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CPT 47564: Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy with Common Bile Duct Exploration

CPT code 47564 represents a laparoscopic cholecystectomy that includes exploration of the common bile duct. It covers surgical removal of the gallbladder using a laparoscope and intraoperative inspection or exploration of the common bile duct for stones or obstruction. This procedure is a common definitive treatment for gallbladder disease and is important for preventing recurrent biliary colic, cholecystitis, and complications from retained ductal stones, making it a significant driver of surgical service utilization nationwide.

Key payers addressed in typical coverage discussions include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise review of the clinical context for the service, typical sites of care, and payer relevance. The publication summarizes benchmarking points, common billing and coding considerations, and policy or coverage themes that affect payment and utilization for this procedure. It is designed to inform coding professionals, revenue cycle staff, and policy stakeholders about the clinical intent of CPT code 47564, how it is commonly delivered, and the topics to consider when evaluating claims and coverage policies.

Data not available in the input for specific modifiers, associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, or payer-specific reimbursement rates.

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Billing Code Overview

CPT code 47564 describes a laparoscopic cholecystectomy with exploration of the common bile duct. The procedure involves removal of the gallbladder using a laparoscope, a tubular instrument with a light source and camera inserted through the abdominal wall, and includes exploration of the common bile duct to check for stones and ensure free passage of bile.

Service type: Surgical removal of the gallbladder with intraoperative common bile duct exploration
Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or ambulatory surgical center, performed under general anesthesia

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CPT 47564: Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy with Common Bile Duct Exploration

Data not available in the input for specific modifiers, associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, or payer-specific reimbursement rates.

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Billing Code Overview

Service type: Surgical removal of the gallbladder with intraoperative common bile duct exploration
Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or ambulatory surgical center, performed under general anesthesia

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A typical patient is a 45–65-year-old adult presenting with symptomatic gallbladder disease—commonly biliary colic, chronic cholecystitis, or acute cholecystitis—with or without suspected choledocholithiasis. Workup includes history and physical, abdominal ultrasound demonstrating cholelithiasis or gallbladder wall thickening, liver function tests, and possibly MRCP or endoscopic ultrasound if common bile duct stones are suspected. The patient is scheduled for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy with intraoperative exploration of the common bile duct via cholangiography or choledochoscopy.

Preoperative workflow includes informed consent, anesthesia evaluation (general endotracheal anesthesia typical), perioperative antibiotics as indicated, and verification of imaging and labs. Intraoperative steps: establishment of pneumoperitoneum, placement of laparoscopic ports, dissection of Calot's triangle, cystic duct and artery control, performance of intraoperative cholangiogram or choledochoscopy to visualize the common bile duct and check for choledocholithiasis, removal of the gallbladder through a trocar site, and hemostasis. Postoperative workflow includes recovery in PACU, pain control, monitoring for bile leak or bleeding, discharge instructions, and follow-up visit.

Typical site of service: ambulatory surgery center or hospital operating room.

Service type: minimally invasive operative procedure — laparoscopic cholecystectomy with exploration of the common bile duct.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`00`	Services not covered by Medicare — payer-specific	Use only if a non-Medicare payer requires the code for non-covered services (payer-specific usage).
`11`	Office or other outpatient visit (historical provider-specific modifier; limited use)	Rarely used; include only when payer requires provider-level performance indicator.
`22`	Increased procedural services	Use when work required to perform the procedure is substantially greater than usual (e.g., extensive adhesiolysis, difficult dissection).
`23`	Unusual anesthesia — patient condition	Use when procedure performed under general anesthesia would normally be local/regional but patient condition requires general anesthesia.
`26`	Professional component	Use when only the surgeon’s professional component is billed separately from technical/supply component (rare for operative code).
`52`	Reduced services	Use when procedure is partially reduced or not completed as documented (e.g., converted or abandoned without full exploration).
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when procedure is started but discontinued due to extenuating circumstances prior to completion.
`62`	Two surgeons	Use when two surgeons work together as primary surgeons performing distinct parts of the operation.
`63`	Procedure performed on infants less than 4 kg	Not commonly applicable; include only if patient meets that weight criterion.
`76`	Repeat procedure by same physician (Note: not in provided list)	Data not available in the input.
`78`	Unplanned return to OR for a related procedure during the postoperative period	Use when patient returns to the OR for a related complication and that return is reported separately.
`80`	Assistant surgeon	Use when an assistant surgeon provides surgical assistance during the procedure.
`81`	Minimum assistant surgeon	Use when a minimal assistant provides assistance as defined by payer rules.
`62`	Co-surgeons (duplicate entry avoided)	Duplicate entry avoided; see `62` above.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
Data not available in the input.	Data not available in the input.	Data not available in the input.
`surgeon-general`	General Surgery	General surgeons most commonly perform laparoscopic cholecystectomy and CBD exploration.
`surgeon-minimallyinvasive`	Minimally Invasive Surgery	Surgeons with MIS training commonly perform advanced laparoscopic biliary procedures.
`surgeon-hepatobiliary`	Hepatobiliary Surgery	Hepatobiliary specialists perform complex CBD exploration and management of biliary pathology.
`anesthesiology`	Anesthesiology	Provides general endotracheal anesthesia for the procedure.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`K80.20`	Calculus of gallbladder without cholecystitis, without obstruction	Common indication for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy when symptomatic biliary colic is present.
`K80.00`	Calculus of gallbladder with acute cholecystitis without obstruction	Acute cholecystitis often leads to urgent laparoscopic cholecystectomy with possible CBD evaluation.
`K80.50`	Calculus of bile duct with cholangitis	Presence of choledocholithiasis and cholangitis may necessitate CBD exploration during cholecystectomy or pre/postoperative ERCP.
`K80.30`	Calculus of gallbladder with other cholecystitis without obstruction	Chronic or recurrent cholecystitis prompting cholecystectomy and intraoperative duct assessment.
`K83.1`	Obstruction of bile duct	Suspected obstruction is an indication for exploration of the common bile duct to restore bile flow.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`47562`	Laparoscopic cholecystectomy; with exploration of common duct (without cholangiography)	Alternative code when common bile duct exploration is performed without intraoperative cholangiogram; relates as variant of the operative approach.
`47563`	Laparoscopic cholecystectomy; with cholangiography	Reported when intraoperative cholangiography is performed during cholecystectomy but without formal exploration of the duct.
`43280`	Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with sphincterotomy	Often performed preoperatively or postoperatively to remove ductal stones if not cleared intraoperatively; complementary procedure.
`47561`	Laparoscopic cholecystectomy; without exploration of common duct	The base laparoscopic cholecystectomy code when no ductal evaluation or exploration is performed.
`47564`	Laparoscopic cholecystectomy with exploration of the common bile duct	Primary procedure described; includes laparoscopic removal of gallbladder and exploration of CBD to check for stones and ensure bile flow.
`47480`	Operative cholangiogram (intraoperative)	Performed to image the biliary tree intraoperatively; used to identify choledocholithiasis and guide exploration.

CPT 47562: Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (Gallbladder Removal)

CPT-47563-LAPAROSCOPIC-CHOLECYSTECTOMY-CHOLANGIOGRAPHY

CPT 47563: Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy with Intraoperative Cholangiography

CPT-47570-LAPAROSCOPIC-CHOLECYSTOENTEROSTOMY-BILIARY-DRAINAGE

CPT 47570: Laparoscopic Cholecystoenterostomy for Biliary Drainage

CPT-47579-UNLISTED-LAPAROSCOPIC-BILIARY-PROCEDURE

CPT 47579: Unlisted Laparoscopic Procedure, Biliary Tract

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Typical site of service: ambulatory surgery center or hospital operating room.

Service type: minimally invasive operative procedure — laparoscopic cholecystectomy with exploration of the common bile duct.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`00`	Services not covered by Medicare — payer-specific	Use only if a non-Medicare payer requires the code for non-covered services (payer-specific usage).
`11`	Office or other outpatient visit (historical provider-specific modifier; limited use)	Rarely used; include only when payer requires provider-level performance indicator.
`22`	Increased procedural services	Use when work required to perform the procedure is substantially greater than usual (e.g., extensive adhesiolysis, difficult dissection).
`23`	Unusual anesthesia — patient condition	Use when procedure performed under general anesthesia would normally be local/regional but patient condition requires general anesthesia.
`26`	Professional component	Use when only the surgeon’s professional component is billed separately from technical/supply component (rare for operative code).
`52`	Reduced services	Use when procedure is partially reduced or not completed as documented (e.g., converted or abandoned without full exploration).
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when procedure is started but discontinued due to extenuating circumstances prior to completion.
`62`	Two surgeons	Use when two surgeons work together as primary surgeons performing distinct parts of the operation.
`63`	Procedure performed on infants less than 4 kg	Not commonly applicable; include only if patient meets that weight criterion.
`76`	Repeat procedure by same physician (Note: not in provided list)	Data not available in the input.
`78`	Unplanned return to OR for a related procedure during the postoperative period	Use when patient returns to the OR for a related complication and that return is reported separately.
`80`	Assistant surgeon	Use when an assistant surgeon provides surgical assistance during the procedure.
`81`	Minimum assistant surgeon	Use when a minimal assistant provides assistance as defined by payer rules.
`62`	Co-surgeons (duplicate entry avoided)	Duplicate entry avoided; see `62` above.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
Data not available in the input.	Data not available in the input.	Data not available in the input.
`surgeon-general`	General Surgery	General surgeons most commonly perform laparoscopic cholecystectomy and CBD exploration.
`surgeon-minimallyinvasive`	Minimally Invasive Surgery	Surgeons with MIS training commonly perform advanced laparoscopic biliary procedures.
`surgeon-hepatobiliary`	Hepatobiliary Surgery	Hepatobiliary specialists perform complex CBD exploration and management of biliary pathology.
`anesthesiology`	Anesthesiology	Provides general endotracheal anesthesia for the procedure.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`K80.20`	Calculus of gallbladder without cholecystitis, without obstruction	Common indication for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy when symptomatic biliary colic is present.
`K80.00`	Calculus of gallbladder with acute cholecystitis without obstruction	Acute cholecystitis often leads to urgent laparoscopic cholecystectomy with possible CBD evaluation.
`K80.50`	Calculus of bile duct with cholangitis	Presence of choledocholithiasis and cholangitis may necessitate CBD exploration during cholecystectomy or pre/postoperative ERCP.
`K80.30`	Calculus of gallbladder with other cholecystitis without obstruction	Chronic or recurrent cholecystitis prompting cholecystectomy and intraoperative duct assessment.
`K83.1`	Obstruction of bile duct	Suspected obstruction is an indication for exploration of the common bile duct to restore bile flow.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`47562`	Laparoscopic cholecystectomy; with exploration of common duct (without cholangiography)	Alternative code when common bile duct exploration is performed without intraoperative cholangiogram; relates as variant of the operative approach.
`47563`	Laparoscopic cholecystectomy; with cholangiography	Reported when intraoperative cholangiography is performed during cholecystectomy but without formal exploration of the duct.
`43280`	Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with sphincterotomy	Often performed preoperatively or postoperatively to remove ductal stones if not cleared intraoperatively; complementary procedure.
`47561`	Laparoscopic cholecystectomy; without exploration of common duct	The base laparoscopic cholecystectomy code when no ductal evaluation or exploration is performed.
`47564`	Laparoscopic cholecystectomy with exploration of the common bile duct	Primary procedure described; includes laparoscopic removal of gallbladder and exploration of CBD to check for stones and ensure bile flow.
`47480`	Operative cholangiogram (intraoperative)	Performed to image the biliary tree intraoperatively; used to identify choledocholithiasis and guide exploration.

CPT 47562: Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (Gallbladder Removal)

CPT-47563-LAPAROSCOPIC-CHOLECYSTECTOMY-CHOLANGIOGRAPHY

CPT 47563: Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy with Intraoperative Cholangiography

CPT-47570-LAPAROSCOPIC-CHOLECYSTOENTEROSTOMY-BILIARY-DRAINAGE

CPT 47570: Laparoscopic Cholecystoenterostomy for Biliary Drainage

CPT-47579-UNLISTED-LAPAROSCOPIC-BILIARY-PROCEDURE

CPT 47579: Unlisted Laparoscopic Procedure, Biliary Tract

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

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CPT 47564: Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy with Common Bile Duct Exploration

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Billing Code Overview

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CPT 47564: Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy with Common Bile Duct Exploration

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Billing Code Overview

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References

CPT 47564: Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy with Common Bile Duct Exploration

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Billing Code Overview

CPT 47564: Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy with Common Bile Duct Exploration

Sign up for cpt 47564 policy alerts

Billing Code Overview

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

What does CPT 47564 represent and where is it typically performed?

Which related CPT codes should I consider when coding laparoscopic cholecystectomy and common bile duct management?

Which modifiers are commonly referenced for CPT 47564 and when would they apply?

What clinical diagnoses or indications are associated with CPT 47564 in this content?

Which payers are referenced and how does payer policy influence coding for this procedure?

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

What does CPT 47564 represent and where is it typically performed?

Which related CPT codes should I consider when coding laparoscopic cholecystectomy and common bile duct management?

Which modifiers are commonly referenced for CPT 47564 and when would they apply?

What clinical diagnoses or indications are associated with CPT 47564 in this content?

Which payers are referenced and how does payer policy influence coding for this procedure?

References