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    OpenPayerBilling CodesMedical Radiation Physics, Dosimetry, Treatment Devices, and Special Services for Radiation TreatmentCPT cpt-77316-brachytherapy-simple-isodose-planning
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    CPT 77316: Simple Level Isodose Planning for Brachytherapy

    Medicare pays $173 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 77316 describes simple level isodose planning for brachytherapy using up to four radiation sources or a single afterloading channel; this represents a radiation therapy planning service to create an isodose distribution for internal radiation treatment. The service type is brachytherapy treatment planning and the typical site of service is an oncology clinic or hospital radiation oncology department where brachytherapy planning and coordination occur.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Radiation oncology coverage and treatment delivery guidelines, Proton Beam Therapy, Radiation and Oncologic Procedures.

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is a 65-year-old with localized prostate cancer referred to radiation oncology for brachytherapy. The patient presents to an outpatient radiation therapy suite for planning and delivery of low-dose-rate or high-dose-rate brachytherapy. The clinical workflow begins with a consultation, review of prior imaging (transrectal ultrasound, MRI, or CT), and determination that simple isodose planning using up to four sources or a single afterloading channel is appropriate. On the day of planning, the simulator/ultrasound is used to localize target anatomy, the radiation oncologist prescribes target dose and critical structure constraints, and the medical physicist and dosimetrist perform 77316 simple level isodose planning. The plan is reviewed and approved by the radiation oncologist, documented in the medical record, and used to guide source placement during the same or a subsequent procedural visit in the operating room or procedure suite. Typical site of service is an outpatient radiation oncology facility, ambulatory surgical center, or hospital-based radiation therapy department. Clinical staff involved include the radiation oncologist, medical physicist, dosimetrist, and procedural nursing support.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    77295Special radiotherapy simulation, directly supervised by a physician; complex simulationUsed when a complex simulation precedes or complements simple isodose planning for brachytherapy
    77261Therapeutic radiology treatment planning, complex, 3D; simpleMay be used for related external-beam 3D planning in combined-modality treatment strategies
    77790Remote afterloading high-dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy, per fractionProcedure code for delivery of HDR brachytherapy that uses planning created with 77316
    57461Colposcopy with endocervical curettage (when applicable)Example procedural code when brachytherapy planning is performed for gynecologic malignancies prior to applicator placement
    77334Special medical physics consultationUsed when additional physics consultation is required beyond routine planning tasks

    Related Modifiers

    10 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…
    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…
    55Modifier –55 indicates the billing provider furnished only postoperative management for a procedure that has a global surgical period. According to AAPC, this modifier is appended to the same CPT…- Use modifier -55 when billing the same CPT surgical code that has a 10- or 90-day global period and you, as a provider other than the original surgeon, furnished ONLY postoperative management (no…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    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…
    80CPT® Modifier 80 (Assistant Surgeon) is appended to a surgical CPT code when a physician (MD or DO) provides full, continuous assistance throughout the operative procedure. It is intended only for…- Use CPT Modifier -80 when a physician (MD or DO) serves as an assistant surgeon and provides full, continuous assistance throughout the entire operative procedure; append -80 to the surgical CPT…
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    23Modifier -23 (Unusual Anesthesia) is used on anesthesia service CPT codes when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia…- Use modifier -23 only on anesthesia CPT codes (00100–01999) when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia because of…
    58Modifier 58 (Staged or related procedure/service by the same physician during the postoperative period) indicates that a subsequent procedure performed by the same provider during the…- Use modifier 58 when the same physician/QHP performs a procedure during the postoperative/global period of an earlier procedure and the subsequent procedure is either planned or anticipated…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    106E00000X
    363A00000X
    283Q00000X
    3336M0002X
    207SG0202X
    2471V0105X
    261QM1300X
    226300000X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    24 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    C34.90Malignant neoplasm of unspecified part of unspecified bronchus or lung
    C43.9Malignant melanoma of skin, unspecified
    C44.229Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of left ear and external auricular canal
    C44.319Basal cell carcinoma of skin of other parts of face
    C44.719Basal cell carcinoma of skin of left lower limb, including hip
    C50.911Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of right female breast
    C51.9Malignant neoplasm of vulva, unspecified
    C53.9Malignant neoplasm of cervix uteri, unspecified
    C56.9Malignant neoplasm of unspecified ovary
    C60.9Malignant neoplasm of penis, unspecified

    Showing 1–10 of 24

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Radiation Oncology1 / 2

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Radiation oncology coverage and treatment delivery guidelinesevicore2026-11-05
    Proton Beam Therapyuniversityofutahhealthplans2026-10-25
    Radiation and Oncologic ProceduresUnitedHealthcare2026-09-01
    Electronic Brachytherapy for Nonmelanoma Skin CancerBluecross Idaho2026-07-30
    Surface Radiation Therapy for Treatment of Non-Melanoma Skin Cancereocco2026-07-09
    Radiofrequency Ablation of Tumors Outside the LiverProvidence Health Plan2026-07-01
    Therapeutic Radiopharmaceuticals in Oncology (Lutathera, Pluvicto, Xofigo) Coverage CriteriaBlue Cross Blue Shield - North Carolina2026-07-01
    Intensity Modulated Radiation TherapyAmbetter Georgia2026-06-01
    Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) of Tumors Other Than LiverBlue Cross Blue Shield - Rhode Island2026-06-01
    Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) — NanoKnife (Preauthorization Required)Blue Cross Blue Shield - Nebraska2026-06-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-77300-RADIATION-THERAPY-DOSIMETRY

    CPT 77300: Radiation Dosimetry and Treatment Planning

    CPT-77301-INTENSITY-MODULATED-RADIOTHERAPY-IMRT-DELIVERY

    CPT 77301: Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) Delivery

    CPT-77306-RADIATION-THERAPY-BEAM-ARRANGEMENT-DOSE-CALCULATION

    CPT 77306: Parallel Opposed External Beam Radiation Treatment Setup

    CPT-77307-RADIATION-THERAPY-ISODOSE-TANGENTIAL-PORT-PLANNING

    CPT 77307: Tangential Ports and Isodose Beam Arrangement for Radiation Therapy

    CPT-77317-INTERMEDIATE-BRACHYTHERAPY-ISODOSE-PLANNING

    CPT 77317: Intermediate Isodose Planning for Brachytherapy

    CPT-77318-INTERMEDIATE-ISODOSE-BRACHYTHERAPY-PLANNING

    CPT 77318: Brachytherapy Isodose Planning, Intermediate

    CPT-77321-ELECTRON-SPECIAL-BEAM-PLANNING-RADIATION-ONCOLOGY

    CPT 77321: Radiation Therapy Planning — Special Beam Consideration

    CPT-77331-SPECIAL-DOSIMETRY-RADIATION-DOSE-CALCULATION

    CPT 77331: Special Dosimetry and Radiation Monitoring

    CPT-77332-SIMPLE-TREATMENT-DEVICE-DESIGN-SELECTION

    CPT 77332: Simple Treatment Device Design and Selection

    CPT-77333-RADIATION-THERAPY-INTERMEDIATE-DEVICE-DESIGN

    CPT 77333: Design/Construction of Intermediate Radiation Therapy Devices

    Showing 1–10 of 14

    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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