CPT 00147: Anesthesia for Iridectomy
CPT code 00147 designates anesthesia services for an iridectomy, a targeted ophthalmic operation to remove part of the iris. This code is used by anesthesiology professionals when delivering perioperative anesthesia care specifically for iris surgery. Nationally, accurate use of this CPT code ensures appropriate classification of anesthesia time and service for billing, quality measurement, and procedural reporting across surgical settings.
Key payers in scope for this code include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, United Healthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical context for the procedure, the typical site of service (operating room or ambulatory surgical center), and links to related ophthalmic and anesthesia procedures used in surgical care pathways. The publication covers payer coverage considerations, common coding adjacencies, and how the code aligns with anesthesia service lines for ophthalmology.
This summary provides the foundational information clinicians, coding professionals, and revenue cycle staff need to identify when 00147 applies, what clinical situation it represents, and which national payers typically process claims for this type of anesthesia service. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
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Billing Code Overview
CPT code 00147 describes anesthesia services provided for a patient undergoing an iridectomy, a surgical procedure to remove part of the iris. The service type is anesthesia for ophthalmic surgery. The typical site of service is an operating room or ambulatory surgical center where ophthalmic procedures are performed.
National Reimbursement Benchmarks
National commercial rates for CPT 00147 center around BUCA’s average commercial rate of $97.20, with notable variation among major payers. Cigna’s mean of $140.60 sits well above BUCA, while Aetna ($74.90), Blue Cross Blue Shield ($99.90), and UnitedHealth Group ($67.90) cluster closer to or below BUCA. Absolute medians and extremes vary by carrier, and the overall landscape shows payers spanning low- to high-end reimbursements.
Dispersion measured as the interquartile difference (P75 minus P25) highlights where variability is tightest or widest: UnitedHealth Group is the tightest with a spread of $29.00 ($81.10 − $52.00), while Blue Cross Blue Shield has the widest IQR at $62.10 ($132.10 − $69.90). Cigna and BUCA also show substantial spreads of $64.30 ($167.40 − $103.10) and $57.20 ($125.90 − $67.80) respectively, with Aetna’s IQR at $66.90 ($110.30 − $42.00).