Summary & Overview
HCPCS C1728: Catheter for Brachytherapy Seed Administration
HCPCS Level II code C1728 designates a catheter intended for brachytherapy seed administration, a component integral to internal radiation therapy delivery. This code identifies the device used to place radioactive seeds into or adjacent to target tissues for localized treatment, often applied in oncology specialties such as prostate, gynecologic, or other site-specific brachytherapy. Nationally, device-level codes like C1728 matter for accurate billing, inventory management, and clinical documentation because they link supply costs to procedural episodes and influence facility and payer payment processes.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of clinical context for the device, typical sites of service, and the billing environment for brachytherapy-related supplies. The publication outlines common modifiers associated with HCPCS Level II device reporting, summarizes where C1728 fits within procedural supply coding, and highlights benchmarks and policy considerations relevant to coverage and payment. Where specific data inputs are not provided, this report indicates that those items are not available in the input. The goal is to give billing managers, clinical coders, and revenue cycle stakeholders a concise reference to support consistent reporting of brachytherapy catheter supplies under HCPCS Level II code C1728.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code C1728 describes a catheter used for brachytherapy seed administration. This device is used to place radioactive seeds or sources into or near target tissues for internal radiation therapy, typically as part of a brachytherapy procedure.
Service type: Device supply for brachytherapy seed administration
Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient departments, hospital inpatient settings, ambulatory surgical centers, and radiation oncology clinics where brachytherapy procedures are performed.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 68-year-old male with localized prostate adenocarcinoma is scheduled for transperineal brachytherapy seed implantation. The patient has undergone pre-procedure planning including prostate MRI and transrectal ultrasound-based dosimetry. On the day of service he is brought to the outpatient ambulatory surgery center. Under monitored anesthesia care or general anesthesia, the radiation oncologist and urologist use transrectal ultrasound guidance to place brachytherapy catheters into the prostate through a perineal template. After catheter placement, radioactive seeds are delivered through the catheters to achieve the planned dose distribution. The device represented by C1728 (catheter, brachytherapy seed administration) is used to introduce and position seeds or seed carriers. Typical workflow steps include pre-procedure consent and localization imaging, intraoperative ultrasound guidance, catheter insertion and stabilization, seed loading/delivery, immediate post-implant dosimetry verification, and recovery in the PACU. Typical sites of service are an ambulatory surgery center, hospital outpatient department, or inpatient operating room depending on patient comorbidity and anesthesia needs. Common clinical indications include localized prostate cancer and select pelvic malignancies treated with interstitial brachytherapy.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | Default/No modifier |