MMI, a robotics company dedicated to expanding treatment options and improving outcomes for patients with complex conditions, announced that the American Medical Association (AMA) has issued a new Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) code for lymphovenous bypass (LVB) surgery. The Centres for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) also finalised and released a payment rate for LVB procedures performed in the outpatient setting to be reflected in the CY 2026 OPPS Final Rule. Together, these actions create initial reimbursement for a procedure that, until now, required billing under unlisted surgical codes.

CPT codes are widely used by commercial health plans and government payers to describe healthcare services for reimbursement. This new code is intended to capture both manual and robotic-assisted lymphovenous bypass surgeries and allow procedure data collection needed to further advance reimbursement pathways. Its release represents a reimbursement milestone as U.S. hospitals will be able to submit claims directly related to LVB procedures, further supporting facility payment and expanded access to lymphedema treatment options.

These decisions from AMA and CMS reflect growing clinical recognition of lymphatic surgery as a viable treatment for chronic lymphedema. They follow increasing adoption of LVB procedures at leading medical centers and the use of robotic technology to enhance surgical precision and reproducibility. The Symani® Surgical System, the only microsurgical robot approved for commercial use, allows surgeons to connect tiny lymphatic vessels—smaller than several strands of hair—to nearby veins, helping reroute fluid and relieve swelling. Early studies have shown encouraging results, including reduced limb volume, less reliance on compression garments, and improved quality of life for patients.

“This development marks a major step forward in making surgical treatment for lymphedema more widely available,” said Mark Toland, CEO of MMI. “We appreciate CMS and AMA’s leadership in recognizing the clinical and economic significance of these procedures. This code not only validates the importance and complexity of lymphatic surgery but also lays the groundwork for expanding patient access, advancing reimbursement policy, and driving broader adoption of innovative surgical techniques across the U.S.”