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CPT 47720: Biliary-Enteric Anastomosis (Gallbladder to Small Intestine)
CPT code 47720 denotes a biliary-enteric surgical bypass connecting the gallbladder to the small intestine to provide bile drainage when the biliary tract is injured or obstructed by disease. This procedure is clinically important for managing malignant or benign biliary obstruction and for restoring bile flow when primary repair is not feasible. Nationally, the code is relevant to surgical departments, hospital billing operations, and payers managing high-acuity surgical claims. Key payers considered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise explanation of the clinical context for 47720, guidance on expected sites of service, and a summary of typical payer coverage patterns and coding considerations. The publication also outlines common modifiers used with surgical procedures, benchmarking perspectives for claim adjudication, and policy considerations that affect prior authorization and medical necessity determinations. Information is presented to support revenue cycle teams, surgeons, and policy analysts in understanding how this CPT code fits into surgical care pathways and payer workflows at a national level.
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Billing Code Overview
CPT code 47720 describes a surgical procedure in which the gallbladder is directly anastomosed to the small intestine to establish drainage of bile. This operation is performed when injury, obstruction, or tumors of the biliary tract prevent normal biliary flow and require an internal bypass to relieve obstruction and allow bile drainage.
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Service type: Surgical biliary bypass / biliary-enteric anastomosis
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Typical site of service: Inpatient hospital operating room or other surgical setting where abdominal surgery is performed