CPT code 61651 covers image-guided placement of an endovascular catheter into an additional intracranial artery for long-term administration of a non-thrombolytic drug, performed with contrast-enhanced diagnostic angiography. This code matters nationally because intracranial drug-delivery procedures are specialized, resource-intensive interventions with implications for facility scheduling, interventional neuroradiology capacity, and payer coverage policies. Accurate reporting of 61651 affects clinical documentation, billing specificity, and aggregate utilization measures for complex neurointerventional services.

Key payers discussed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of the clinical service and typical sites of care, common modifier usage noted in payer policies, and expectations for reporting when multiple intracranial arteries are accessed. The publication summarizes benchmarks and policy context relevant to hospitals and physician groups that provide advanced neurointerventional procedures, and it highlights how 61651 integrates with primary procedure coding to reflect additional arterial accesses. Data not available in the input regarding specific payer coverage determinations, allowed amounts, and associated ICD-10 diagnoses are noted where applicable.