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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesIntroduction Procedures on the Biliary TractCPT cpt-47537-biliary-catheter-removal-image-guidance-cholangiography
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    CPT 47537: Percutaneous Removal of Biliary Drainage Catheter

    Medicare pays $483 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 47537 describes image-guided percutaneous removal of a biliary drainage catheter, often including cholangiography and radiological supervision and interpretation; service type is an interventional radiology procedure and the typical site of service is an outpatient interventional radiology suite, hospital radiology department, or ambulatory surgery center where ultrasound and/or fluoroscopy guidance is available.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Field Stimulation for Functional Abdominal Pain Disorders, Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) Coverage Policy, Radiofrequency Therapy for Fecal Incontinence.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 62-year-old patient with a percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage catheter placed for obstructive jaundice secondary to a malignant biliary stricture presents for outpatient catheter removal. The interventional radiology team reviews recent liver function tests and cross-sectional imaging, confirms patency of internal biliary stents on prior cholangiography, and schedules image-guided catheter removal using fluoroscopy with optional ultrasound localization. On the day of service the patient is positioned in the procedure suite, conscious sedation is administered per institutional protocol, and the interventional radiologist performs contrast cholangiography through the existing catheter to confirm biliary anatomy and stent position before gently withdrawing the drainage catheter under live fluoroscopic visualization. Post-procedure radiological supervision and interpretation are documented, and the patient is monitored for immediate complications such as bleeding or bile leak prior to discharge.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    47531Placement of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage catheter, initial placementOften performed before 47537; this is the catheter insertion that may later be removed.
    47534Removal of biliary catheter without image guidanceAlternative technique; 47537 specifies image guidance.
    74240Radiologic examination, cholangiography, percutaneous, with contrast (diagnostic)Cholangiography performed during 47537 for anatomic assessment and confirmation of stent patency.
    76705Ultrasound, abdominal, limited, real time with image documentationMay be used adjunctively for ultrasound guidance or localization during catheter removal.
    76930Ultrasound guidance for vascular access and/or diagnostic and therapeutic proceduresUsed when ultrasound guidance is employed during percutaneous catheter manipulation or removal.

    Related Modifiers

    9 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    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…
    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…
    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…
    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…
    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…
    80CPT® Modifier 80 (Assistant Surgeon) is appended to a surgical CPT code when a physician (MD or DO) provides full, continuous assistance throughout the operative procedure. It is intended only for…- Use CPT Modifier -80 when a physician (MD or DO) serves as an assistant surgeon and provides full, continuous assistance throughout the entire operative procedure; append -80 to the surgical CPT…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207P00000X
    2086S0122X
    208000000X
    363L00000X
    207RP1001X
    174H00000X
    253J00000X
    2279P3800X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Gastroenterology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Field Stimulation for Functional Abdominal Pain Disordersbcbsvermont2026-12-01
    Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) Coverage Policyevicore2026-11-05
    Radiofrequency Therapy for Fecal IncontinenceCigna2026-10-15
    Magnetic Sphincter Augmentation for the Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    High-Resolution Anoscopy (HRA)Premera Bluecross2026-10-01
    Gastroesophageal and Gastrointestinal (GI) Services and ProceduresColorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans2026-10-01
    Fecal Analysis in the Diagnosis of Intestinal Dysbiosis and Fecal Microbiota Transplant TestingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Serum Testing for Hepatic Fibrosis in the Evaluation and Monitoring of Chronic Liver DiseaseOscar Health2026-10-01
    Pancreatic Enzyme Testing for Acute PancreatitisOscar Health2026-10-01
    Helicobacter pylori TestingOscar Health2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-47490-PERCUTANEOUS-GALLBLADDER-DRAINAGE-CATHETER-PLACEMENT

    CPT 47490: Percutaneous Gallbladder Catheter Placement

    CPT-47531-PERCUTANEOUS-CHOLANGIOGRAPHY-INJECTION-IMAGE-GUIDED

    CPT 47531: Percutaneous Cholangiography Injection, Image-Guided

    CPT-47532-PERCUTANEOUS-CHOLANGIOGRAPHY-NEW-ACCESS-CONTRAST-INJECTION

    CPT 47532: Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangiography with Contrast Injection

    CPT-47533-PERCUTANEOUS-BILIARY-DRAINAGE-EXTERNAL

    CPT 47533: Percutaneous Transhepatic Biliary Drainage with Imaging

    CPT-47534-PERCUTANEOUS-BILIARY-DRAINAGE-IMAGE-GUIDED

    CPT 47534: Percutaneous Biliary Drainage with Cholangiography

    CPT-47535-PERCUTANEOUS-CONVERSION-INTERNAL-EXTERNAL-BILIARY-DRAINAGE

    CPT 47535: Percutaneous Conversion to Internal–External Biliary Drainage

    CPT-47536-PERCUTANEOUS-BILIARY-CATHETER-EXCHANGE-CONVERSION

    CPT 47536: Percutaneous Biliary Drainage Catheter Exchange/Conversion

    CPT-47538-PERCUTANEOUS-BILIARY-STENT-PLACEMENT

    CPT 47538: Percutaneous Transhepatic Biliary Stent Placement

    CPT-47539-PERCUTANEOUS-BILIARY-STENT-PLACEMENT

    CPT 47539: Percutaneous Transhepatic Biliary Stent Placement

    CPT-47540-PERCUTANEOUS-BILIARY-STENT-AND-DRAINAGE-CATHETER-PLACEMENT

    CPT 47540: Percutaneous Biliary Stent Placement with Drainage Catheter

    Showing 1–10 of 14

    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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