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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesMedical Radiation Physics, Dosimetry, Treatment Devices, and Special Services for Radiation TreatmentCPT cpt-77318-intermediate-isodose-brachytherapy-planning
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    CPT 77318: Brachytherapy Isodose Planning, Intermediate

    Medicare pays $321 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 77318 describes intermediate-level isodose planning for brachytherapy involving more than 10 radiation sources or more than 12 afterloading channels; the service is a specialized radiation therapy planning procedure (isodose plan development) typically performed by a radiation oncologist or medical physicist and usually delivered in an outpatient radiation oncology department or hospital-based radiation therapy suite.

    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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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is an adult with a localized gynecologic or prostate malignancy referred for brachytherapy planning. The patient presents to an outpatient radiation oncology clinic after diagnosis and staging with imaging (CT/MRI) and clinical examination. The radiation oncologist and dosimetrist perform intermediate-level isodose planning using an afterloading brachytherapy system that requires planning for more than 10 radioactive sources or over 12 channels. Workflow: pre-procedure consultation and review of prior imaging; immobilization and applicator or catheter placement in a procedure suite or operating room under conscious sedation or general anesthesia; acquisition of planning images (CT or MRI) with applicators in place; dosimetrist and physician contour target volumes and organs at risk; intermediate-level isodose plan generated and reviewed by the physician; physics review for source loading and dwell times; plan approval and delivery scheduling; documentation of plan details in the medical record. Typical sites of service include an outpatient radiation oncology clinic, hospital-based radiation therapy department, or ambulatory surgery center depending on anesthesia and applicator insertion needs. Patient scenario example: a 67-year-old male with intermediate-risk localized prostate cancer undergoes transperineal interstitial afterloading catheter placement; CT-based planning shows multiple catheters (>12 channels) and the team completes an intermediate-level isodose plan (CPT 77318) prior to high-dose-rate delivery.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    55875Insertion of brachytherapy device, prostate, transperineal placement of needles and catheters, single or multiple fractionsPerformed before CPT 77318 when applicators/catheters are placed for prostate brachytherapy; provides the implant that the isodose plan will cover
    77295Therapeutic radiology simulation-aided field setting; complexSimulation imaging (CT/MRI) obtained with applicators in place that informs the CPT 77318 isodose planning
    77334Continuation of radiation treatment planning (simple or intermediate) — not a standard code — Data not available in the input.Data not available in the input.
    77336Continuing medical physics consultation, review and/or special reports during treatmentPhysics support and plan verification that complements planning performed under CPT 77318
    77778Brachytherapy remote afterloading procedure, high-dose rateThe actual delivery procedure that follows planning by CPT 77318; planning establishes dwell times and source positions for delivery
    77014Computed tomography guidance for needle placement (intracavitary or percutaneous)Image guidance used during applicator or catheter placement before planning under CPT 77318

    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…
    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…
    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…
    79Modifier 79 indicates a surgical procedure performed during the postoperative global period of a prior surgery that is unrelated to the original procedure. Per AMA/CPT and CMS guidance, it is…- Use modifier 79 when the same physician (or same‑specialty physician in the same group) performs a surgical procedure during the postoperative global period of a prior surgery and the new procedure…
    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…
    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…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    333600000X
    207PH0002X
    133VN1401X
    2083X0100X
    251300000X
    251J00000X
    104100000X
    364SX0204X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    25 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    C20Malignant neoplasm of rectum
    C21.0Malignant neoplasm of anus, unspecified
    C22.0Liver cell carcinoma
    C25.9Malignant neoplasm of pancreas, unspecified
    C33Malignant neoplasm of trachea
    C34.90Malignant neoplasm of unspecified part of unspecified bronchus or lung
    C43.0Malignant melanoma of lip
    C43.9Malignant melanoma of skin, unspecified
    C44.91Basal cell carcinoma of skin, unspecified
    C49.9Malignant neoplasm of connective and soft tissue, unspecified

    Showing 1–10 of 25

    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-77316-BRACHYTHERAPY-SIMPLE-ISODOSE-PLANNING

    CPT 77316: Simple Level Isodose Planning for Brachytherapy

    CPT-77317-INTERMEDIATE-BRACHYTHERAPY-ISODOSE-PLANNING

    CPT 77317: Intermediate Isodose Planning for Brachytherapy

    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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