CPT 00320: Anesthesia for Esophagus, Thyroid, Larynx, Trachea, Neck Procedures
Commercial payers pay $91 on average nationally for this procedure.
CPT code 00320 describes anesthesia services provided for patients age one year and older undergoing procedures on the esophagus, thyroid, larynx, trachea, or lymphatic structures of the neck; this represents an anesthesia service (general/regional airway-related anesthesia) typically delivered in an operating room or procedural suite for head and neck surgical procedures.
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
Commercial reimbursement for CPT 00320 centers around a BUCA average commercial rate of $90.50, with individual payer medians and means varying notably. Blue Cross Blue Shield’s interquartile spread (P75–P25) is $36.00, UnitedHealth Group’s spread is $27.80, and Cigna’s spread is $56.40; Aetna shows a much wider spread of $129.20. BUCA’s IQR is $55.80. These spreads indicate that Aetna and Cigna exhibit greater variability in mid-to-upper commercial reimbursements, while UnitedHealth Group and Blue Cross Blue Shield are comparatively tighter.
Looking at central tendency alongside dispersion, Aetna’s higher mean of $169.80 sits with the largest IQR, suggesting both higher and more variable commercial payments. Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealth Group present lower means ($70.20 and $67.30, respectively) with tighter IQRs, indicating more consistency around their central rates. BUCA’s mean of $90.50 and moderate IQR place it between the higher‑variance and lower‑variance payers in overall commercial rate behavior.