New CPT Codes Established for Renal Denervation
The AMA has introduced billing codes for a heart-related procedure used to treat uncontrolled hypertension.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Heart Disease
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The American Medical Association CPT Editorial Panel has created two new Category I CPT codes for renal denervation procedures. These codes provide a standardized mechanism for reporting the service, which may impact how the procedure is billed for patients managing uncontrolled hypertension.
Why it matters
Establishing these codes is a critical step in standardizing medical reporting and facilitating physician payment for renal denervation services. By creating a uniform billing structure, the medical community moves closer to integrating this technology into routine clinical care.
The AMA created two new Category I CPT codes, 37X47 and 37X48, to describe percutaneous transcatheter renal sympathetic denervation. The codes categorize a procedure that utilizes the FDA-approved Paradise Ultrasound Renal Denervation System.
The players
American Medical Association
A national professional association that maintains the Current Procedural Terminology system to standardize medical coding and billing.
The details
The Paradise Ultrasound Renal Denervation System functions by targeting sympathetic nerves surrounding the renal arteries. During the procedure, the system delivers two to three doses of 360-degree ultrasound energy, each lasting seven seconds, to suppress overactive nerves. To protect the integrity of the renal artery wall, the catheter incorporates a HydroCooling system that circulates sterile water throughout the process.
Timeline
November 2023: The Paradise system received FDA approval.
October 1, 2026: The AMA CPT Editorial Panel announced the creation of new CPT codes.
January 1, 2028: The new CPT codes are expected to become effective.
Health Landscape
This development follows the standard administrative trajectory for integrating new, FDA-approved technologies into the national healthcare system. It aligns with the work of the AMA CPT Editorial Panel to update medical coding standards for emerging minimally invasive cardiovascular interventions.
If you are currently managing uncontrolled hypertension, this coding update is a technical development that prepares the healthcare system for the wider adoption of renal denervation. It is worth discussing with your cardiologist whether your specific health profile makes you a candidate for this procedure.
The takeaway
The creation of these medical codes marks a shift toward standardizing billing for renal denervation, a procedure designed to calm overactive sympathetic nerves. Patients with uncontrolled hypertension should track further clinical guidance and discuss the role of interventional procedures with their physician.
What happens next
The AMA is scheduled to publish the final code numbers and descriptors ahead of the January 1, 2028, implementation date.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest innovations in Heart Disease and their role in long-term cardiovascular health.
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