Summary & Overview
CPT 00550: Anesthesia for Direct Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting, Without Pump Oxygenator
CPT 00550 represents the anesthesia service for direct coronary artery bypass grafting performed without a pump oxygenator (off‑pump CABG). This code is used to document the anesthetic management of patients undergoing major cardiac surgery where a cardiopulmonary bypass machine is not employed. The distinction between on‑pump and off‑pump CABG has implications for procedure coding, intraoperative monitoring, and perioperative resource use, making accurate code selection important for clinical documentation and billing.
Major national payers included in this review are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, and UnitedHealthcare. Coverage and payment policies from these carriers affect how facilities and anesthesiology teams report the service and may influence modifier application and bundling considerations handled elsewhere in the publication.
Readers will find a concise overview of the clinical context for 00550, its relationship to related surgical and anesthesia codes, and the common diagnostic indications that typically accompany its use. The publication provides operational benchmarks, coding guidance, and comparisons to related anesthesia codes for cardiac procedures. Where input fields lacked details, the publication notes "Data not available in the input." The focus is national in scope and intended for clinicians, coding professionals, and administrative staff seeking clear, non‑prescriptive information about this anesthesia code.
CPT Code Overview
CPT 00550 describes anesthesia for direct coronary artery bypass grafting; without pump oxygenator. This procedure-specific anesthesia service is categorized under Anesthesiology and is typically provided in an Inpatient Hospital (POS 21) setting. The code denotes anesthetic management during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) performed without the use of a cardiopulmonary bypass pump (off‑pump CABG).
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 68-year-old patient with symptomatic coronary artery disease is admitted to the inpatient hospital for direct coronary artery bypass grafting without cardiopulmonary bypass (off-pump CABG). Preoperative evaluation documents atherosclerotic disease of the native coronary arteries, with episodes of angina. The anesthesiology team provides general endotracheal anesthesia in the operating room, monitors invasive arterial pressure and central venous pressure, manages hemodynamics during grafting on the beating heart, and facilitates postoperative transfer to the cardiac intensive care unit for continued monitoring and ventilatory support.
Coding Specifications
-
Modifiers:
-
QS: Monitored anesthesia care service. Use when monitored anesthesia care is provided for procedures where MAC is appropriate. -
QX: CRNA service with medical direction by a physician. Use when a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) furnishes the anesthesia service under the medical direction of a physician and reporting requires this modifier. -
Associated provider taxonomies:
| Taxonomy Code | Specialty |
|---|