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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesRadiation Treatment ManagementCPT cpt-77470-special-radiotherapy-management
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    CPT 77470: Special Radiotherapy Procedures Requiring Additional Management

    Medicare pays $100 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 77470 describes special radiotherapy procedures that require additional provider consideration in the overall management of radiation treatment; this represents a radiation oncology service involving specialized planning or delivery techniques beyond routine therapy and is typically performed in an outpatient radiation oncology department or hospital-based radiation therapy unit.

    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 62-year-old patient with an unresectable head and neck malignancy is referred to radiation oncology for complex treatment planning and delivery. The radiation oncologist coordinates multidisciplinary care, performs a detailed consultation, and develops a special radiotherapy plan requiring nonstandard immobilization, customized bolus, and multiple image-guidance procedures. The clinical workflow includes a physician-led simulation session (CT simulation with specialized immobilization), contouring of targets and organs at risk, generation of a customized treatment plan (often requiring physics input and additional time), peer review, and direct oversight during the first treatment fractions to confirm setup and deliver modifications. The provider documents decision-making that goes beyond routine external beam treatment — for example, bespoke positioning devices, adaptive planning changes, or integration of intraoperative or interstitial components — supporting use of 77470 for special consideration in overall radiotherapy management.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    77261Therapeutic radiology simulation, simplePerformed prior to complex planning; simple simulation may be used when fewer immobilization/customization elements are needed compared with services that prompt 77470.
    77263Therapeutic radiology simulation, complexOften performed when custom immobilization and advanced simulation are required; may precede or be part of the workflow that justifies 77470.
    77301Intensity modulated radiotherapy planning, complexComplex planning code commonly used alongside special procedures that require advanced planning techniques.
    77336Continuing medical physics consultation, per weekPhysics support for adaptive or special radiotherapy procedures; billed during prolonged or complex treatment courses.
    77761Dosimetry, basicDosimetric measurements and calculations that support special radiotherapy setups; used in coordination with special procedures.

    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…
    25CPT modifier 25 indicates that on the same day as another procedure or service, the same physician or other qualified health care professional provided a significant, separately identifiable…- When to apply: Use modifier 25 only on an E/M code to indicate the same provider delivered a significant, separately identifiable E/M service on the same day as another procedure or service — i.e.,…
    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…
    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…
    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
    2086S0122X
    207Q00000X
    133VN1101X
    2084P0804X
    2084V0102X
    363AM0700X
    2279P3900X
    163WD1100X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    27 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
    C33Malignant neoplasm of trachea
    C34.90Malignant neoplasm of unspecified part of unspecified bronchus or lung
    C43.9Malignant melanoma of skin, unspecified
    C44.311Basal cell carcinoma of skin of nose
    C50.911Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of right female breast
    C50.912Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of left female breast

    Showing 1–10 of 27

    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-77427-RADIATION-THERAPY-MANAGEMENT-EXTERNAL-BEAM

    CPT 77427: Radiation Treatment Management

    CPT-77431-RADIOTHERAPY-MANAGEMENT-ONE-TWO-FRACTION-COURSE

    CPT 77431: Management of Short-Course Fractionated Radiotherapy

    CPT-77432-SINGLE-SESSION-STEREOTACTIC-RADIOSURGERY-PROFESSIONAL

    CPT 77432: Stereotactic Radiosurgery, Single Session (Professional Component)

    CPT-77435-STEREOTACTIC-BODY-RADIOTHERAPY-TREATMENT-MANAGEMENT

    CPT 77435: Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy Course (≤5 Fractions)

    CPT-77437-SUPERFICIAL-RADIATION-THERAPY-PER-FRACTION

    CPT 77437: Superficial Radiation Therapy, Per Fraction

    CPT-77438-ORTHOVOLTAGE-SURFACE-RADIATION-THERAPY-SINGLE-FRACTION

    CPT 77438: Orthovoltage Surface Radiation Therapy, Single Fraction

    CPT-77439-ULTRASOUND-GUIDED-SRT-FIELD-PLACEMENT

    CPT 77439: Ultrasound-Guided SRT Field Localization for Cutaneous Tumors

    CPT-77469-INTRAOPERATIVE-RADIATION-THERAPY-IORT-DURING-SURGERY

    CPT 77469: Intraoperative Radiation Therapy Management

    CPT-77499-UNLISTED-THERAPEUTIC-RADIOLOGY-TREATMENT-MANAGEMENT

    CPT 77499: Therapeutic Radiology Treatment Management, Unlisted

    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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