CPT code changes relevant to radiology for 2026
The American College of Radiology is highlighting anticipated Current Procedure Terminology (CPT) billing code changes relevant to the specialty for 2026.
ACR detailed the modifications in a news update published May 1. They include several new Category I CPT codes—the most common type, describing standard procedures and services. Updates cover clinical scenarios such as radiation oncology treatment delivery, CT cerebral perfusion, and irreversible electroporation (IRE). All will be available to use on Jan. 1, 2026.
“Published literature and widespread utilization for some IRE procedures have met the criteria to qualify for Category I status,” ACR said in a separate document describing the code updates. “Therefore, two new codes will be created to report percutaneous IRE ablation of liver and prostate tumors with imaging guidance, and existing Category III code 0600T will be revised.”
Other Category I updates cover head and neck computed tomographic angiography, thoracic branch endograft services, lower extremity vascular procedures, and prostate biopsy. On the latter, ACR said the Relativity Assessment Workgroup—part of the American Medical Association’s Specialty Society Relative Value Scale Update Committee—analyzed usage of codes 55700 and 76872. This showed that the biopsy services represented by these codes were performed by the same physician on the same date of service over 75% of the time.
“The [Relativity Assessment Workgroup] referred these codes to the panel for bundling,” ACR reported. “Therefore, new guidelines and nine new codes will be available to report prostate biopsy services. Code 55705 will be editorially revised to only include ‘non-imaging guided’ procedures, and code 55700 will be deleted.”
Meanwhile, there also are three new types of Category III codes, available for reporting this upcoming July 1. These are temporary, alphanumeric codes typically used for new or experimental technologies, according to the AMA. In radiology, the latest updates will cover benign prostate ablation with high-intensity focused ultrasound, hemodynamic inferior vena cava monitoring, and laser ablation of breast tumors.
The AMA also has revised codes related to endovascular therapy and sacroiliac arthrodesis while deleting nearly 30 others pertaining to radiology. You can read much more in this six-page document from the American College of Radiology. The new codes and descriptors will be included in the September-October issue of Coding Source.
“The ACR encourages its members to review them and consider how the anticipated changes may impact their practices,” the college urged.
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.