CPT 58600 Tubal Ligation Reimbursement & Policy | OpenPayer

Summary & Overview

CPT 58600: Ligation or Transection of Fallopian Tubes for Sterilization

CPT code 58600 covers the surgical ligation or transection of one or both fallopian tubes via an abdominal or vaginal approach. As a common permanent female sterilization procedure, this code represents an important category of reproductive surgical services with implications for surgical practice patterns, outpatient surgical capacity, and payer coverage policies nationwide. The code is used across inpatient and outpatient surgical settings, including hospital operating rooms and ambulatory surgery centers.

Key payers in the analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context for tubal ligation procedures, typical sites of service, and the coding definition for 58600. The publication summarizes national benchmarks where available, highlights relevant payer coverage considerations and policy trends, and explains how 58600 fits within broader reproductive health service lines. Data limitations: Data not available in the input.

This resource is intended for billing managers, surgical coders, and policy analysts seeking a clear, national-level reference for CPT code 58600 and its clinical and administrative context.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicare58600CPTtubal ligationfemale sterilizationsurgical procedureambulatory surgeryinpatient surgeryreproductive health

Billing Code Overview

CPT code 58600 describes surgical ligation or transection of one or both fallopian tubes to prevent future pregnancy. The procedure may be performed through an abdominal or vaginal approach and involves tying off or cutting the fallopian tubes to achieve sterilization.

Service type: Surgical sterilization (female tubal surgery)

Typical site of service: Hospital operating room, ambulatory surgery center, or outpatient surgical suite

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A typically insured 32-year-old woman with completed childbearing elects permanent sterilization. She presents to the ambulatory surgery center after counseling and informed consent. Preoperative evaluation confirms no contraindications; pregnancy test is negative. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia via a laparoscopic abdominal approach for bilateral tubal ligation using bipolar electrocautery and clips. The clinical workflow includes preoperative counseling and consent, anesthesia evaluation, operative tubal ligation (58600) with hemostasis and wound closure, post-anesthesia recovery, and discharge with postoperative instructions. Common perioperative elements include time out, surgical count, prophylactic antibiotics as indicated, postoperative pain management, and documentation of counseling regarding permanence and alternative contraception options.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`00`	No modifier; standard practice	Apply when no specific modifier applies and billing is for the primary procedure.
`51`	Multiple procedures

CPT 58611: Tubal Ligation at Time of Cesarean Delivery

CPT-58605-POSTPARTUM-TUBAL-LIGATION-SEPARATE-PROCEDURE

CPT 58605: Postpartum Tubal Ligation, Separate Procedure

CPT-58615-TUBAL-OCCLUSION-DEVICE-VAGINAL-OR-SUPRAPUBIC-APPROACH

CPT 58615: Tubal Occlusion with Device, Vaginal or Suprapubic Approach

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`2084P0400X`	Obstetrics & Gynecology	Most common specialty performing tubal ligation.
`207V00000X`	General Surgery	General surgeons perform abdominal approaches when gynecologic surgeon not available.
`363L00000X`	Family Medicine	Family physicians with procedural training may perform tubal ligation in some settings.
`207L00000X`	Surgical Oncology	Occasionally involved when combined with abdominal surgery for other indications.
`363A00000X`	Advanced Practice Registered Nurse	May assist or provide pre/postoperative care; not primary surgeon.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`Z30.2`	Encounter for sterilization	Primary diagnosis code indicating encounter for tubal ligation.
`Z30.9`	Encounter for contraceptive management, unspecified	Used when counseling or contraceptive management is provided in conjunction with sterilization.
`Z31.5`	Encounter for procreative management, received sterilization counseling	Used when preoperative counseling regarding sterilization is documented.
`Z98.890`	Other specified postprocedural states	Used when documenting history of prior sterilization or related surgical history when relevant to care.
`O03.9`	Spontaneous abortion, unspecified (Note: pregnancy complications context)	May be relevant if sterilization counseling occurs after pregnancy loss; use only when clinically appropriate.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`58662`	Laparoscopy, surgical; with removal of adnexal structures	Performed if salpingectomy or removal of fallopian tube is indicated instead of simple ligation.
`58611`	Laparoscopy, surgical; with lysis of adhesions (salpingostomy not included)	May be performed if adhesions are present and require lysis to access tubes prior to ligation.
`49000`	Exploration, peritoneal cavity, for traumatic injury; open	May be relevant if tubal ligation is performed during an open abdominal procedure.
`54150`	Vasectomy; bilateral, office or outpatient	Not directly related but analogous sterilization procedure for male partners in counseling or concurrent family planning discussions.
`58700`	Removal of intrauterine device (IUD) (separate procedure)	May be performed in the same episode of care if an IUD removal is indicated prior to sterilization.

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