C1736 Renal Denervation | HCPCS Reimbursement | OpenPayer

Summary & Overview

HCPCS Level II C1736: Intravascular Catheter for Ultrasound Renal Denervation

HCPCS Level II code C1736 represents a single-use intravascular catheter system designed for ultrasound-based renal denervation, including all single-use components. This device-level code matters nationally as renal denervation emerges as a treatment option for certain patients with resistant hypertension and other investigational indications. Accurate coding of the device supports proper device tracking, supply reimbursement, and alignment with facility billing for image-guided endovascular procedures.

Key payers included in the analysis are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of clinical context for renal denervation device use, national reimbursement and coverage considerations by major payers, and practical benchmarks for device supply coding. The publication also summarizes policy updates affecting device-level HCPCS coding, expected claim attachments or documentation commonly requested by payers, and areas where coverage varies across payers.

The content provides concise guidance on the clinical role of the catheter system, typical sites of service (acute care hospital or outpatient interventional suite), and the kinds of administrative considerations that influence claim adjudication. Data not available in the input are clearly noted where relevant.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicareC1736HCPCS Level IIrenal denervationultrasound catheterendovascular devicedevice codinginterventional radiologyhospital outpatientdevice supply

Billing Code Overview

HCPCS Level II code C1736 describes a single-use intravascular catheter system for renal denervation using ultrasound, including all disposable components supplied with the system. The service type is device supply for renal denervation procedure, intended to facilitate catheter-based renal sympathetic denervation using ultrasound energy.

The typical site of service for items described by C1736 is an acute care hospital or outpatient interventional suite where image-guided endovascular procedures are performed. Use of this device accompanies a renal denervation procedure but does not itself specify the procedural steps or diagnosis codes.

Data not available in the input.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 62-year-old patient with treatment-resistant hypertension despite maximally tolerated medical therapy is evaluated for catheter-based renal denervation using an ultrasound intravascular system. The interventional cardiology or interventional radiology team performs pre-procedure assessment including vascular access planning (typically femoral arterial access), review of antihypertensive regimen, renal artery imaging (CTA, MRA, or diagnostic angiography), and baseline renal function. On the day of service the patient is brought to an angiography suite or hybrid operating room. Under conscious sedation or monitored anesthesia care (or general anesthesia if clinically indicated), vascular access is obtained, diagnostic renal angiography is performed to confirm anatomy and suitability, and the C1736 single-use intravascular ultrasound renal denervation catheter is advanced to each renal artery. Ultrasound energy is applied per device protocol while monitoring hemodynamics. Post-procedure angiography confirms vessel integrity. Typical immediate post-procedure workflow includes access site management, short-term observation in a recovery area or same-day observation unit, discharge instructions for blood pressure monitoring and medication adjustments, and scheduled follow-up with blood pressure and renal function assessment at 1–3 months and beyond. Typical site of service: hospital outpatient department, ambulatory surgical center, or catheterization/angiography suite within a hospital. Service type: image-guided, catheter-based endovascular renal sympathetic denervation using a single-use ultrasound system.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use

HCPCS C9785: Endoscopic Outlet Reduction, Gastric Pouch Application

HCPCS-C9079-EVINACUMAB-INJECTION-5MG

HCPCS C9079: Injection of Evinacumab-dgnb, 5 mg

HCPCS-C2636-PALLADIUM-103-BRACHYTHERAPY-LINEAR-SOURCE-PER-MM

HCPCS C2636: Brachytherapy Linear Source, Palladium-103, Per 1 mm

HCPCS-C9176-TC99M-NON-HEU-MO99-COST-RECOVERY-ADD-ON

HCPCS Level II C9176: Tc-99m from Domestic Non-HEU Mo-99, Cost Recovery Add-On

HCPCS-C9275-HEXAMINOLEVULVINATE-INJECTION-100MG-STUDY-DOSE

HCPCS C9275: Hexaminolevulinate Injection, 100 mg, Per Study Dose

HCPCS-C9122-MOMETASONE-SINUVA-SINUS-IMPLANT-10-MCG

HCPCS C9122: Mometasone Furoate Sinus Implant, 10 mcg

HCPCS-C9098-CILTACABTAGENE-AUTOLEUCEL-BCMA-CAR-T-THERAPY

HCPCS C9098: Ciltacabtagene Autoleucel, BCMA-Directed CAR T Therapy

HCPCS-C9793-3D-CARDIAC-PROCEDURAL-PREPLANNING-MODEL-GENERATION

HCPCS Level II C9793: 3D Predictive Model for Cardiac Procedure Pre‑planning

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

HCPCS C1726: Catheter, Balloon Dilatation, Non-Vascular

HCPCS-C9781-SHOULDER-ARTHROSCOPY-SUBACROMIAL-SPACER-IMPLANTATION

HCPCS C9781: Arthroscopic Shoulder Implantation of Subacromial Spacer

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Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`207RP0000X`	Interventional Cardiology	Common specialty performing catheter-based renal denervation in cath lab settings.
`2086S0127X`	Interventional Radiology	Performs endovascular renal denervation and diagnostic renal angiography.
`2084P0800X`	Vascular Surgery	May perform renal denervation when vascular access and arterial management are required.
`208D00000X`	Diagnostic Radiology	Provides imaging interpretation and may perform angiographic access in some centers.
`207L00000X`	Anesthesiology	Provides monitored anesthesia care or general anesthesia for the procedure when indicated.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`I10`	Essential (primary) hypertension	Primary indication for renal denervation in patients with treatment-resistant hypertension.
`I15.0`	Renovascular hypertension	Secondary hypertension due to renal artery stenosis; anatomy assessment is critical before denervation.
`I12.9`	Hypertensive chronic kidney disease without stage specified	Coexisting renal disease commonly assessed before proceeding with renal denervation.
`N18.9`	Chronic kidney disease, unspecified	Baseline renal function status influences candidacy and follow-up for renal denervation.
`I11.9`	Hypertensive heart disease without heart failure	Hypertensive target organ effect often present in patients considered for denervation.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`36215`	Selective catheter placement, renal artery, angiography, each renal artery, radiological supervision and interpretation	Performed if diagnostic selective renal angiography is obtained prior to denervation to assess anatomy and suitability.
`36245`	Transcatheter therapeutic embolization, percutaneous, renal artery branch	Not typical for denervation but may be used if concomitant embolization of a branch is required; included for vascular complication management context.
`36010`	Introduction of needle or intracatheter, vascular access (arterial)	Represents arterial access codes often billed for femoral artery access to perform the renal denervation procedure.
`93454`	Catheter placement in coronary artery for angiography, with left heart catheterization when performed (includes imaging) — (Note: listed here as analogous advanced catheterization support code)	May be used in centers where complex hemodynamic or coronary assessment is performed in the same session; relates to advanced intravascular catheter workflow support.
`99223`	Initial hospital care, typically 70 minutes or more	Example inpatient evaluation code if the procedure requires inpatient admission with comprehensive initial hospital care by the admitting physician.

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