popliteal revascularization service; this procedure uses sound waves to fracture arterial calcium or hardened plaque and includes necessary imaging guidance and radiological supervision and interpretation. Service type: endovascular peripheral arterial intervention. Typical site of service: hospital catheterization lab or endovascular suite for treatment of common femoral/profunda femoris or superficial femoral/popliteal territories during the index revascularization session.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure Devices for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation, Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure Devices for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation, Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure Devices for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is an older adult with symptomatic peripheral artery disease (PAD) presenting with lifestyle-limiting claudication or ischemic rest pain and significant focal calcified stenosis within the femoral or popliteal arterial segments. The patient undergoes an initial femoral or popliteal endovascular revascularization (angioplasty and/or stent) during a single endovascular session. During the same session, the interventionalist performs intravascular lithotripsy (37279) to fracture and modify intimal and medial arterial calcium in the treated femoral or popliteal vessel to facilitate vessel dilation and optimize luminal gain. The procedure is performed under fluoroscopic imaging in an endovascular suite or catheterization laboratory with vascular surgery or interventional radiology teams available. Typical workflow: pre-procedure vascular assessment and consent; arterial access (commonly common femoral artery); diagnostic angiography to localize lesions; initial revascularization (angioplasty/stent) of the femoral or popliteal territory; intravascular lithotripsy (37279) applied to the calcified segment; adjunctive balloon angioplasty and/or stent placement as needed; completion angiography; hemostasis and post-procedure monitoring. Usual site of service is an outpatient endovascular suite, hospital outpatient department, or inpatient interventional radiology/catheterization laboratory depending on patient comorbidity and payer requirements.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    37220Revascularization, endovascular, open or percutaneous, femoral/popliteal, initial artery; with transluminal balloon angioplastyCommonly performed before or after 37279 for vessel dilation

    37221 | Revascularization, endovascular, femoral/popliteal, with atherectomy, initial artery | Performed for debulking calcified plaque; may be adjunctive to lithotripsy

    37224 | Revascularization, endovascular, femoral/popliteal, with drug‑eluting stent | Stent placement often follows plaque modification with 37279 to scaffold treated segment

    36215 | Selective catheter placement, arterial, extremity, with angiography | Used for diagnostic angiography and catheter placement to define lesions prior to 37279

    76937 | Ultrasound guidance for vascular access | Used to obtain arterial access safely prior to endovascular treatment including 37279

    Related Modifiers

    7 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    25CPT modifier 25 indicates that on the same day as another procedure or service, the same physician or other qualified health care professional provided a significant, separately identifiable…- When to apply: Use modifier 25 only on an E/M code to indicate the same provider delivered a significant, separately identifiable E/M service on the same day as another procedure or service — i.e.,…
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    77Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…
    78CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…
    79Modifier 79 indicates a surgical procedure performed during the postoperative global period of a prior surgery that is unrelated to the original procedure. Per AMA/CPT and CMS guidance, it is…- Use modifier 79 when the same physician (or same‑specialty physician in the same group) performs a surgical procedure during the postoperative global period of a prior surgery and the new procedure…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    208800000X
    207Q00000X
    2080P0207X
    207R00000X
    363A00000X
    2083A0300X
    213ES0131X
    224ZR0403X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    26 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    E11.51Type 2 diabetes mellitus with diabetic peripheral angiopathy without gangrene
    E78.5Hyperlipidemia, unspecified
    I65.21Occlusion and stenosis of right carotid artery
    I65.22Occlusion and stenosis of left carotid artery
    I70.201Unspecified atherosclerosis of native arteries of extremities, right leg
    I70.202Unspecified atherosclerosis of native arteries of extremities, left leg
    I70.209Unspecified atherosclerosis of native arteries of extremities, unspecified extremity
    I70.212Atherosclerosis of native arteries of extremities with intermittent claudication, left leg
    I70.213Atherosclerosis of native arteries of extremities with intermittent claudication, bilateral legs
    I70.219Atherosclerosis of native arteries of extremities with intermittent claudication, unspecified extremity

    Showing 1–10 of 26

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Cardiology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure Devices for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillationpremerabluecrossofwashington2027-02-05
    Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure Devices for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillationpremerabluecrossofwashington2027-02-05
    Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure Devices for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillationpremerabluecrossofwashington2027-02-05
    Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure - Medical PolicyHealth-New-England2027-02-01
    Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair Medical PolicyHealth-New-England2027-02-01
    Cardiac Electrophysiological (EP) Studies and Cardiac Ablation of Abnormal Electrical RhythmsCigna2027-01-15
    Biomarkers for Myocardial Infarction and Chronic Heart Failure Reimbursement PolicyHealthfirst2026-11-01
    Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure Devices for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillationpremerabluecrossofwashington2026-11-01
    Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure Devices for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillationpremerabluecrossofwashington2026-11-01
    Cardiology - TryvioCigna2026-11-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-37236-ARTERIAL-STENT-PLACEMENT-ENDOVASCULAR

    CPT 37236: Arterial Stent Placement via Catheter

    CPT-37237-ADD-ON-ENDOVASCULAR-STENT-PLACEMENT

    CPT 37237: Endovascular Arterial Stent Placement, Add-On

    CPT-37238-VENOUS-STENT-PLACEMENT-CATHETER

    CPT 37238: Venous Stent Placement, Percutaneous or Open

    CPT-37239-SECONDARY-VENOUS-STENT-INSERTION-ENDOVASCULAR

    CPT 37239: Venous Stent Placement, Additional Vein

    CPT-37246-PERCUTANEOUS-BALLOON-ANGIOPLASTY-ARTERY

    CPT 37246: Percutaneous Balloon Angioplasty of Non-Coronary Artery

    CPT-37247-TRANSLUMINAL-BALLOON-ANGIOPLASTY-ADDITIONAL-ARTERIES

    CPT 37247: Transluminal Balloon Angioplasty, Additional Arteries

    CPT-37249-PERIPHERAL-VEIN-BALLOON-ANGIOPLASTY-ADDITIONAL-VEINS

    CPT 37249: Transluminal Balloon Angioplasty of Additional Veins

    CPT-37254-ILIAC-ARTERY-ANGIOPLASTY-BALLOON-DILATION

    CPT 37254: Iliac Artery Angioplasty (Balloon)

    CPT-37256-ILIAC-ARTERY-COMPLEX-LESION-ANGIOPLASTY

    CPT 37256: Iliac Artery Angioplasty for Complex Occlusion

    CPT-37259-ILIAC-ARTERY-STENT-PLACEMENT-ADDITIONAL-VESSEL

    CPT 37259: Iliac Artery Stent Placement, Additional Vessel

    Showing 1–10 of 21

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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