CPT 71275: Chest CT Angiography of Thoracic Blood Vessels
CPT code 71275 denotes a computed tomographic angiography (CTA) of the chest performed with contrast to visualize thoracic blood vessels excluding the heart. This imaging code is widely used for evaluation of pulmonary arteries, aortic pathology, and other vascular conditions in the chest where high-resolution arterial-phase imaging is required. Nationally, CTA chest studies represent a significant share of advanced diagnostic imaging utilization and are central to acute care pathways for suspected pulmonary embolism and vascular injury.
Key payers commonly involved in coverage and reimbursement for this service include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical and billing overview, typical sites of service, and the common modifiers associated with reporting this procedure. The publication also outlines what to expect in payer interactions and benchmarks relevant to imaging utilization and authorization practices.
This summary provides clinical context for when CPT code 71275 is used, the typical care settings, and the payer landscape for national audiences. It is designed to help coding, billing, and clinical teams understand the purpose of the code and the operational considerations tied to advanced chest vascular imaging. Data not available in the input will be noted where applicable.
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Billing Code Overview
CPT code 71275 describes a computed tomographic angiography (CTA) of the chest performed to obtain detailed images of the thoracic blood vessels excluding the heart. The procedure is performed with intravenous contrast material to highlight vascular structures and may include non-contrast images of the chest vasculature as part of the study.
Service type: Imaging — Diagnostic CTA (thoracic vasculature)
Typical site of service: Outpatient imaging center or hospital radiology department
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