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    OpenPayerBilling CodesLigation Procedures on Arteries and VeinsCPT cpt-37735-saphenous-vein-stripping-ulcer-excision-skin-graft
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    CPT 37735: Saphenous Vein Stripping with Ulcer Excision and Skin Graft

    Medicare pays $536 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 37735 describes a surgical procedure for treatment of varicose veins that includes incisions to access the long or short saphenous vein, ligation and division of the vein, removal with a stripping device, excision of an ulcer including deep fascia and adjacent soft tissues, and placement of a skin graft; this is a vein surgery with ulcer excision and grafting typically performed as an operative vascular procedure in an operating room or ambulatory surgery center setting.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Removal of Implantable, Outpatient Surgical Procedures - Site of Service, Surgical Procedures.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 62-year-old ambulatory male with symptomatic chronic venous insufficiency and recurrent varicosities presents with a large, non-healing venous ulcer over the medial distal lower leg. Conservative therapy (compression, local wound care) has failed. The vascular surgeon schedules an operative session under general or regional anesthesia to perform high ligation and stripping of the great saphenous vein with excision of the ulcer and placement of a split-thickness skin graft. The workflow includes preoperative vascular evaluation (duplex ultrasound), informed consent, anesthesia assessment, operative vein ligation and stripping with possible tie-offs of communicating superficial veins, excision of ulcer including deep fascia and adjacent soft tissue, harvesting of a skin graft (usually thigh), graft application and dressing, immediate postoperative monitoring in PACU, and postoperative wound care follow-up with graft check and duplex as indicated.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    12001Simple repair of superficial wound (<2.5 cm)May be used for small adjacent wound repairs unrelated to the skin graft donor/recipient formal grafting work
    11042Debridement, subcutaneous tissue (first 20 sq cm)Can be reported when extensive wound debridement beyond ulcer excision is performed prior to grafting
    15100Split-thickness skin graft, trunk, arms or legs; first 100 sq cm or less, single layerUsed for the skin graft placed over the excised ulcer site (commonly reported with 37735 when grafting performed)
    76937Ultrasound guidance for vascular accessMay be used in operative setting for mapping or guidance if performed and separately billable
    93970Duplex scan of extremity veins (noninvasive)Preoperative or postoperative venous duplex studies to evaluate reflux or graft patency

    Related Modifiers

    8 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    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…
    50Modifier –50 (Bilateral Procedure) is appended to a CPT code when an identical procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures during the same operative session. The AMA states to add…- Use modifier -50 when the same CPT surgical, diagnostic, or radiology procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures (both sides of the body) during the same operative/session by the same…
    51Modifier –51 (Multiple Procedures) is used when the same provider performs multiple procedures in the same session to identify secondary, non‑exempt procedures and indicate payment reduction logic…- Use modifier -51 when the same provider performs multiple distinct procedures during the same patient encounter: report the highest‑valued procedure first (no modifier) and append -51 to…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207P00000X
    207L00000X
    207K00000X
    103TP0814X
    163WN0800X
    163WA2000X
    246ZE0600X
    207ZB0001X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    27 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    I73.9Peripheral vascular disease, unspecified
    I74.3Embolism and thrombosis of arteries of the lower extremities
    I80.221Phlebitis and thrombophlebitis of right popliteal vein
    I80.222Phlebitis and thrombophlebitis of left popliteal vein
    I80.231Phlebitis and thrombophlebitis of right tibial vein
    I80.232Phlebitis and thrombophlebitis of left tibial vein
    I80.9Phlebitis and thrombophlebitis of unspecified site
    I83.10Varicose veins of unspecified lower extremity with inflammation
    I83.11Varicose veins of right lower extremity with inflammation
    I83.813Varicose veins of bilateral lower extremities with pain

    Showing 1–10 of 27

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: General Surgery1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Removal of ImplantableBlue Cross Blue Shield - Rhode Island2026-10-01
    Outpatient Surgical Procedures - Site of ServiceUnitedHealthcare2026-09-01
    Surgical ProceduresUnitedHealthcare2026-09-01
    Site of Service Ambulatory Service Center (ASC) Select — Surgical or Diagnostic Procedures in AdultsPremera Bluecross2026-09-01
    Site of Service Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Select — Surgical or Diagnostic Procedures in AdultsPremera Bluecross2026-09-01
    Site of Service Ambulatory Service Center (ASC) SelectPremera Bluecross2026-09-01
    Site of Service Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Select — Site of Service for Ambulatory Surgical Procedures (ASC Select)Premera Bluecross2026-09-01
    Site of Service Ambulatory Service Center (ASC) SelectPremera Bluecross2026-09-01
    Medical Necessity Guidelines Inpatient Surgical CareMass General Brigham Health Plan2026-08-01
    Outpatient Surgical Procedures - Site of Servicesierra health and life2026-08-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-37565-INTERNAL-JUGULAR-VEIN-LIGATION-NECK-INCISION

    CPT 37565: Internal Jugular Vein Ligation via Neck Incision

    CPT-37600-EXTERNAL-CAROTID-ARTERY-LIGATION-NECK-SURGERY

    CPT 37600: External Carotid Artery Ligation, Neck Incision

    CPT-37605-CAROTID-ARTERY-LIGATION-OPEN-VASCULAR-SURGERY

    CPT 37605: Ligation of Internal or Common Carotid Artery

    CPT-37606-CAROTID-ARTERY-LIGATION-NECK

    CPT 37606: Ligation of Internal or Common Carotid Artery

    CPT-37607-ARTERIOVENOUS-FISTULA-LIGATION

    CPT 37607: Ligation of Artificial Arteriovenous Fistula

    CPT-37609-TEMPORAL-ARTERY-LIGATION-ANEURYSM-TREATMENT

    CPT 37609: Temporal Artery Ligation for Aneurysm

    CPT-37615-NECK-ARTERY-LIGATION-TRAUMA

    CPT 37615: Ligation of Ruptured Neck Artery (Traumatic)

    CPT-37616-THORACIC-ARTERY-LIGATION-RUPTURE-TRAUMA

    CPT 37616: Ligation of Ruptured Chest Artery (Trauma)

    CPT-37617-ABDOMINAL-ARTERY-LIGATION-TRAUMA

    CPT 37617: Ligation of Ruptured Abdominal Artery

    CPT-37618-LIGATION-RUPTURED-LIMB-ARTERY-TRAUMA

    CPT 37618: Ligation of Ruptured Limb Artery

    Showing 1–10 of 22

    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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