Summary & Overview
CPT 43761: Nasogastric/Orogastric Tube Placement to Duodenum
CPT code 43761 denotes placement of a nasogastric or orogastric tube with the tip advanced into the duodenum for enteric nutrition, often under radiologic guidance. This procedure is clinically important for patients unable to receive oral intake due to critical illness, neurologic impairment, trauma, or other conditions that require post-pyloric enteral feeding. Nationally, the code captures a care pathway that can affect hospital length of stay, risk of aspiration, and nutritional management.
Key payers addressed in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise review of the clinical context for CPT code 43761, typical sites of service, and the service type. The publication summarizes common billing considerations and presents national benchmarking where available, highlights recent policy or coding updates relevant to enteric tube placement, and outlines operational considerations for documentation and claims submission. The goal is to provide clinicians, coding professionals, and revenue leaders with practical context on how CPT code 43761 is used in acute care settings and what topics to monitor for reimbursement and compliance.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 43761 describes the insertion of a nasogastric or orogastric feeding tube with the tip positioned to end in the duodenum for enteric nutrition. The procedure may use radiological guidance to confirm placement when needed. This service is provided when patients cannot take nutrition orally due to illness, injury, or other clinical conditions.
Service type: Enteric tube placement for post-pyloric feeding
Typical site of service: Hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient, or other acute care settings
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult hospitalized for stroke with impaired swallowing (dysphagia) who cannot safely maintain oral intake. The patient requires short- to intermediate-term post-pyloric enteral nutrition. The physician orders placement of a nasogastric or orogastric feeding tube advanced into the duodenum for enteric nutrition. The procedure is performed at the bedside in an acute care unit, step-down unit, or intensive care unit, frequently with the assistance of radiology for fluoroscopic guidance or confirmation of tip position. Nursing prepares the patient, obtains informed consent when required, and monitors vital signs. The physician performs tube insertion, advances the tube to post-pyloric position, documents technique and confirmation method (radiographic, fluoroscopic, or bedside confirmation), and records the indication, tube type, and any complications. Radiology provides imaging verification if requested. Typical clinical workflow includes pre-procedure assessment, tube placement with or without sedation, confirmation of placement, initiation of enteral formula, and documentation of nutritional plan and follow-up orders.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | Reserved (no specific modifier) | Rarely used; follow payer guidance when required. |
11 |