Summary & Overview
HCPCS C1724: Catheter for Transluminal Rotational Atherectomy
HCPCS Level II code C1724 designates a catheter for transluminal rotational atherectomy, a device used in endovascular procedures to remove atherosclerotic plaque from vessels. This code is relevant nationally for hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers performing peripheral and coronary atherectomy procedures, and for payers and providers managing coverage, billing, and device utilization.
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 rotational atherectomy catheters, typical sites of service, and the payer landscape considered. The publication outlines common billing modifiers associated with this service (input provided), and identifies where input data is not available.
The content provides benchmarks and policy-relevant information where available, clarifies coding nomenclature for device billing, and summarizes typical clinical scenarios for use of rotational atherectomy catheters. It is intended to help billing managers, revenue cycle staff, and clinical leaders understand the role of C1724 in procedure coding and payer interactions at a national level.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code C1724 represents a catheter for transluminal atherectomy, rotational. This device is used to perform minimally invasive removal of atherosclerotic plaque from blood vessels using a rotational atherectomy mechanism.
Service type: Transluminal rotational atherectomy device
Typical site of service: Hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient, or ambulatory surgical center (endovascular/interventional radiology or cardiology setting)
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an older adult with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD) causing lifestyle-limiting claudication or critical limb ischemia with focal atheromatous or calcified plaque in a peripheral artery (femoral, popliteal, or tibial). The patient often presents with exertional leg pain, nonhealing ischemic foot ulcer, or rest pain despite medical therapy and supervised exercise. Vascular surgery or interventional cardiology evaluates the patient with a focused vascular history, physical exam including pulse and wound assessment, and noninvasive testing such as ankle–brachial index (ABI) and duplex ultrasound. If imaging shows focal, eccentric, or heavily calcified plaque unsuitable for simple angioplasty or when atherectomy is needed for plaque debulking, the patient proceeds to angiography with possible transluminal rotational atherectomy using a catheter coded as C1724.
The clinical workflow includes informed consent, percutaneous arterial access (commonly common femoral artery), diagnostic angiography to define lesion morphology and length, intraprocedural anticoagulation, and device selection. The rotational atherectomy catheter is advanced over a guidewire to the target lesion and used to debulk plaque. Adjunctive therapies—such as percutaneous transluminal angioplasty or stent placement—may follow based on residual stenosis. Post-procedure care includes hemostasis (manual compression, closure device), observation for access site complications, assessment of distal perfusion, and discharge planning with antiplatelet therapy and vascular risk factor modification.
Coding Specifications
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