Summary & Overview
CPT 47120: Hepatectomy, Partial Lobe Resection
CPT code 47120 denotes a hepatectomy — surgical resection of part of the liver, including partial lobe removal, performed to treat benign or malignant hepatic neoplasms. This code captures a major operative hepatobiliary procedure with implications for surgical case mix, facility resource use, and postoperative care planning across the country.
Key payers considered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical context for the code, typical sites of service, and the common payer landscape. The publication summarizes national-level benchmarks for utilization and reimbursement patterns where available, notes relevant policy or coverage themes that affect access to hepatic resection, and clarifies coding and billing considerations that commonly arise for major liver resections.
This resource is aimed at hospital administrators, surgical billing teams, and policy professionals seeking a clear, national overview of CPT code 47120, its clinical role in treating hepatic neoplasms, and the payer environment that influences payment and utilization.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 47120 describes a hepatectomy, the surgical resection of a portion of the liver. The procedure includes partial resection of a liver lobe and is performed for treatment of benign or malignant hepatic neoplasms.
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Service type: Open or laparoscopic surgical resection of hepatic tissue for tumor removal
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Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or ambulatory surgical center with inpatient or outpatient recovery depending on extent of resection
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 58-year-old patient with a solitary 4.5 cm hepatic mass identified on cross-sectional imaging is scheduled for an open partial hepatectomy (CPT 47120) for definitive treatment. Preoperative workup includes liver function tests, coagulation profile, CT or MRI liver protocol, cardiopulmonary evaluation, and review by hepatobiliary surgery. The patient is admitted to the hospital on the day of surgery, receives general anesthesia, and undergoes anatomic resection of the involved hepatic segment(s) including partial resection of a lobe to achieve negative margins for a suspected malignant neoplasm. Intraoperative ultrasound is used to define lesion margins and to guide parenchymal transection. Estimated blood loss is documented and transfusion is recorded if given. Postoperative care includes monitoring in a post-anesthesia care unit, admission to a surgical ward or intensive care unit based on clinical status, serial labs for liver function and hemoglobin, pain control, venous thromboembolism prophylaxis, and discharge planning with outpatient follow-up and oncology consultation if malignancy is confirmed. Billing reflects a major operative procedure performed in an inpatient or inpatient-equivalent surgical setting with global surgical period and typical hospital resources.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
22 | Increased procedural services | Use when documented work, effort, time, or technical difficulty substantially exceeds the typical for . |