CPT 00500: Anesthesia for Esophageal Procedure
Commercial payers pay $73 on average nationally for this procedure.
CPT code 00500 describes anesthesia services provided for a patient undergoing a procedure on the esophagus (the food pipe); service type: anesthesia for esophageal surgery or diagnostic intervention, typical site of service: operating room or procedure suite where esophageal 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 markets for CPT 00500, BUCA’s average commercial rate sits at $72.6, providing a middle benchmark among major payers. Blue Cross Blue Shield has a median of $58.6 and a 25th–75th spread from $46.5 to $84.1, while Aetna’s distribution is broader with a median of $53 and quartiles from $42 to $95; Cigna registers a higher central tendency with a median of $85.7 and quartiles from $67.5 to $120. UnitedHealth Group’s median is $64 with quartiles from $52 to $80.8. Cigna posts the highest mean ($92.4) and Aetna the highest single observed maximum ($325.7).
Comparing dispersion (P75 minus P25) highlights which payers are tightest or widest: Blue Cross Blue Shield’s interquartile range is $37.6, UnitedHealth Group’s is $28.8, and BUCA’s is $40.1. Aetna shows a wide interquartile spread of $53.0, and Cigna’s spread is $52.5, identifying Aetna and Cigna as the most dispersed payers and UnitedHealth Group as relatively tightest among these carriers.