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Official Description

Treatment devices, design and construction; simple (simple block, simple bolus)

© Copyright 2026 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

The CPT® Code 77332 pertains to the design and construction of simple radiation treatment devices, which are essential tools in radiation therapy. These devices are created during the treatment planning and simulation phases to aid in the precise delivery of radiation to the targeted area while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues. The term "simple" refers to basic devices such as simple blocks or bolus, which can be standard devices that are modified to fit the specific anatomy of the patient. The construction of these devices is typically performed by a technician under the supervision of a radiation oncologist, ensuring that the device meets the necessary specifications for effective treatment. The use of digital reconstructed radiographs is encouraged to document the patient's anatomy and the necessity for these treatment devices, providing visual evidence of the areas being blocked or shielded. This code encompasses both the technical and professional components of the service, highlighting the collaborative effort involved in the creation of these essential treatment aids.

© Copyright 2026 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

1. Indications

The use of CPT® Code 77332 is indicated for patients undergoing radiation therapy who require specific treatment devices to enhance the accuracy and effectiveness of the radiation delivery. These indications may include:

  • Beam Shaping: The need to shape the radiation beam to conform to the contours of the tumor while sparing adjacent healthy tissues.
  • Beam Modifying: Modifications required to adjust the radiation dose distribution to optimize treatment outcomes.
  • Immobilization: The necessity for devices that help maintain patient positioning during treatment to ensure consistent and accurate radiation delivery.
  • Shielding: The requirement for shields that limit radiation exposure to critical structures surrounding the treatment area.

2. Procedure

The procedure for the design and construction of simple treatment devices involves several key steps, which are detailed as follows:

  • Step 1: Assessment of Patient Needs - The radiation oncologist evaluates the patient's specific treatment requirements, including the tumor location and surrounding anatomy, to determine the appropriate type of treatment device needed.
  • Step 2: Design of the Device - Based on the assessment, the radiation oncologist collaborates with a technician to design a simple treatment device, such as a block or bolus, tailored to the individual patient's anatomy.
  • Step 3: Construction of the Device - The technician constructs the treatment device, ensuring it meets the specifications outlined by the radiation oncologist. This may involve modifying a standard device to better fit the patient's needs.
  • Step 4: Verification and Adjustment - Once constructed, the device is verified for accuracy and functionality. Adjustments may be made as necessary to ensure optimal performance during radiation therapy.
  • Step 5: Documentation - Digital reconstructed radiographs are utilized to document the patient's anatomy and the effectiveness of the treatment device, providing a visual record of the areas being blocked or shielded.

3. Post-Procedure

After the construction of the treatment device, the patient may undergo a verification process to ensure that the device functions correctly during radiation therapy. Continuous monitoring of the device's effectiveness is essential throughout the treatment course. Any necessary adjustments or modifications to the device should be made promptly to maintain treatment accuracy. Additionally, proper documentation of the device's use and any changes made during the treatment process is crucial for compliance and billing purposes.

Short Descr RADIATION TREATMENT AID(S)
Medium Descr TX DEVICES DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION SIMPLE
Long Descr Treatment devices, design and construction; simple (simple block, simple bolus)
Status Code Active Code
Global Days XXX - Global Concept Does Not Apply
PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) 1 - Diagnostic Tests for Radiology Services
Multiple Procedures (51) 0 - No payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply.
Bilateral Surgery (50) 0 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures does NOT apply.
Physician Supervisions 09 - Concept does not apply.
Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) 0 - Payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure...
Co-Surgeons (62) 0 - Co-surgeons not permitted for this procedure.
Team Surgery (66) 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure.
Diagnostic Imaging Family 99 - Concept Does Not Apply
APC Status Indicator Procedure or Service, Not Discounted when Multiple
ASC Payment Indicator Radiology service paid separately when provided integral to a surgical procedure on ASC list; payment based on MPFS nonfacility PE RVUs.
Type of Service (TOS) 6 - Therapeutic Radiology
Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) P7A - Oncology - radiation therapy
MUE 4
CCS Clinical Classification 211 - Therapeutic radiology
26 Professional component: certain procedures are a combination of a physician or other qualified health care professional component and a technical component. when the physician or other qualified health care professional component is reported separately, the service may be identified by adding modifier 26 to the usual procedure number.
59 Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25.
TC Technical component; under certain circumstances, a charge may be made for the technical component alone; under those circumstances the technical component charge is identified by adding modifier 'tc' to the usual procedure number; technical component charges are institutional charges and not billed separately by physicians; however, portable x-ray suppliers only bill for technical component and should utilize modifier tc; the charge data from portable x-ray suppliers will then be used to build customary and prevailing profiles
XU Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service
Q1 Routine clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study
GC This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician
Q6 Service furnished under a fee-for-time compensation arrangement by a substitute physician or by a substitute physical therapist furnishing outpatient physical therapy services in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area
AQ Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa)
XS Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure
X4 Episodic/focused services: for reporting services by clinicians who provide focused care on particular types of treatment limited to a defined period and circumstance; the patient has a problem, acute or chronic, that will be treated with surgery, radiation, or some other type of generally time-limited intervention; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to, the orthopedic surgeon performing a knee replacement and seeing the patient through the postoperative period
XE Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter
X5 Diagnostic services requested by another clinician: for reporting services by a clinician who furnishes care to the patient only as requested by another clinician or subsequent and related services requested by another clinician; this modifier is reported for patient relationships that may not be adequately captured by the above alternative categories; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to, the radiologist's interpretation of an imaging study requested by another clinician
25 Significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional on the same day of the procedure or other service: it may be necessary to indicate that on the day a procedure or service identified by a cpt code was performed, the patient's condition required a significant, separately identifiable e/m service above and beyond the other service provided or beyond the usual preoperative and postoperative care associated with the procedure that was performed. a significant, separately identifiable e/m service is defined or substantiated by documentation that satisfies the relevant criteria for the respective e/m service to be reported (see evaluation and management services guidelines for instructions on determining level of e/m service). the e/m service may be prompted by the symptom or condition for which the procedure and/or service was provided. as such, different diagnoses are not required for reporting of the e/m services on the same date. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 25 to the appropriate level of e/m service. note: this modifier is not used to report an e/m service that resulted in a decision to perform surgery. see modifier 57 for significant, separately identifiable non-e/m services, see modifier 59.
51 Multiple procedures: when multiple procedures, other than e/m services, physical medicine and rehabilitation services or provision of supplies (eg, vaccines), are performed at the same session by the same individual, the primary procedure or service may be reported as listed. the additional procedure(s) or service(s) may be identified by appending modifier 51 to the additional procedure or service code(s). note: this modifier should not be appended to designated "add-on" codes (see appendix d).
58 Staged or related procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was: (a) planned or anticipated (staged); (b) more extensive than the original procedure; or (c) for therapy following a surgical procedure. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 58 to the staged or related procedure. note: for treatment of a problem that requires a return to the operating/procedure room (eg, unanticipated clinical condition), see modifier 78.
76 Repeat procedure or service by same physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was repeated by the same physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 76 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service.
77 Repeat procedure by another physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a basic procedure or service was repeated by another physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 77 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service.
79 Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: the individual may need to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was unrelated to the original procedure. this circumstance may be reported by using modifier 79. (for repeat procedures on the same day, see modifier 76.)
95 Synchronous telemedicine service rendered via a real-time interactive audio and video telecommunications system: synchronous telemedicine service is defined as a real-time interaction between a physician or other qualified health care professional and a patient who is located at a distant site from the physician or other qualified health care professional. the totality of the communication of information exchanged between the physician or other qualified health care professional and the patient during the course of the synchronous telemedicine service must be of an amount and nature that would be sufficient to meet the key components and/or requirements of the same service when rendered via a face-to-face interaction. modifier 95 may only be appended to the services listed in appendix p. appendix p is the list of cpt codes for services that are typically performed face-to-face, but may be rendered via a real-time (synchronous) interactive audio and video telecommunications system.
CC Procedure code change (use 'cc' when the procedure code submitted was changed either for administrative reasons or because an incorrect code was filed)
CR Catastrophe/disaster related
GV Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider
GW Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition
GZ Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary
LT Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body)
PN Non-excepted service provided at an off-campus, outpatient, provider-based department of a hospital
Q0 Investigational clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study
RT Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body)
SG Ambulatory surgical center (asc) facility service
XP Separate practitioner, a service that is distinct because it was performed by a different practitioner
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