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Official Description

Dialysis procedure other than hemodialysis (eg, peritoneal dialysis, hemofiltration, or other continuous renal replacement therapies), with single evaluation by a physician or other qualified health care professional

© Copyright 2026 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

The CPT® Code 90945 refers to a dialysis procedure that is not classified as hemodialysis, encompassing methods such as peritoneal dialysis, hemofiltration, and other continuous renal replacement therapies. These procedures are designed to filter blood continuously, providing an alternative to traditional hemodialysis. In peritoneal dialysis, a nurse or technician administers dialysis fluid through a catheter that has been previously placed in the abdomen. This fluid, which contains dextrose, facilitates the removal of waste products and excess fluid from the blood by utilizing the peritoneal membrane, allowing these substances to transfer into the abdominal cavity. The dialysis solution is retained in the abdomen for a duration of four to six hours before being drained, along with the waste, through the catheter. This cycle of filling and draining can be repeated multiple times throughout the day. Hemofiltration, another method included under this code, can be performed using either an arteriovenous or venovenous approach. In the arteriovenous method, the femoral artery is accessed, and blood is propelled through a filter into the femoral vein, where water and soluble waste are removed via a permeable membrane. The purified blood is then returned to the body, supplemented with a balanced solution of water and electrolytes. The venovenous approach is similar, involving the placement of a double lumen catheter in a major vein, such as the femoral, subclavian, or internal jugular vein, with a pump facilitating the movement of blood through the dialysis circuit and back into the same vein. CPT® Code 90945 is specifically utilized when a single evaluation and management service is conducted on the same day as the dialysis procedure. In contrast, if multiple evaluations are necessary during the course of the dialysis treatment, CPT® Code 90947 should be employed. This distinction is crucial for accurate coding and billing practices in the context of renal replacement therapies.

© Copyright 2026 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

1. Indications

The procedure associated with CPT® Code 90945 is indicated for patients requiring dialysis treatment other than hemodialysis. The specific indications include:

  • Peritoneal Dialysis - This method is indicated for patients who have end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and prefer a home-based treatment option that allows for greater flexibility and independence.
  • Hemofiltration - This procedure is indicated for patients who may not tolerate traditional hemodialysis or require continuous renal replacement therapy due to acute kidney injury or other critical conditions.
  • Continuous Renal Replacement Therapies - These therapies are indicated for patients with severe fluid overload or metabolic disturbances that necessitate a gentler approach to dialysis, often in an intensive care setting.

2. Procedure

The procedure for CPT® Code 90945 involves several key steps, which are detailed as follows:

  • Step 1: Preparation for Dialysis - Prior to initiating the dialysis procedure, the healthcare professional prepares the patient by ensuring that all necessary equipment and supplies are available. This includes the dialysis fluid, catheters, and any monitoring devices required for patient safety.
  • Step 2: Administration of Dialysis Fluid (Peritoneal Dialysis) - In the case of peritoneal dialysis, a nurse or technician instills the dialysis fluid through a catheter that has been previously placed in the patient's abdomen. The fluid is infused into the peritoneal cavity, where it will remain for a specified duration to facilitate the exchange of waste products and excess fluid.
  • Step 3: Filtration Process (Hemofiltration) - For hemofiltration, the procedure begins with the cannulation of the femoral artery or vein, depending on the chosen method. Blood is drawn from the body and passed through a filter, where water and soluble waste products are removed. The cleansed blood is then returned to the patient, often with the addition of replacement fluids to maintain electrolyte balance.
  • Step 4: Monitoring and Evaluation - Throughout the dialysis procedure, the healthcare professional continuously monitors the patient's vital signs and the effectiveness of the dialysis treatment. This includes assessing the volume of fluid removed and ensuring that the patient remains stable.
  • Step 5: Completion of the Procedure - After the designated time for dialysis has elapsed, the dialysis fluid is drained from the peritoneal cavity in peritoneal dialysis, or the blood is returned in hemofiltration. The healthcare professional documents the procedure and any observations made during the treatment.

3. Post-Procedure

Following the completion of the dialysis procedure coded under CPT® Code 90945, patients may require specific post-procedure care. This includes monitoring for any potential complications such as infection at the catheter site, fluid imbalance, or adverse reactions to the dialysis process. Patients are typically advised to rest and hydrate adequately after the procedure. Follow-up evaluations may be scheduled to assess the patient's response to the dialysis treatment and to determine if further evaluations or adjustments to the treatment plan are necessary. Documentation of the procedure and any evaluations performed is essential for compliance and billing purposes.

Short Descr DIALYSIS ONE EVALUATION
Medium Descr DIALYSIS OTHER/THAN HEMODIALYSIS 1 PHYS/QHP EVAL
Long Descr Dialysis procedure other than hemodialysis (eg, peritoneal dialysis, hemofiltration, or other continuous renal replacement therapies), with single evaluation by a physician or other qualified health care professional
Status Code Active Code
Global Days 000 - Endoscopic or Minor Procedure
PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) 0 - Physician Service Code
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 Clinic or Emergency Department Visit
Type of Service (TOS) 1 - Medical Care
Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) P9A - Dialysis services (Medicare Fee Schedule)
MUE 1
CCS Clinical Classification 91 - Peritoneal dialysis
GC This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician
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.
GW Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition
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.)
AQ Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa)
GV Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider
Q1 Routine clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study
CR Catastrophe/disaster related
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
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
FS Split (or shared) evaluation and management visit
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.
AF Specialty physician
52 Reduced services: under certain circumstances a service or procedure is partially reduced or eliminated at the discretion of the physician or other qualified health care professional. under these circumstances the service provided can be identified by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 52, signifying that the service is reduced. this provides a means of reporting reduced services without disturbing the identification of the basic service. note: for hospital outpatient reporting of a previously scheduled procedure/service that is partially reduced or cancelled as a result of extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well-being of the patient prior to or after administration of anesthesia, see modifiers 73 and 74 (see modifiers approved for asc hospital outpatient use).
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.
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.
78 Unplanned return to the operating/procedure room by the same physician or other qualified health care professional following initial procedure for a related procedure during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that another procedure was performed during the postoperative period of the initial procedure (unplanned procedure following initial procedure). when this procedure is related to the first, and requires the use of an operating/procedure room, it may be reported by adding modifier 78 to the related procedure. (for repeat procedures, 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.
AI Principal physician of record
CC Procedure code change (use 'cc' when the procedure code submitted was changed either for administrative reasons or because an incorrect code was filed)
GZ Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary
Q3 Live kidney donor surgery and related services
SA Nurse practitioner rendering service in collaboration with a physician
X2 Continuous/focused services: for reporting services by clinicians whose expertise is needed for the ongoing management of a chronic disease or a condition that needs to be managed and followed with no planned endpoint to the relationship; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to: a rheumatologist taking care of the patient's rheumatoid arthritis longitudinally but not providing general primary care services
X3 Episodic/broad services: for reporting services by clinicians who have broad responsibility for the comprehensive needs of the patient that is limited to a defined period and circumstance such as a hospitalization; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to the hospitalist's services rendered providing comprehensive and general care to a patient while admitted to the hospital
XE Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter
XP Separate practitioner, a service that is distinct because it was performed by a different practitioner
XS Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure
XU Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service
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2013-01-01 Changed Description Changed
2011-01-01 Changed Short description changed.
2001-01-01 Changed Code description changed.
Pre-1990 Added Code added.
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