Summary & Overview
HCPCS C1735: Renal Denervation RF Intravascular Catheter
HCPCS Level II code C1735 identifies a single-use intravascular catheter system for renal denervation using radiofrequency energy, including all single-use components. The code is relevant nationally as renal denervation procedures represent a specialized endovascular therapy for management of certain treatment-resistant hypertension cases and other investigational indications; accurate device coding affects hospital outpatient and ambulatory surgery reporting, device tracking, and payer coverage determinations. Key payers discussed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. This publication provides a concise briefing on clinical context and billing implications for device supply coding, outlines which payers are considered in the benchmarking, and summarizes what readers will find: standardized code definition and device description, typical service settings, common modifiers used with device supply claims (listed separately), and a note when input data fields are not available. The material is intended for revenue cycle, clinical coding, and provider administration teams seeking a national-level reference for documenting and submitting claims involving the radiofrequency renal denervation catheter system. Data not available in the input is indicated where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code C1735 describes a single-use intravascular catheter system for renal denervation using radiofrequency energy, including all disposable components required for the procedure. The billed item represents the catheter portion of a renal denervation system intended to deliver radiofrequency ablation within the renal arteries to modify renal sympathetic nerves.
Service type: Device supply for a catheter-based renal denervation procedure using radiofrequency energy.
Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient, ambulatory surgery center, or catheterization laboratory where image-guided endovascular procedures are performed.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is a 55–75-year-old adult with treatment-resistant hypertension who has undergone guideline-directed medical therapy optimization but continues to have elevated blood pressure. The patient is referred to an interventional cardiologist or interventional radiologist for evaluation for renal denervation using a radiofrequency intravascular catheter system (C1735). Workup includes review of medications, secondary hypertension evaluation (e.g., renal artery stenosis exclusion via duplex ultrasound, CTA or MRA), baseline renal function and electrolytes, and antihypertensive medication reconciliation.
The clinical workflow: the patient is admitted to an outpatient interventional suite or ambulatory surgery center for the procedure. Under conscious sedation or general anesthesia, vascular access (commonly femoral or radial artery) is obtained. A diagnostic renal angiogram is performed to confirm anatomy and suitability. The C1735 radiofrequency intravascular catheter is advanced to the renal artery branches, and targeted radiofrequency energy is delivered to ablate renal sympathetic nerves in a series of ablation applications. Hemostasis is achieved at the access site and the patient is observed in recovery for hemodynamic stability and access-site complications. Post-procedure monitoring includes blood pressure checks, renal function testing, and instructions for medication adjustments and follow-up blood pressure assessment.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|