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CPT 47740: Cholecystoenterostomy (Biliary Bypass)
CPT code 47740 represents a surgical biliary bypass procedure (cholecystoenterostomy) in which an anastomosis is fashioned between the gallbladder and small intestine to restore bile flow when the native biliary tract is obstructed by tumor or other disease. This code is relevant nationally for hospitals and surgical practices managing malignant or benign biliary obstruction and has implications for operative planning, inpatient resource use, and episode-of-care payment.
Key payers covered in the analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical context for the procedure, typical sites of service, and the typical service type. The publication identifies common billing modifiers reported for surgical procedures and notes where input data is incomplete.
The analysis outlines benchmarks and considerations relevant to coding and billing for this complex operative service, summarizes potential payer coverage patterns, and highlights clinical situations that prompt use of this code. It also points to areas where additional documentation and coding detail are commonly required to support medical necessity and correct claim adjudication.
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Billing Code Overview
CPT code 47740 describes a surgical procedure in which the surgeon creates an anastomosis between the gallbladder and the small intestine in an end-to-side (Y-shaped) fashion to permit free flow of bile when the biliary tree is obstructed by tumor or other disease. This procedure establishes an alternative pathway for bile drainage to relieve obstruction-related symptoms and complications.
Service Type: Surgical biliary bypass / cholecystoenterostomy
Typical Site of Service: Operating room / inpatient surgical setting, often performed under general anesthesia with postoperative inpatient care for monitoring and recovery.