36420 Venipuncture cutdown < 1 yr
Also known as: cutdown, venous cutdown, surgical venipuncture
Venipuncture by cutdown method, performed on patients under 1 year of age; first vein.
In Plain Language
surgical opening to access a vein in infants; surgical vein access in babies
Clinical Context
Used in neonates and infants when peripheral or central venous access cannot be obtained by standard means. Requires surgical incision to expose vein.
RVU Breakdown
| Work RVU | 0.98 |
| Total RVU | 0.98 |
Est. Medicare Payment
National estimate based on 2026 CMS PFS Conversion Factor ($33.40). Actual payment varies by locality (GPCI adjustment).
Billing & Documentation
As a surgical CPT code, proper documentation must include the operative report detailing the procedure performed, patient positioning, approach, findings, and any complications. Ensure the diagnosis code (ICD-10) supports medical necessity for the procedure.
How This Code Compares
With a work RVU of 0.98, this code ranks in the 4th percentile among Surgery codes — 8.2x below the median (8.00). The highest wRVU in this category is 106.19.
Specialties
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CPT code 36420?
CPT 36420 (Venipuncture cutdown < 1 yr) is a Surgery code. Venipuncture by cutdown method, performed on patients under 1 year of age; first vein.
What is the wRVU value for CPT 36420?
The work RVU for CPT 36420 is 0.98. This code is primarily used by Neonatal Surgery, Pediatric Surgery, Emergency Medicine.
When is CPT 36420 used?
Used in neonates and infants when peripheral or central venous access cannot be obtained by standard means. Requires surgical incision to expose vein.
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CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association. Data sourced from CMS Physician Fee Schedule RVU26A. Descriptions, synonyms, and clinical context are original content by RVU Edge.