Summary & Overview
HCPCS C1880: Vena Cava Filter, Implantable Vascular Device
HCPCS Level II code C1880 identifies a vena cava filter device used to reduce the risk of pulmonary embolism by capturing thromboemboli. Clinically important for acute and prophylactic management of thromboembolic disease, this device-level code is relevant across hospital and interventional radiology settings where filters are implanted or removed. Nationally, device coding affects billing, device tracking, and policy oversight for vascular interventions.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of coding context, payer coverage considerations, common modifiers used with device and procedure claims, and clinical context for when vena cava filters are utilized. The publication summarizes typical sites of service, the role of the device in care pathways for venous thromboembolism prevention, and what to expect in claims processing when C1880 is billed alongside procedure codes.
Content highlights include benchmarks and reimbursement context where available, recent policy updates affecting device coding and coverage determinations, and operational implications for hospital and outpatient billing teams. Data not available in the input is explicitly noted where relevant.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code C1880 denotes a vena cava filter device. This code represents the device itself used to prevent pulmonary embolism by trapping emboli from the lower extremities before they reach the lungs.
Service type: implantable vascular device
Typical site of service: inpatient or outpatient hospital settings, interventional radiology suites, or specialized vascular surgery centers
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult hospitalized for acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the lower extremity with contraindication to anticoagulation (for example, active gastrointestinal bleeding) or a high risk of pulmonary embolism despite therapeutic anticoagulation. The patient is evaluated by vascular surgery or interventional radiology. Pre-procedure imaging (venous duplex ultrasound and/or CT venography) confirms thrombus location and venous anatomy. After informed consent, the patient is brought to an angiography suite or interventional radiology procedure room. Under conscious sedation or general anesthesia, venous access (commonly right internal jugular or femoral vein) is obtained, venography is performed to map the inferior vena cava (IVC), and a vena cava filter is deployed in the infrarenal IVC to prevent thromboembolism. Post-deployment venography confirms position and patency. The patient is monitored in recovery and receives inpatient or outpatient follow-up for anticoagulation management and filter retrieval planning if a retrievable filter was placed. Typical sites of service are the hospital inpatient setting, hospital outpatient department (interventional radiology suite), or ambulatory surgical center depending on clinical urgency and facility capabilities.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
22 | Increased procedural services | Use when work required to place the filter is substantially greater than typical (e.g., difficult venous access, extensive thrombus management) and documentation supports increased work. |