CPT Code 77013Complete Billing & Coding Guide (2026)Ct guide for tissue ablation
About CPT 77013
CPT 77013 is a Current Procedural Terminology code in the Radiology category maintained by the American Medical Association. The CMS short descriptor reads "Ct guide for tissue ablation". For the full AMA long descriptor and clinical guidance, refer to the current CPT code manual.
Documentation specificity, correct ICD-10 linkage, and modifier accuracy determine whether 77013 pays cleanly or triggers a denial. Verify CMS National Physician Fee Schedule status, applicable Medicare LCDs, and any payer-specific medical policies before submission.
77013 has 10 NCCI bundling edit pairs documented. Run your scrubber against the NCCI quarterly update before submission. When clinically warranted, use modifier 59 or the X-modifiers (XE, XS, XP, XU) to bypass an indicator-1 edit, with chart documentation supporting the distinct service.
Code Properties
RVU Breakdown
Every CPT code’s Medicare payment is calculated from three Relative Value Unit components: physician work, practice expense, and malpractice. Together they multiply by the conversion factor to produce the payment amount.
Payment = Total RVU × Conversion Factor ($33.4009) × Geographic Adjustment (GPCI). National averages shown. Actual payment varies by locality.
NCCI Bundling Edits
10 pairsThese codes trigger National Correct Coding Initiative edits when billed with 77013. An indicator of 0 means the pair cannot be unbundled. Indicator 1 means modifier 59 or X-modifiers may allow separate billing with supporting documentation.
Billing 77013 alongside a bundled code without the correct modifier generates CARC 97 denials. Payers often flag these as audit risks. Document medical necessity for the separate service and apply modifier 59 or the appropriate X-modifier (XE, XS, XP, XU) only when clinically justified.
HCPCS/CPT procedure code definition
CPT Manual or CMS manual coding instruction
CPT Manual or CMS manual coding instruction
CPT Manual or CMS manual coding instruction
Misuse of Column Two code with Column One code
Mutually exclusive procedures
Mutually exclusive procedures
Standards of medical/surgical practice
CPT Manual or CMS manual coding instruction
CPT Manual or CMS manual coding instruction
Radiology bundling traps usually involve component coding (TC/26 splits) plus contrast-with vs without coding pairs. CO-97 denials on 77013 often resolve once the right component modifier is appended on resubmission.
Applicable Modifiers
Modifiers commonly paired with 77013 based on its category. Apply only when the clinical circumstance warrants. Incorrect modifier use is a top audit target.
Component split modifiers (26 professional, TC technical) are the most under-applied modifiers in diagnostic billing. Practices that bill global on services where they only provided the read silently invite refund requests. We split components correctly at submission.
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Related CPT Codes
Codes in the same family as 77013
Everything about CPT 77013
What does CPT code 77013 cover?
CPT 77013 is a Current Procedural Terminology code in the Radiology category maintained by the American Medical Association. The CMS short descriptor reads "Ct guide for tissue ablation". For the full AMA long descriptor and clinical guidance, refer to the current CPT code manual.
What is the Medicare payment for CPT 77013?
The national average Medicare payment for CPT 77013 is approximately $0 in a non-facility setting and $0 in a facility setting. Actual payment varies by locality based on GPCI adjustments. Total RVU is 0 with a conversion factor of $33.4009.
What is the global period for CPT 77013?
CPT 77013 has no global period (indicator XXX). There are no post-operative day restrictions tied to this code. Refer to CMS National Physician Fee Schedule rules and any applicable NCCI edits when billing on the same date as other services.
What codes bundle with CPT 77013?
CPT 77013 has NCCI Procedure-to-Procedure edits with 10+ codes including 0581T, 36591, 36592. Modifier indicator 0 means the edit cannot be bypassed. Indicator 1 means modifier 59 or X-modifiers may allow separate billing with documentation.
CPT codes and descriptions are copyright of the American Medical Association. RVU values reflect current CMS publications. Actual payment varies by locality. Commercial payer rates vary by contract.
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We audit your last 90 days of claims and surface the revenue leakage: wrong modifiers, missed bundling appeals, ICD-10 specificity gaps. AAPC-certified coders. 2.49% of collections. No setup fees.