HCPCS code C1752 – Short-term hemodialysis and peritoneal catheter

Key takeaways

HCPCS Code C1752 reports the supply of a short-term (non-tunneled) hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis catheter, not the placement procedure.

C1752 belongs on hospital outpatient claims under OPPS, with ASC reporting only where the device has pass-through status. Physician offices and inpatient stays don’t use it.

C1750 is the code for long-term or tunneled catheters. The choice between the two follows the device and the physician’s documentation, not coder judgment.

Practice management software like Pabau keeps patient records, invoices and reporting in one place. That makes the paperwork behind a C1752 line easy to check.

HCPCS Code C1752: Official descriptor and device specifications

HCPCS Code C1752 describes a catheter used for hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis access on a short-term basis. The official CMS descriptor is: Catheter, hemodialysis/peritoneal, short-term. That phrase carries three coding decisions: catheter type (hemodialysis or peritoneal), access modality (dialysis), and duration (short-term, meaning non-tunneled or temporary access).

C1752 belongs to the C-code series within HCPCS Level II, the code set maintained by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). It mainly covers items CPT doesn’t describe. C-codes capture device costs under the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS, also called OPPS). They belong on hospital outpatient claims, and on ASC claims only where the device has pass-through status. The other C-codes, and the drug and supply series, sit in our HCPCS code library.

The code covers the cost of the catheter device itself. It does not cover the placement procedure, any infusion fluids, or enteral supplies. The CPT code for catheter insertion is billed on the same claim as a separate line item.

Clinical settings where C1752 is reported

C1752 is reported on hospital outpatient claims under OPPS, and on ASC claims only where the device has pass-through status. C-codes are not part of the physician fee schedule, so a physician practice can’t bill one on a CMS-1500 as a separate device charge.

• Hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs): the primary setting. The facility bills C1752 on the UB-04 claim form alongside the placement CPT code.
• Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs): C-codes can appear on ASC claims, but ASCs generally package device costs into the procedure payment. Separate reporting applies only where the device has pass-through status.
• Not valid in physician offices: physician offices do not bill under HOPPS. Device supply costs are either bundled into the physician service or billed separately using HCPCS A-codes or other supply codes applicable to the 1500 form.
• Not valid as a separate charge in inpatient settings: inpatient stays are paid under the DRG system, so C-codes do not apply.

Before submitting a hospital outpatient claim with C1752, confirm the claim form is a UB-04. Then check that the facility’s revenue codes support the supply charge. The revenue code follows the facility’s chargemaster, commonly 270 or 272 for non-implant supplies.

2026 OPPS payment status and reimbursement for C1752

Under HOPPS, CMS assigns services to Ambulatory Payment Classification (APC) groups, and the APC sets the payment rate. New devices can receive transitional pass-through status, which pays them separately for a limited period. C1752 has been active since April 1, 2001, so its pass-through period lapsed long ago. Its cost is normally packaged into the procedure’s APC.

The table below reflects the general HOPPS billing framework for a device supply code like C1752. Confirm the exact 2026 status indicator and any APC details in the CMS 2026 OPPS Addendum B, as they can change each year.

Device pass-through status is granted for a maximum of three years. After that period, CMS folds the device cost into the APC rate and the code loses pass-through designation. Check the status indicator each November, when the new OPPS final rule typically publishes (early November).

C1752 vs C1750: Choosing the correct code

C1752 covers short-term (non-tunneled) catheters, while C1750 covers long-term or tunneled catheters. Selecting the wrong code is an audit risk because the clinical documentation determines which applies, not the coder’s interpretation.

The distinction hinges on the device itself and the physician’s intent as documented in the operative report. A tunneled, cuffed catheter (such as a PermCath or Hickman-style dialysis catheter) placed for ongoing ESRD access is C1750. That holds however long the patient ends up using it. A non-tunneled catheter placed for acute or temporary dialysis access is C1752. The decision runs in three branches.

If the operative report does not specify tunnel status or cuff presence, request clarification from the physician before assigning either code. Misclassifying a tunneled catheter as short-term misreports the device on the claim and, if done systematically, may trigger a payer audit.

Related codes: Companion CPT codes for catheter placement

HCPCS Code C1752 reports the supply, and the CPT code on the same claim reports the placement procedure. Both are typically required on a HOPPS claim for the full service to be reimbursed. For a short-term, non-tunneled dialysis catheter, the usual companion is CPT 36556. It describes insertion of a non-tunneled centrally inserted central venous catheter, age 5 or older.

Peritoneal dialysis catheters follow different codes. CPT 49418 (percutaneous) and 49421 (open) describe tunneled intraperitoneal catheters, so they pair with the long-term code C1750 rather than C1752.

When C1752 carries status indicator N, its payment is packaged into the companion procedure’s APC, so the supply line pays nothing on its own. Check the Addendum B status indicator each year so the chargemaster and payment expectations match.

Documentation requirements for billing C1752

The medical record must establish both that the device was used and that it was medically necessary. Auditors and Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) look for five elements.

• Physician order: a written order specifying catheter type (hemodialysis or peritoneal) and indicating short-term access. “Insert temporary hemodialysis catheter” is sufficient; “insert dialysis catheter” without duration context is not.
• Operative or procedure note: must identify the specific device inserted and confirm it is non-tunneled. It should also state the access site (right internal jugular, femoral, subclavian) and note any fluoroscopic or ultrasound guidance used.
• Device label or implant record: most hospitals require the device label (manufacturer, catalog number, lot number) on file. It is affixed to the procedure note or kept in the implant log. This is the audit trail that proves the billed device was used.
• Medical necessity language: the clinical indication must support the use of a short-term catheter. Acceptable diagnoses include acute kidney injury (AKI), end stage renal disease (ESRD) with failed or immature permanent access, and acute-on-chronic renal failure. Link the procedure to the relevant ICD-10-CM diagnosis code on the claim.
• Revenue code: the revenue code on the UB-04 follows the facility’s chargemaster, commonly 270 or 272 for non-implant supplies. Confirm your chargemaster mapping is consistent with your MAC’s billing guidelines.

Good documentation habits around medical billing workflows prevent many C1752 denials before they happen. A pre-bill checklist that requires a device label, a physician order, and a completed operative note catches missing elements without slowing the billing cycle. Capturing charges at the point of care, the facility version of a superbill, also cuts retrospective queries on supply codes.

Medicare and payer coverage rules

Medicare covers C1752 under HOPPS when the service is medically necessary and performed in a covered outpatient setting. No national coverage determination (NCD) governs short-term dialysis catheter supplies as a standalone item. Coverage therefore follows the HOPPS payment rules and any applicable MAC local coverage determinations (LCDs).

• Medicare Fee-for-Service: C1752 is covered when billed with a covered placement CPT code, documented medical necessity, and a valid HOPPS-eligible facility type. Payment is normally packaged into the procedure’s APC, so check the status indicator in effect for the year.
• Medicaid: coverage varies by state. Many state Medicaid programs follow the CMS HOPPS structure for institutional claims. Some require prior authorization for high-cost device supply codes or use different fee schedules. Confirm with your state’s Medicaid billing guidelines.
• Medicare Advantage (MA) plans: MA plans must cover services that Traditional Medicare covers, but may apply additional prior authorization requirements. Always check the specific plan’s authorization list before scheduling an elective catheter placement.
• Commercial insurers: coverage and reimbursement vary widely. Some commercial payers follow HOPPS rates; others apply their own contracted rates for device supply codes. Verify payer policy before the procedure when possible.

Payer policy around dialysis catheter supplies is one area where billing compliance requirements diverge significantly between Medicare and commercial plans. Build payer-specific rules into your verification workflow so staff do not apply Medicare logic to commercial claims.

Prior authorization requirements

Traditional Medicare does not require prior authorization for C1752 under the standard HOPPS framework. However, some payers do require it.

• Medicare Advantage plans: some MA plans require PA for device supply codes above a cost threshold. Check the plan’s coverage determination or call the payer’s provider line before an elective placement.
• Commercial insurers: prior authorization requirements for catheter supplies are common. The PA request should include the clinical indication (diagnosis, prior access history, urgency), the specific catheter model, and the planned procedure code.
• Emergent placements: when a short-term catheter must be placed emergently (acute kidney injury, immediate dialysis need), many payers allow retrospective authorization within a short window. Check the payer’s policy, and document the clinical urgency in the record to support the request.

Common claim denial reasons for HCPCS Code C1752 and how to avoid them

C1752 denials tend to repeat the same six patterns, listed below with their fixes. Effective denial management strategies start by tracing each denial to its root cause, using the CARC code as the starting point.

Billing tips and coding best practices for HCPCS Code C1752

Beyond the denial patterns above, a few proactive steps make a measurable difference in C1752 claim accuracy. Experienced outpatient coders build these habits into their standard workflow.

• Confirm the HOPPS context first: before assigning C1752, verify the claim is going out on a UB-04 from a HOPPS-eligible facility. This single check eliminates the most common setting-related denial.
• Verify the status indicator annually: CMS typically publishes the OPPS final rule in early November, with updated status indicators. A code’s status can change from one year to the next. Cross-check your chargemaster against the new Addendum B before January 1.
• Map C1752 correctly in your CDM: the charge description master (CDM) entry for the short-term hemodialysis catheter should map to C1752. Pair it with the revenue code your chargemaster uses for non-implant supplies. If the CDM maps the wrong supply item to this code, every claim built from that entry will be incorrect. Audit CDM entries for dialysis supplies at least annually.
• Document brand and lot number: payer audits for device supply codes increasingly request device-level documentation. The operative note or implant log should capture the manufacturer name, catalog number, and lot number for every catheter placed. This protects the claim on appeal.
• Use a pre-bill checklist: billing staff run a short check before dropping any C1752 claim. It covers the physician order, the completed operative note, the device label, the revenue code, and an ICD-10-CM diagnosis supporting medical necessity.

Billing teams using claims management software with built-in code validation can automate parts of this checklist. Claim lines without supporting documentation are flagged before submission rather than after a denial arrives.

How Pabau keeps C1752 documentation ready for billing

The proof behind a C1752 line is often scattered. The physician order sits in one place, the device details in a paper implant log, and the charge in the billing queue. When a payer questions the claim, someone has to piece the record back together.

Pabau keeps those pieces on one patient record. Treatment notes and digital forms sit next to the invoice for the visit. A billing lead can confirm the order, the procedure note and the device details before the charge goes out.

Reporting then shows which invoices were raised and when, so recurring documentation problems show up as a pattern your team can fix at the source.

Keep supply-code paperwork ready before billing

Pabau keeps treatment notes, digital forms, invoices and reporting on one patient record. Your billing team can check the documentation behind each supply line before a claim goes out.

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Conclusion

C1752 rarely pays on its own anymore, but it still has to be right on the claim. Code the device the operative note describes, report it on the hospital outpatient claim, and recheck its status indicator when each OPPS final rule lands.

When the note doesn’t say whether the catheter is tunneled, stop and query the physician. That one question settles the C1752 versus C1750 choice and keeps the device line defensible in an audit.

Book a demo to see how Pabau keeps notes, forms and invoices on one patient record for every supply line you bill.

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