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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesMechanical Scalp Cooling ProceduresCPT cpt-97008-scalp-cooling-during-chemotherapy
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    CPT 97008: Scalp Cooling Assistance During Chemotherapy

    Medicare pays $10 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 97008 describes a provider-assisted scalp cooling service during a chemotherapy session, including preparing the patient’s hair, placing the cooling cap, initiating the cooling device and starting the precooling period prior to infusion; service type: supportive oncology procedure (scalp cooling assistance); typical site of service: hospital outpatient infusion center or oncology clinic infusion suite.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Hematology - Adzynma, Tumor Treating Fields for Pancreatic Cancer, Axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta®) coverage.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 54-year-old woman with stage II invasive ductal breast carcinoma is scheduled for her third outpatient infusion of an alopecia-inducing chemotherapy regimen (e.g., docetaxel and cyclophosphamide). Prior to each chemotherapy infusion, a trained oncology nurse prepares the patient for scalp cooling to reduce chemotherapy-related hair loss. The workflow begins with verifying the physician order for scalp cooling and confirming contraindications (e.g., known scalp metastases). The nurse explains the scalp cooling process, assists with shampooing or detangling as needed, measures the patient’s head circumference for proper cap sizing, and places the prechilling cap system. The nurse initiates the cooling device and monitors the precooling period required before infusion start. Once target scalp temperature is achieved and the cap is secured, chemotherapy infusion begins. The scalp cooling cap remains in place and the cooling continues during infusion and the post-infusion cooling period per device protocol. Billing uses 97008 reported once per chemotherapy session for the provider’s assistance with scalp cooling setup and initiation.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    96413Chemotherapy administration, intravenous infusion technique; up to 1 hour, single or initial substance/drugRepresents the chemotherapy infusion session during which 97008 scalp cooling setup is performed; billed separately for drug administration.
    96415Chemotherapy administration, intravenous infusion technique; each additional hour (List separately in addition to code for primary infusion)Billed when infusion extends beyond the initial hour; scalp cooling may continue during extended infusion.
    99211Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient that may not require the presence of a physicianLow-level nursing or clinical visit on the day of infusion; used if an E/M service is documented in addition to scalp cooling setup.
    99406Smoking and tobacco use cessation counseling visit, intermediate, greater than 3 minutes up to 10 minutesNot directly related therapeutically but may be delivered in the oncology setting alongside infusion services (example of ancillary counseling services).
    97032Application of a modality to one or more areas; electrical stimulation (manual), each 15 minutesRepresents other physical modality CPT examples used in oncology clinics; not typically billed with scalp cooling but included as ancillary modality code example.

    Related Modifiers

    5 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    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.,…
    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…
    77Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…
    91Modifier 91 — “Repeat Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Test” — is appended when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once for the same patient on the same day because serial,…- Use modifier 91 when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once on the same patient on the same date because serial or repeated testing is medically necessary to monitor…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    208000000X
    363L00000X
    207Q00000X
    367A00000X
    251B00000X
    292200000X
    207Y00000X
    261QM1000X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    27 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    C18.9Malignant neoplasm of colon, unspecified
    C20Malignant neoplasm of rectum
    C22.0Liver cell carcinoma
    C25.9Malignant neoplasm of pancreas, unspecified
    C34.90Malignant neoplasm of unspecified part of unspecified bronchus or lung
    C44.91Basal cell carcinoma of skin, unspecified
    C50.911Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of right female breast
    C50.912Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of left female breast
    C53.9Malignant neoplasm of cervix uteri, unspecified
    C56.9Malignant neoplasm of unspecified ovary

    Showing 1–10 of 27

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Hematology/Oncology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Hematology - AdzynmaCigna2026-10-15
    Tumor Treating Fields for Pancreatic Cancerselect_health2026-10-01
    Axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta®) coverageBaylor Scott & White Health Plan2026-10-01
    Electric Tumor Treatment Field Therapy (for Kentucky Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Electric Tumor Treatment Field Therapy (for Kansas Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Electric Tumor Treatment Field Therapy (for Idaho Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Brexucabtagene autoleucel (Tecartus) CoverageBaylor Scott & White Health Plan2026-10-01
    Electric Tumor Treatment Field Therapy (for Pennsylvania Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Epithelial Cell Cytology in Breast Cancer Risk AssessmentOscar Health2026-10-01
    Factor VIII ProductsCigna2026-09-15

    Related Codes

    CPT-97007-SCALP-COOLING-DEVICE-MEASURE-FIT-SUPPLY-EDUCATION

    CPT 97007: Scalp Cooling Cap Fitting, Supply, and Patient Education

    CPT-97009-SCALP-COOLING-AFTER-CHEMOTHERAPY

    CPT 97009: Scalp Cooling Continued After Chemotherapy

    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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