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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesOutpatient PPSHCPCS hcpcs-c1715-brachytherapy-needle
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    HCPCS C1715: Brachytherapy Needle

    HCPCS Level II code C1715 describes a brachytherapy needle, a device used to place radioactive sources directly into or near a tumor; the service is a brachytherapy applicator/implantation supply typically used in radiation oncology procedures performed in hospital outpatient departments or radiation therapy clinics.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Automated Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring for Diagnosis of Hypertension in Patients with Elevated Office Blood Pressure, Cardiology - Ivabradine, Cardiac Computed Tomography (CCT)/Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography (CCTA).

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    Table of contents

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    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.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    19295Placement 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.
    55875Placement of radiation source, vaginal or intrauterine (cesium or iridium), intraoperative or interstitialUsed for gynecologic interstitial or intracavitary brachytherapy procedures where needles/applicators are placed and C1715 needles are utilized.
    55872Interstitial 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.
    49405Insertion 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.

    Related Modifiers

    12 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    23Modifier -23 (Unusual Anesthesia) is used on anesthesia service CPT codes when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia…- Use modifier -23 only on anesthesia CPT codes (00100–01999) when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia because of…
    51Modifier –51 (Multiple Procedures) is used when the same provider performs multiple procedures in the same session to identify secondary, non‑exempt procedures and indicate payment reduction logic…- Use modifier -51 when the same provider performs multiple distinct procedures during the same patient encounter: report the highest‑valued procedure first (no modifier) and append -51 to…
    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…
    54Modifier ‑54 (“Surgical care only”) is appended to a CPT surgical procedure when the reporting surgeon performs the intraoperative (surgical) component but does not furnish the preoperative and/or…- Use modifier -54 when the reporting surgeon provided only the intraoperative (surgical) component of a procedure and preoperative and/or postoperative management has been or will be provided by…
    55Modifier –55 indicates the billing provider furnished only postoperative management for a procedure that has a global surgical period. According to AAPC, this modifier is appended to the same CPT…- Use modifier -55 when billing the same CPT surgical code that has a 10- or 90-day global period and you, as a provider other than the original surgeon, furnished ONLY postoperative management (no…
    56Modifier ‑56 indicates the reporting provider furnished only the preoperative management for a surgical procedure and did not perform the intraoperative or postoperative care. It is used in…- Use Modifier -56 when a provider performs only the preoperative management in a split‑care situation (one physician manages preop care while a different physician performs the intraoperative…
    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…
    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…

    Showing 1–10 of 12

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    2086S0102X
    208200000X
    2084P0800X
    282N00000X
    311Z00000X
    177F00000X
    1710I1002X
    229N00000X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Cardiology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Automated Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring for Diagnosis of Hypertension in Patients with Elevated Office Blood PressureBluecross Idaho2026-11-01
    Cardiology - IvabradineCigna2026-10-15
    Cardiac Computed Tomography (CCT)/Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography (CCTA)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Percutaneous Ventricular Assist DeviceUnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Cardiovascular Disease Risk AssessmentOscar Health2026-10-01
    Biomarkers for Myocardial Infarction and Chronic Heart FailureOscar Health2026-10-01
    Multiple Procedure Payment Reduction for Diagnostic Cardiovascular ProceduresBlue Cross Blue Shield - Maine2026-10-01
    Left Atrial Appendage Closure Devicesexcellus_health_plan_inc2026-09-17
    Left Atrial Appendage Closure Devicesuniverahealthcare2026-09-17
    Cardiac Omnibus CodesCigna2026-09-15

    Related Codes

    HCPCS-C1713-IMPLANTABLE-ANCHOR-SCREW-BONE-FIXATION

    HCPCS C1713: Anchor/Screw for Bone or Soft Tissue Fixation (Implantable)

    HCPCS-C1714-TRANSLUMINAL-DIRECTIONAL-ATHERECTOMY-CATHETER

    HCPCS C1714: Catheter, transluminal atherectomy, directional

    HCPCS-C1716-BRACHYTHERAPY-GOLD-198-SOURCE

    HCPCS C1716: Brachytherapy Source, Gold-198, Per Source

    HCPCS-C1717-HDR-BRACHYTHERAPY-IRIDIUM-192-SOURCE

    HCPCS C1717: HDR Iridium-192 Brachytherapy Source, Per Source

    HCPCS-C1719-BRACHYTHERAPY-IRIDIUM-192-SOURCE-NON-STRANDED

    HCPCS C1719: Brachytherapy Source, Iridium-192, Non-Stranded

    HCPCS-C1721-IMPLANTABLE-DUAL-CHAMBER-CARDIOVERTER-DEFIBRILLATOR

    HCPCS C1721: Cardioverter-Defibrillator, Dual Chamber (Implantable)

    HCPCS-C1724-ROTATIONAL-TRANSLUMINAL-ATHERECTOMY-CATHETER

    HCPCS Level II C1724: Rotational Transluminal Atherectomy Catheter

    HCPCS-C1725-TRANSLUMINAL-ANGIOPLASTY-CATHETER-NON-LASER

    HCPCS Level II C1725: Transluminal Angioplasty Catheter, Non-Laser

    HCPCS-C1726-NON-VASCULAR-BALLOON-DILATATION-CATHETER

    HCPCS C1726: Catheter, Balloon Dilatation, Non-Vascular

    HCPCS-C1727-BALLOON-TISSUE-DISSECTOR-CATHETER

    HCPCS C1727: Catheter, Balloon Tissue Dissector, Non-Vascular

    Showing 1–10 of 603

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    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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    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.