C1715 Brachytherapy Needle HCPCS Reimbursement | OpenPayer

Summary & Overview

HCPCS C1715: Brachytherapy Needle

HCPCS Level II code C1715 denotes a brachytherapy needle, a disposable medical device used to place radioactive sources for localized radiation treatment. Nationally, brachytherapy devices are a critical component of radiation oncology workflows for cancers where targeted radiotherapy reduces exposure to surrounding tissues. Accurate coding of device supplies affects billing transparency, device tracking, and aggregate utilization reporting across payers.

Key payers in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of what C1715 represents, common sites where the device is used, and which major payers are relevant for coverage considerations. The publication also outlines typical benchmarks and policy considerations related to device coding and billing practice for brachytherapy supplies where data is available.

This summary provides clinical context for revenue cycle and clinical teams, clarifies the primary service line for the device, and flags where input data is missing. Data not available in the input will be noted in the relevant sections of the full publication.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicareC1715HCPCS Level IIbrachytherapyradiation oncologymedical devicedevice codingbilling and codingoutpatient surgery

Billing Code Overview

HCPCS Level II code C1715 represents a brachytherapy needle. This item is a medical device used in brachytherapy procedures to place radioactive sources directly into or near a tumor for localized radiation treatment.

Service Type: Brachytherapy device supply

Typical Site of Service: Hospital outpatient departments, ambulatory surgical centers, and radiation oncology clinics

Data not available in the input.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A patient with localized gynecologic or genitourinary malignancy is scheduled for image-guided interstitial brachytherapy using C1715 (brachytherapy needle). Typical patients include a 62-year-old female with recurrent cervical cancer or a 58-year-old male with soft-tissue pelvic recurrence where interstitial needle placement is required to achieve therapeutic dose distribution. The clinical workflow begins with multidisciplinary tumor board recommendation for brachytherapy. Pre-procedure steps include informed consent, pre-anesthesia evaluation, and imaging planning (MRI or CT) to map tumor extent. In the operating room or interventional suite, the patient is positioned, anesthesia is administered (general, regional, or monitored anesthesia care), and sterile technique is used. Under real-time imaging (ultrasound, CT, or fluoroscopy) and template or free-hand technique, the brachytherapy needles (C1715) are inserted into the target volume and secured. After applicator and needle placement, treatment planning CT/MRI is obtained and dosimetry is performed by radiation oncology and medical physics. Treatment (high dose rate or low dose rate) is delivered in the radiation oncology department; needles may be removed after a single fraction or remain for multiple fractions per the treatment plan. Post-procedure monitoring focuses on hemostasis, pain control, and assessment for early complications such as bleeding, infection, or organ injury. Documentation must include indication, number and type of needles used, imaging guidance, anesthesia, laterality if applicable, complications, and detailed implant and planning records for accurate coding and billing.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use

HCPCS C7562: Coronary Angiography with Intraprocedural FFR and 3D Mapping

HCPCS-C9356-TENON-PROTECTOR-TENDON-MATRIX-SHEET

HCPCS C9356: Tendon Protector Sheet (Porous Collagen/GAG Matrix)

HCPCS-C1893-INTRACARDIAC-ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY-INTRODUCER-SHEATH

HCPCS C1893: Intracardiac Electrophysiology Guiding Introducer/Sheath

HCPCS-C9158-RISPERIDONE-UZEDY-INJECTION-1MG

HCPCS C9158: Injection, risperidone (Uzedy), 1 mg

HCPCS-C9083-AMIVANTAMAB-INJECTION-10MG

HCPCS C9083: Injection, amivantamab-vmjw, 10 mg

HCPCS-C9080-MELPHALAN-FLUFENAMIDE-INJECTION-1MG

HCPCS Level II C9080: Injection, melphalan flufenamide hydrochloride, 1 mg

HCPCS-LEVEL-II-C9814-CONTINUOUS-ECHOGENIC-CONDUCTION-CATHETER

HCPCS Level II C9814: Continuous Echogenic Conduction Catheter Set

HCPCS-C1822-IMPLANTABLE-HIGH-FREQUENCY-NEUROSTIMULATOR-RECHARGEABLE

HCPCS C1822: Implantable High-Frequency Neurostimulator with Rechargeable Battery

HCPCS-C9809-CRYOABLATION-NEEDLE-POST-SURGICAL-PAIN-DEVICE

HCPCS C9809: Cryoablation Needle for Post-Surgical Pain Relief

HCPCS-C8912-MRA-LOWER-EXTREMITY-CONTRAST

HCPCS C8912: Magnetic Resonance Angiography With Contrast, Lower Extremity

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Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`2086S0102X`	Radiation Oncology	Primary specialty performing brachytherapy implant procedures and treatment planning.
`2083P0205X`	Interventional Radiology	Often performs image-guided needle placement for interstitial implants.
`208200000X`	General Surgery	May participate in pelvic or soft-tissue needle placement in collaborative procedures.
`2084P0800X`	Gynecologic Oncology	Frequently involved for cervical, vaginal, or uterine brachytherapy implants.
`282N00000X`	Radiologist	Provides imaging guidance and interpretation intra-procedurally and for planning.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`C53.9`	Malignant neoplasm of cervix uteri, unspecified	Cervical cancer commonly requires interstitial or intracavitary brachytherapy with needles for target coverage.
`C61`	Malignant neoplasm of prostate	Prostate interstitial brachytherapy uses needles/seeds placed into the gland; `C1715` needles may be used for transperineal insertion.
`C50.919`	Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of unspecified female breast	Partial-breast interstitial brachytherapy employs needles for catheter placement in accelerated partial-breast irradiation.
`C76.2`	Malignant neoplasm of pelvis, unspecified	Pelvic soft-tissue tumors or recurrences may be treated with interstitial needles to deliver localized radiation.
`C51.9`	Malignant neoplasm of vulva, unspecified	Vaginal or vulvar cancers may require interstitial brachytherapy implants using needles for local control.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`19295`	Placement of radioactive source into breast tissue, interstitial; first plane, single insertion technique (e.g., for partial breast irradiation)	CPT `19295` may be billed when interstitial needles are used for partial-breast brachytherapy; needles represented by `C1715` are the supplies used during this implant.
`55875`	Placement of radiation source, vaginal or intrauterine (cesium or iridium), intraoperative or interstitial	Used for gynecologic interstitial or intracavitary brachytherapy procedures where needles/applicators are placed and `C1715` needles are utilized.
`55872`	Interstitial radiation source placement (separate procedure)	Applicable when interstitial templates and needles are used for prostatic or pelvic implants; `C1715` describes the needles supplied for these implants.
`49405`	Insertion of needle and catheter for peritoneal dialysis or intraperitoneal therapy (not brachytherapy specific)	Included here as a workflow-adjacent procedure when image-guided percutaneous access is required; not commonly billed with brachytherapy but relevant when percutaneous needle access techniques overlap.
`77012`	Computed tomography guidance for needle placement	Often billed for CT-guided needle insertion used in brachytherapy implants where `C1715` needles are placed under CT visualization.

`00`	Unnamed modifier (placeholder)	Use only if payer requires a neutral or placeholder modifier per plan instructions.
`22`	Increased procedural services	When work required is substantially greater than typical (extensive adhesiolysis, difficult anatomy) and supported by documentation.
`23`	Unusual anesthesia	When anesthesia is medically necessary and more intensive than typical for the procedure.
`51`	Multiple procedures	When multiple distinct procedures are billed on the same day and payer requires `51` to indicate multiple services.
`52`	Reduced services	When the procedure is partially reduced or not completed as originally planned and documentation supports reduced service.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	When the procedure is started but terminated due to extenuating circumstances or patient safety concerns.
`54`	Surgical care only	When the surgeon provides only the operative portion and another practitioner provides pre/post-operative care.
`55`	Postoperative management only	When the practitioner bills only for postoperative care separate from another surgeon's operative service.
`56`	Preoperative management only	When only preoperative evaluation and decision-making are billed by a separate practitioner.
`62`	Two surgeons	When distinct surgical services are performed by two surgeons working together due to complexity.
`80`	Assistant surgeon	When a qualified assistant at surgery is required and documented.
`81`	Minimum assistant surgeon	When minimal assistance is provided by a surgeon assistant.
`82`	Assistant not available	When assistant surgeon services are required but a qualified resident or assistant is not available.
`AS`	Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist	When an advanced practice provider performs or assists as allowed by payer rules.

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