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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesClinical Treatment Planning (External and Internal Sources) for Radiation TreatmentCPT cpt-77263-radiation-therapy-treatment-planning
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    CPT 77263: Complex Radiation Therapy Treatment Planning

    Medicare pays $173 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 77263 describes complex radiation therapy planning in which the provider determines the location and number of ports, designs and locates shielding blocks, and selects modes of therapy (for example, arc therapy or brachytherapy), which may be used singly or in combination; service type: complex radiation therapy planning, typical site of service: radiation oncology clinic or hospital outpatient radiation therapy department.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Pediatric Neurodevelopmental and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Screening Corporate Medical Policy, Inhaled Nitric Oxide Therapy (for New Mexico Only), Inhaled Nitric Oxide Therapy (for North Carolina Only).

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 62-year-old patient with a newly diagnosed left-sided stage IIIB non-small cell lung carcinoma is referred to radiation oncology for definitive external beam radiation therapy planning. The radiation oncologist performs simulation with CT imaging in the treatment position, reviews diagnostic imaging and pathology, and determines beam arrangements. The provider decides the number and location of ports (beam entry points), designs shielding blocks or multileaf collimator patterns, and selects modes of therapy (e.g., 3D conformal radiotherapy, intensity-modulated radiotherapy, arc therapy). The treatment plan may combine external beam modalities and, when indicated, brachytherapy boost. The clinical workflow includes patient consent, immobilization and simulation, contouring of target volumes and organs at risk, treatment planning and dosimetry, plan review and approval, and documentation of the chosen ports, shielding, and modes of therapy. This decision-making visit is commonly performed in an outpatient radiation oncology clinic or hospital-based radiation therapy center and is reported when the physician documents complex planning choices for beam directions, shielding, and therapy modes.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    77301Radiation treatment planning, complex — includes dose calculations and detailed plan modificationsOften performed during the same planning episode; 77263 documents the physician's decision on ports/modes while 77301 captures technical planning complexity.
    77295Special radiation physics consultation, treatment procedure — complex physics supportFrequently accompanies complex port and shielding design when advanced dosimetry or physics input is required.
    77280Therapeutic radiology simulation-aided field setting; simplePerformed at simulation step prior to physician port and block decisions; simpler simulation codes may be used for less complex cases.
    77290Therapeutic radiology simulation-aided field setting; complexUsed when simulation is complex and supports the physician's decisions recorded in 77263.
    77750High energy radiation treatment delivery, per fractionRepresents the actual delivery sessions that follow the planning decisions documented with 77263.

    Related Modifiers

    8 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    50Modifier –50 (Bilateral Procedure) is appended to a CPT code when an identical procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures during the same operative session. The AMA states to add…- Use modifier -50 when the same CPT surgical, diagnostic, or radiology procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures (both sides of the body) during the same operative/session by the same…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    78CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…
    95Modifier 95 indicates that a service was provided via synchronous, real‑time audio‑video telehealth rather than in‑person. Per CMS, AAPC and professional associations, append modifier 95 to claim…- Use modifier 95 to indicate a service was furnished via synchronous, real‑time audiovisual telehealth (a live audio‑video conference between patient and provider) rather than in‑person. - Pair…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207RC0000X
    2084P0800X
    208D00000X
    363L00000X
    207ZP0007X
    207VG0400X
    2471B0102X
    207P00000X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    28 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    C15.9Malignant neoplasm of esophagus, unspecified
    C18.9Malignant neoplasm of colon, unspecified
    C22.0Liver cell carcinoma
    C25.9Malignant neoplasm of pancreas, unspecified
    C34.90Malignant neoplasm of unspecified part of unspecified bronchus or lung
    C43.9Malignant melanoma of skin, unspecified
    C44.309Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of other parts of face
    C50.911Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of right female breast
    C53.9Malignant neoplasm of cervix uteri, unspecified
    C54.9Malignant neoplasm of corpus uteri, unspecified

    Showing 1–10 of 28

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Pediatrics/Neonatology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Pediatric Neurodevelopmental and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Screening Corporate Medical Policybcbsvermont2026-12-01
    Inhaled Nitric Oxide Therapy (for New Mexico Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Inhaled Nitric Oxide Therapy (for North Carolina Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Inhaled Nitric Oxide Therapy (for Pennsylvania Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Inhaled Nitric Oxide Therapy (for Kentucky Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Clinical Policy: NICU Apnea Bradycardia GuidelinesAmbetter Nevada2026-10-01
    DRG Newborn Inpatient Stays - FacilityBlue Cross Blue Shield - Maine2026-10-01
    Pediatric Preventive ScreeningOscar Health2026-10-01
    Infant Nutritional FormulaCigna2026-09-15
    Pediatric Preventive ScreeningBlue Cross Blue Shield - New Mexico2026-09-04

    Related Codes

    CPT-77261-RADIATION-TREATMENT-PLANNING-INITIAL

    CPT 77261: Radiation Treatment Planning, Simple

    CPT-77262-RADIATION-THERAPY-TREATMENT-PLANNING-DETAILED

    CPT 77262: Radiation Therapy Treatment Planning and Management

    CPT-77280-RADIATION-THERAPY-SIMULATION-SIMPLE

    CPT 77280: Simple Radiation Therapy Simulation and Port Localization

    CPT-77285-RADIATION-THERAPY-SIMULATION-PORT-LOCALIZATION

    CPT 77285: Radiation Therapy Simulation for Port Localization

    CPT-77290-RADIATION-TREATMENT-SIMULATION-PLANNING

    CPT 77290: 3D Radiation Therapy Simulation and Treatment Field Localization

    CPT-77293-4D-CT-RESPIRATION-CORRELATED-SIMULATION-FOR-RADIATION-PLANNING

    CPT 77293: 4D (respiration‑correlated) CT Simulation for Radiotherapy

    CPT-77295-3D-DOSE-RECONSTRUCTION-VOLUMETRIC-DOSE-CALCULATION

    CPT 77295: 3D Dose Reconstruction and Volumetric Dose Calculation

    CPT-77299-THERAPEUTIC-RADIOLOGY-TREATMENT-PLANNING-UNLISTED

    CPT 77299: Therapeutic Radiology Clinical Treatment Planning

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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