C9601 Perc drug-el cor stent branPercutaneous transcatheter placement of drug-eluting intracoronary stent(s), with coronary angioplasty when performed; each additional branch of a major coronary artery (list separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
2 of 2 payer prior-auth lists that name C9601 require prior authorization or set conditions: Blue Shield of California.
| Payer | Plan | State | Prior auth | Conditions | Since | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Shield of California | Blue Shield Medicare | CA | prior auth required | Sep 1, 2026 | Prior Authorization List for Blue Shield Medicare | |
| Blue Shield of California | Blue Shield commercial | CA | prior auth required | Sep 1, 2026 | Prior Authorization List for Blue Shield |
C9601 appears in 3 coverage policies from Aetna, Premera Blue Cross, UnitedHealthcare.
| Payer | Policy | Role in policy | Reviewed | Document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aetna | Drug-Eluting Stents (0621) | listed, no stance (range C9600-C9601) | Sep 23, 2026 | payer document |
| Premera Blue Cross | Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, Angioplasty, Non-Emergent in Adults (2.02.508) | listed, no stance | Aug 11, 2026 | payer document |
| UnitedHealthcare | Percutaneous Coronary Interventions (MMP235.15) | listed, no stance | Sep 1, 2026 | payer document |
Prior authorization required or conditional in WA.
From payers' published prior-auth lists, coverage policies and state Medicaid fee schedules, updated Oct 16, 2026. The role is what the policy's own code table or text says about the code. Not a guarantee of coverage or payment; verify with the payer. CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association.