Summary & Overview
HCPCS C2640: Brachytherapy Source, Stranded Palladium-103, Per Source
HCPCS Level II code C2640 identifies a stranded palladium-103 brachytherapy source supplied per individual seed. This code is used when documenting and billing the radioactive seeds implanted as part of low-dose-rate internal radiation therapy, most commonly for prostate brachytherapy and other localized malignancies. Accurate coding for radioactive sources matters nationally because it affects hospital and clinic supply tracking, radiation oncology reimbursement, and compliance with payer coverage policies for brachytherapy.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise explanation of the clinical use and service setting for the code, benchmarks and utilization context where available, payer coverage patterns, and common billing considerations associated with radioisotope supplies. The publication also summarizes policy updates that affect coding and payment for brachytherapy sources, and situates C2640 within related service lines such as radiation oncology and outpatient procedural care.
This summary is intended for national audiences including coding professionals, radiation oncology administrators, and revenue cycle staff who need a clear reference for clinical context, payer landscape, and the procedural setting associated with HCPCS Level II code C2640.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code C2640 describes a brachytherapy source, stranded, palladium-103, per source. This code covers the supply of stranded palladium-103 radioactive seeds used for internal radiation therapy.
Service Type: Brachytherapy source implant supply
Typical Site of Service: Hospital outpatient radiology or radiation oncology clinic, ambulatory surgical center
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult male diagnosed with localized prostate cancer being treated with low-dose-rate (LDR) brachytherapy using stranded palladium-103 sources. The patient presents to a hospital outpatient radiation oncology brachytherapy suite or an ambulatory surgical center. Pre-procedure workflow includes consultation with a radiation oncologist, staging workup (PSA, prostate biopsy report, pelvic MRI or transrectal ultrasound for planning), informed consent, and pre-anesthesia evaluation if sedation or general anesthesia is planned. On the day of service the patient undergoes transperineal implantation of C2640 palladium-103 stranded seeds under ultrasound guidance with sterile technique. The radiation oncologist and brachytherapy physicist perform treatment planning intraoperatively and verify seed placement and dosimetry. Post-implant imaging (post-operative CT or MRI) is obtained for dose verification. Typical post-procedure care includes short-term analgesia, voiding observation, discharge instructions, and scheduled follow-up for PSA monitoring and toxicity assessment.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | No modifier | Use when no qualifying modifier applies to the service |