Summary & Overview
CPT 64416: Brachial Plexus Catheter Placement with Continuous Infusion
CPT code 64416 represents placement of a catheter in the brachial plexus with continuous infusion of anesthetic agents and/or steroids to provide extended regional anesthesia or analgesia. This code is clinically important for perioperative pain management and for certain chronic pain interventions, offering targeted nerve blockade that can reduce systemic opioid use and improve postoperative recovery. Nationally, use of continuous peripheral nerve block techniques has implications for hospital throughput, ambulatory surgery pathways, and payer coverage policies.
Key payers addressed in this overview include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise review of the clinical context for CPT code 64416, typical sites of service, and the types of services billed under this code. The publication outlines expected benchmarking topics such as utilization patterns, payer coverage considerations, and common billing practices. It also summarizes policy and documentation elements readers should expect to review when assessing claims or developing internal coding guidance.
This summary is intended for national audiences including coding specialists, anesthesia and pain management clinicians, revenue cycle professionals, and policy analysts seeking a practical briefing on the clinical role and administrative considerations for CPT code 64416.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 64416 describes placement of a catheter in the brachial plexus with administration of one or more anesthetic agents and/or a steroid by continuous infusion. This procedure targets the brachial plexus, a network of nerves that supplies sensation and motor function to the shoulder, arm, and hand, to provide prolonged regional anesthesia or analgesia.
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Service type: Continuous peripheral nerve block catheter placement and infusion
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Typical site of service: Hospital inpatient or outpatient procedure area, ambulatory surgery center, or specialized pain clinic where regional anesthesia procedures are performed
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Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 52-year-old patient with chronic refractory brachial plexus neuropathic pain following shoulder surgery presents to an outpatient regional anesthesia clinic for placement of a continuous brachial plexus catheter for analgesia. The patient reports severe resting and movement-evoked pain unresponsive to oral opioids and multimodal medications. After informed discussion and pre-procedure assessment, the anesthesia team performs ultrasound-guided placement of a perineural catheter adjacent to the brachial plexus (interscalene or supraclavicular approach) in a procedure room or ambulatory surgery center. The provider places the catheter, secures it, and initiates a continuous infusion of a local anesthetic, with or without a steroid, for ongoing pain control. Typical workflow includes pre-procedure assessment, sterile prep, ultrasound guidance, catheter placement and test bolus, documentation of catheter location and infusion parameters, patient and caregiver education on catheter care and signs of complications, and scheduling follow-up for infusion management or removal. Typical site of service is an outpatient ambulatory surgery center, hospital procedural area, or pain management clinic. The service type is continuous peripheral nerve catheter infusion for brachial plexus analgesia, captured by 64416.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
11 | Administrative services related to the primary procedure |