Summary & Overview
HCPCS C9354: Acellular Pericardial Tissue Matrix (Veritas), per cm
HCPCS Level II code C9354 denotes an acellular pericardial tissue matrix of non-human origin (Veritas), billed per square centimeter. This code identifies a biologic graft product used in soft-tissue repair and reconstructive procedures and matters nationally because such implantable biologics are commonly used across surgical specialties and can drive significant procedural supply costs.
Key payers discussed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context for the product, typical sites of service, and the payer landscape as it relates to coverage considerations and billing practice. The publication provides benchmarking information where available, notes common billing modifiers and service-line placement, and summarizes policy and coding updates relevant to providers and billing professionals.
This analysis is intended for a national audience and focuses on practical billing and coding context rather than clinical guidance. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code C9354 describes an acellular pericardial tissue matrix of non-human origin (Veritas), billed per square centimeter. This product is a biologic tissue graft derived from non-human pericardium that has been processed to remove cellular elements, leaving an extracellular matrix intended to support tissue repair and regeneration.
Service type: Biologic graft / surgical implant material
Typical site of service: Hospital operating room, ambulatory surgery center, and other procedural/surgical settings where soft-tissue repair or reconstruction is performed.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A patient undergoing cardiac or thoracic surgery requires biologic patch material to reinforce soft tissue, promote healing, or separate structures. Typical patients are adults undergoing procedures such as cardiac valve repair or replacement, coronary artery bypass grafting with sternal or epicardial reinforcement, complex mediastinal reconstruction, or closure of congenital or acquired pericardial defects. The acellular pericardial tissue matrix C9354 (veritas) is supplied and billed per square centimeter and is used intraoperatively by cardiothoracic surgeons or cardiovascular surgical teams. The clinical workflow includes intraoperative measurement of the defect or reinforcement area, selection and trimming of the graft to size, hemostasis and placement with sutures or biologic adhesive, and documentation of the square centimeters implanted in the operative note and implant log. Postoperative care follows standard surgical monitoring in the operating room and recovery unit with routine wound and cardiac function surveillance.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
22 | Increased procedural services | Use when work required to implant the graft is substantially greater than typical due to complexity or extensiveness. |