CPT Code 77003 | Description, Procedure & Billing Guidelines (2022)

You can use CPT 77003 as an add-on code for placing a needle/catheter into the patient’s spine or adjacent area with fluoroscopic guidance.

1. What Is CPT Code 77003?

CPT 77003 covers a fluoroscopic guidance procedure in which a provider places a catheter or needle in the patient’s spine or adjacent to the spinal column.

This add-on procedure aims to identify the approach and the level needed for the initial needle placement for procedures that aim to detect the cause or extent of a disease or its treatment.

2. Description

The CPT book describes CPT 77003 as follows: “Fluoroscopic guidance and localization of needle or catheter tip for spine or paraspinous diagnostic or therapeutic injection procedures (epidural or subarachnoid).”

3. Procedure

CPT 77003 is an add-on procedure and can only be billed in combination with a primary procedure that requires the placement of a needle or catheter tip in the spine or adjacent area.

The provider drapes and preps the patient before they place them in a face-down position under the fluoroscope. Then, the physician places the catheter or tip of the needle at the introduction site.

The provider continues by injecting the contrast agent and, if necessary, moving the catheter or needle toward the desired location with fluoroscopic guidance.

The provider confirms the device’s location after the tip is placed in the desired area. Finally, they end this procedure by delivering the therapeutic or diagnostic substance through the catheter or needle.

TIP: You can find all the CPT codes for fluoroscopy guidance here.

4. How To Use CPT Code 77003

Do not use CPT 77003 for needle placement not specific to a particular body area. You can use the add-on code CPT 77002 instead.

CPT code 77003 is an add–on code and can only be reported in addition to a primary code procedure.

You can report the 77003 CPT code in combination with the following codes:

• CPT 96450;
• CPT 64610;
• CPT 64520;
• CPT 64517;
• CPT 64510;
• CPT 64449;
• CPT 62284;
• CPT 62282;
• CPT 62281;
• CPT 62280;
• CPT 62273;
• CPT 62267;
• CPT 61055; and
• CPT 61050.

You can not report CPT 77003 in combination with the following CPT codes;

• CPT 0628T;
• CPT 0627T;
• CPT 62329;
• CPT 62328;
• CPT 62327
• CPT 62326;
• CPT 62325;
• CPT 62324;
• CPT 62323;
• CPT 62322;
• CPT 62321;
• CPT 62320;
• CPT 62272; and
• CPT 62270

5. Resources

CPT Professional 2022

https://www.aapc.com/blog/37866-capture-elements-of-spinal-injections-and-fluoroscopy/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6411264/