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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesAnesthesia for Procedures on the HeadCPT cpt-00144-anesthesia-corneal-transplant
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    CPT 00144: Anesthesia for Corneal Transplant

    Commercial payers pay $82 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 00144 describes anesthesia services provided for a patient undergoing a corneal transplant, representing perioperative anesthesia care for ophthalmic surgery; service type: anesthesia for corneal transplant surgery; typical site of service: ambulatory surgery center or hospital operating room where corneal transplant procedures are performed.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Intravenous Anesthetics for the Treatment of Chronic Pain and Psychiatric or Substance Use Disorders, Intravenous Anesthetics for the Treatment of Chronic Pain and Psychiatric or Substance Use Disorders, Intravenous Anesthetics for the Treatment of Chronic Pain and Psychiatric or Substance Use Disorders.

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    National Reimbursement Benchmarks

    Across national commercial payers, the BUCA average commercial rate sits near the middle of the range at $82.10, providing a useful baseline for comparison. Cigna shows the highest central tendency with a mean of $122.00 and a median of $135.80, while Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield cluster lower on medians ($80.80 and $63.30, respectively). UnitedHealth Group’s central values are similar to BCBS, with a median of $64.00 and mean of $67.30.

    Dispersion (P75 minus P25) varies meaningfully: Aetna’s interquartile spread is $67.80, indicating wider variation around the mid-range; Blue Cross Blue Shield has a spread of $36.60; BUCA’s spread is $45.40; Cigna’s spread is $52.80; and UnitedHealth Group is the tightest at $27.60. These differences highlight where commercial rates are more concentrated versus more dispersed across payers.

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    National Payer Mean Reimbursement Rates

    State Reimbursement Rates

    State: Alaska1 / 51

    Rate by payer

    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 68-year-old patient with advanced corneal decompensation from prior ocular surface disease and visually significant cataract is scheduled for penetrating keratoplasty (corneal transplant) under monitored anesthesia care or general endotracheal anesthesia. Preoperative evaluation by the anesthesia team documents medical history (controlled hypertension, well-controlled type 2 diabetes), airway assessment, medication reconciliation including anticoagulants, and informed consent for anesthesia risks. On the day of surgery the perioperative workflow includes preoperative timeout, placement of intravenous access, administration of perioperative antibiotics by the surgical team, application of standard monitoring (pulse oximetry, ECG, noninvasive blood pressure) and, if indicated, placement of a peripheral nerve block or retrobulbar block for supplemental ocular anesthesia. The anesthesiologist documents the start and end times of anesthesia care, hemodynamic management, airway technique (e.g., endotracheal tube or laryngeal mask airway), and emergence. Postoperative handoff to the recovery nurse includes documentation of airway status, pain control, antiemetic use, and instructions for ocular protective measures. The anesthesia service supports intraoperative globe stability and hemodynamic optimization during microsurgical corneal graft placement and potential concurrent procedures (for example cataract extraction or intraocular lens implantation).

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    66984Extracapsular cataract removal with insertion of intraocular lens prosthesis

    Related Modifiers

    7 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    23Modifier -23 (Unusual Anesthesia) is used on anesthesia service CPT codes when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia…- Use modifier -23 only on anesthesia CPT codes (00100–01999) when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia because of…
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    78CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…
    50Modifier –50 (Bilateral Procedure) is appended to a CPT code when an identical procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures during the same operative session. The AMA states to add…- Use modifier -50 when the same CPT surgical, diagnostic, or radiology procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures (both sides of the body) during the same operative/session by the same…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy CodeSpecialtyNotes
    207L00000XAnesthesiology PhysicianAn anesthesiologist is trained to provide pain relief and maintenance, or restoration, of a stable condition during and immediately following an opera…
    367500000XCertified Registered Nurse Anesthetist(1) A licensed registered nurse with advanced specialty education in anesthesia who, in collaboration with appropriate health care professionals, prov…
    207LA0401XAddiction Medicine (Anesthesiology) PhysicianAn anesthesiologist who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of addictions.
    310500000XMental Illness Intermediate Care FacilityA nursing facility that provides an intermediate level of nursing care to individuals whose functional abilities are significantly compromise by menta…
    2080P0202XPediatric Cardiology PhysicianA pediatric cardiologist provides comprehensive care to patients with cardiovascular problems. This specialist is skilled in selecting, performing and…
    103TP0814XPsychoanalysis PsychologistA psychologist whose specialty is distinguished from other specialties by its body of knowledge and its intensive treatment approaches. It aims at str…
    2081P2900XPain Medicine (Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation) PhysicianA physician who provides a high level of care, either as a primary physician or consultant, for patients experiencing problems with acute, chronic or …
    103TC2200XClinical Child & Adolescent PsychologistA psychologist who develops and applies scientific knowledge to the delivery of psychological services to infants, toddlers, children and adolescents …

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Anesthesiology1 / 2

    7 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Intravenous Anesthetics for the Treatment of Chronic Pain and Psychiatric or Substance Use DisordersPremera Bluecross2026-07-01
    Intravenous Anesthetics for the Treatment of Chronic Pain and Psychiatric or Substance Use DisordersPremera Bluecross2026-07-01
    Intravenous Anesthetics for the Treatment of Chronic Pain and Psychiatric or Substance Use DisordersPremera Bluecross2026-07-01
    Intravenous Anesthetics for the Treatment of Chronic Pain and Psychiatric or Substance Use DisordersPremera Bluecross2026-07-01
    Elective Inpatient Services (for Idaho Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-06-01
    Sites of Servicepriority health2026-06-01
    Coverage for Ambulatory Surgery Unit (ASU)/Outpatient Facility and Anesthesia for Dental Servicesuniverahealthcare2026-05-21

    Related Codes

    CPT-00100-ANESTHESIA-FOR-SALIVARY-GLAND-PROCEDURES

    CPT 00100: Anesthesia for Salivary Gland Procedures

    CPT-00102-ANESTHESIA-CLEFT-LIP-REPAIR

    CPT 00102: Anesthesia for Plastic Repair of Cleft Lip

    CPT-00103-ANESTHESIA-RECONSTRUCTIVE-EYELID-SURGERY

    CPT 00103: Anesthesia for Reconstructive Eyelid Procedures

    CPT-00104-ANESTHESIA-FOR-ELECTROCONVULSIVE-THERAPY

    CPT 00104: Anesthesia for Electroconvulsive Therapy

    CPT-00120-ANESTHESIA-FOR-EAR-PROCEDURES

    CPT 00120: Anesthesia for External, Middle, and Inner Ear Procedures

    CPT-00124-ANESTHESIA-EXTERNAL-MIDDLE-INNER-EAR-BIOPSY-OTOSCOPY

    CPT 00124: Anesthesia for External, Middle, and Inner Ear Procedures

    CPT-00126-ANESTHESIA-FOR-OTOLOGIC-PROCEDURES-TYMPANOTOMY-BIOPSY

    CPT 00126: Anesthesia for External, Middle, and Inner Ear Procedures

    CPT-00140-ANESTHESIA-FOR-EYE-PROCEDURE-OPHTHALMIC-SURGERY

    CPT 00140: Anesthesia for Eye Procedure

    CPT-00142-ANESTHESIA-FOR-EYE-LENS-PROCEDURE

    CPT 00142: Anesthesia for Eye Lens Procedure

    CPT-00145-ANESTHESIA-VITREORETINAL-SURGERY

    CPT 00145: Anesthesia for Vitreoretinal Surgery

    Showing 1–10 of 30

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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    Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

    Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.

    May be performed concurrently or staged with corneal transplant when lens opacity contributes to visual impairment; anesthesia planning is coordinated if combined.
    66982Complex cataract surgery with insertion of intraocular lens prosthesisApplies when cataract removal during corneal transplant requires complex techniques (e.g., iris prosthesis, zonular support) increasing anesthesia complexity.
    66821Discission of secondary membranous cataractMay be performed as a separate or adjunct anterior segment procedure; anesthesia documentation reflects additional intraocular interventions.
    67028Intravitreal injection of a pharmacologic agentPerformed preoperatively or postoperatively for management of concurrent retinal conditions; anesthesia team documents sedation or topical requirements if provided.