Summary & Overview
CPT 47135: Liver Allotransplantation
CPT code 47135 represents an allotransplantation of a liver, covering partial or whole liver transfer from a cadaveric or living donor to a recipient and placement in the usual anatomic position. As a high-complexity, resource-intensive surgical procedure, liver allotransplantation is central to care for end-stage liver disease, acute liver failure, and selected metabolic disorders. Nationally, these procedures drive substantial inpatient surgical, perioperative, and postoperative resource utilization and engage specialized transplant centers.
Key payers in national analyses include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of coding intent and clinical context, typical sites of care, and payers considered. The publication also highlights common modifiers and billing considerations for procedural reporting, plus areas where policy updates and reimbursement rules commonly affect coverage and payment. Clinical context clarifies indications and care setting expectations to support administrative and clinical stakeholders in accurate documentation and claims preparation.
Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 47135 describes allotransplantation of a liver, in which the provider transfers part or the entire liver from a donor to a recipient and places it in the usual anatomic position. The donor may be a cadaver or a living donor of any age. This procedure involves transplantation of hepatic tissue from one individual to another.
Service Type: Solid organ transplant — liver allotransplantation
Typical Site of Service: Hospital inpatient setting, including operating room and transplant surgical units. Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 52-year-old patient with end-stage liver disease from hepatitis C and cirrhosis is listed for liver transplantation. The patient undergoes preoperative evaluation including crossmatch testing, ABO compatibility confirmation, and imaging to assess vascular anatomy. On the day of surgery, an organ from a deceased donor becomes available. The multidisciplinary transplant team performs an allogeneic liver transplantation (47135) transferring the donor liver into the recipient's usual anatomic position. Intraoperative steps include recipient hepatectomy, implantation of the donor liver with vascular (hepatic artery, portal vein, hepatic veins) and biliary anastomoses, and hemostasis. Postoperatively the patient is transferred to the transplant intensive care unit for ventilatory, hemodynamic, and immunosuppressive management, followed by staged transfer to a transplant ward and outpatient transplant clinic for surveillance and rejection monitoring.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | No modifier (default) | Use when no additional modifier applies to the service. |
11 |