Summary & Overview
CPT 77605: Deep Therapeutic Hyperthermia
CPT code 77605 describes deep therapeutic hyperthermia in which tissue deeper than 4 cm is exposed to temperatures up to 113°F. The code captures a specialized oncologic or therapeutic procedure used to target deep-seated lesions that may benefit from controlled heating. Nationally, this code is significant because it represents a niche, resource-intensive service that typically occurs in hospital outpatient departments, ambulatory surgical centers, and specialized oncology facilities.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of the clinical context for hyperthermia, common billing and coding considerations tied to the procedure description, and what types of service settings typically report this code. The publication also outlines expected benchmarks and policy-relevant issues readers should consider for national coverage and reimbursement discussions.
This summary provides clinicians, billing professionals, and policy analysts with the essential facts about CPT code 77605, the clinical service it represents, and the payer landscape relevant to national-level discussions. Data not available in the input will be noted where specific details are missing in subsequent sections.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 77605 describes a clinical hyperthermia procedure in which a provider exposes tissue deeper than 4 cm at a body site to elevated temperatures up to 113 degrees Fahrenheit. This service is a form of therapeutic hyperthermia intended to treat deep-seated tissues and lesions using controlled heating techniques.
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Service type: Deep therapeutic hyperthermia
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Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient department, ambulatory surgical center, or specialized oncology facility where deep-tissue thermal therapy is available
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Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 62-year-old patient with a recurrent soft-tissue sarcoma of the thigh is referred for regional deep hyperthermia as an adjunct to external beam radiation. The oncology team coordinates care: the radiation oncologist evaluates tumor size and depth with MRI and confirms the lesion extends deeper than 4 cm from the skin surface. On the day of treatment the patient arrives to an outpatient radiation oncology center or hospital-based radiation therapy suite. After informed consent and review of recent imaging and vitals, the patient is positioned and coupling devices are applied over the treatment field. Thermometry probes are placed as clinically indicated to monitor intratumoral and adjacent tissue temperatures. The hyperthermia device is activated and tissue temperatures are raised to therapeutic levels (up to approximately 113 degrees Fahrenheit) for the prescribed duration while the radiation therapist and radiation oncologist monitor tolerance, vital signs, and device parameters. Post-treatment the patient is observed briefly for skin or pain reactions and discharged with follow-up instructions. This workflow is typical for deep regional hyperthermia delivered as part of multimodal cancer therapy in an outpatient radiation oncology or hospital procedural setting.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
11 | Preventive CPT default (professional component not typical for this code) | Rarely applicable; use only if reporting under specific payer rules requiring modifier for primary procedures when applicable. |