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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesAnesthesia for Intrathoracic ProceduresCPT cpt-00524-anesthesia-closed-chest-pneumocentesis
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    CPT 00524: Anesthesia for Closed-Chest Pneumocentesis

    Commercial payers pay $76 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 00524 describes anesthesia services provided for a closed-chest pneumocentesis procedure in which a clinician inserts a needle into the lung to drain fluid; the service type is anesthesia for a thoracic needle drainage procedure and the typical site of service is hospital-based or ambulatory surgical setting (operating room, procedure suite, or interventional radiology).

    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 reimbursements for CPT 00524 cluster around BUCA’s average of $75.60, which functions as a practical market midpoint. Cigna’s mean is higher at $91.40 while Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and UnitedHealth Group sit nearer BUCA: Aetna $72.10, Blue Cross Blue Shield $74.10, UnitedHealth Group $68.00. Payer medians follow a similar pattern with Cigna showing a higher median ($84.40) and UnitedHealth Group a lower median ($64.40), indicating Cigna pays a premium relative to most peers.

    Measuring dispersion by the interquartile difference (P75 minus P25) highlights variation: Aetna’s IQR is $49.80 ($93.80 - $42.00), Blue Cross Blue Shield’s is $41.10 ($94.80 - $53.70), BUCA’s is $40.80 ($94.60 - $53.80), Cigna’s is $41.60 ($108.20 - $67.60), and UnitedHealth Group’s is $31.40 ($81.40 - $52.00). UnitedHealth Group is the tightest market (IQR $31.40) while Aetna is the widest (IQR $49.80).

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    National Payer Mean Reimbursement Rates

    State Reimbursement Rates

    State: Alaska1 / 51

    Rate by payer

    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 58-year-old patient with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease presents with progressive shortness of breath and decreased oxygen saturation. Chest imaging demonstrates a moderate right-sided pleural effusion with atelectatic changes and ultrasound confirms a large fluid pocket adjacent to the lateral lung surface. Interventional radiology plans a closed-chest pneumocentesis (thoracentesis) with aspiration of pleural fluid. An anesthesia provider administers monitored anesthesia care or general anesthesia as indicated by patient comorbidities, respiratory status, and procedural complexity. The clinical workflow includes pre-procedure airway and hemodynamic assessment, intra-procedure sedation or anesthesia management, continuous monitoring of oxygenation and ventilation, management of analgesia and anxiolysis, and post-procedure recovery with observation for complications such as pneumothorax, bleeding, or respiratory compromise. Documentation includes indication for drainage, consent, level of anesthesia, drugs and doses administered, monitoring parameters, airway interventions if any, procedural duration, and immediate post-procedure status.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    23410Repair of ruptured musculotendinous cuff (e.g., rotator cuff) open; acuteOrthopedic shoulder surgery that may require preoperative or intraoperative anesthesia; not directly related to thoracentesis but listed in related shoulder procedures.

    Related Modifiers

    9 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    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…
    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…
    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…
    55Modifier –55 indicates the billing provider furnished only postoperative management for a procedure that has a global surgical period. According to AAPC, this modifier is appended to the same CPT…- Use modifier -55 when billing the same CPT surgical code that has a 10- or 90-day global period and you, as a provider other than the original surgeon, furnished ONLY postoperative management (no…
    56Modifier ‑56 indicates the reporting provider furnished only the preoperative management for a surgical procedure and did not perform the intraoperative or postoperative care. It is used in…- Use Modifier -56 when a provider performs only the preoperative management in a split‑care situation (one physician manages preop care while a different physician performs the intraoperative…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    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…

    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…
    207LA0401XAddiction Medicine (Anesthesiology) PhysicianAn anesthesiologist who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of addictions.
    367H00000XAnesthesiologist AssistantAn individual certified by the state to perform anesthesia services under the direct supervision of an anesthesiologist. Anesthesiologist Assistants …
    2080S0010XPediatric Sports Medicine PhysicianA pediatrician who is responsible for continuous care in the field of sports medicine, not only for the enhancement of health and fitness, but also fo…
    183500000XPharmacistAn individual licensed by the appropriate state regulatory agency to engage in the practice of pharmacy. The practice of pharmacy includes, but is no…
    2082S0105XSurgery of the Hand (Plastic Surgery) PhysicianA plastic surgeon with additional training in the investigation, preservation, and restoration by medical, surgical and rehabilitative means of all st…
    2279P1005XPulmonary Rehabilitation Registered Respiratory TherapistThe respiratory therapist can assist the chronic pulmonary patient in returning to an optimal role in society by providing an effective program. It i…
    207UN0902XNuclear Imaging & Therapy PhysicianA nuclear medicine physician who specializes in nuclear imaging and therapy.

    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-00500-ANESTHESIA-ESOPHAGUS-PROCEDURE

    CPT 00500: Anesthesia for Esophageal Procedure

    CPT-00520-ANESTHESIA-CLOSED-CHEST-BRONCHOSCOPY

    CPT 00520: Anesthesia for Closed Chest Procedures, Bronchoscopy

    CPT-00522-NEEDLE-PLEURAL-BIOPSY-ANESTHESIA-CLOSED-CHEST

    CPT 00522: Anesthesia for Pleural Needle Biopsy

    CPT-00528-ANESTHESIA-MEDIASTINOSCOPY-DIAGNOSTIC-THORACOSCOPY

    CPT 00528: Anesthesia for Mediastinoscopy and Diagnostic Thoracoscopy

    CPT-00529-ANESTHESIA-MEDIASTINOSCOPY-ONE-LUNG-VENTILATION

    CPT 00529: Anesthesia for Mediastinoscopy/Thoracoscopy with One-Lung Ventilation

    CPT-00530-ANESTHESIA-PERMANENT-TRANSVENOUS-PACEMAKER-INSERTION

    CPT 00530: Anesthesia for Permanent Transvenous Pacemaker Insertion

    CPT-00532-ANESTHESIA-FOR-CENTRAL-VENOUS-ACCESS

    CPT 00532: Anesthesia for Central Venous Access

    CPT-00534-ANESTHESIA-FOR-TRANSVENOUS-CARDIOVERTER-DEFIBRILLATOR-INSERTION

    CPT 00534: Anesthesia for Transvenous Cardioverter–Defibrillator Insertion

    CPT-00537-CARDIAC-ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY-ANESTHESIA

    CPT 00537: Anesthesia for Cardiac Electrophysiology Procedures

    CPT-00539-TRACHEOBRONCHIAL-RECONSTRUCTION-ANESTHESIA

    CPT 00539: Anesthesia for Tracheobronchial Reconstruction

    Showing 1–10 of 23

    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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    23412Repair of ruptured musculotendinous cuff (e.g., rotator cuff) open; chronicSame relationship as 23410; represents shoulder repair procedures requiring anesthesia services.
    23420Reconstruction of complete shoulder (rotator) cuff avulsion, chronic (includes acromioplasty)Major shoulder reconstruction that requires anesthesia perioperatively; listed as related surgical codes in the dataset.
    20610Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection; major joint or bursa (e.g., shoulder, hip, knee joint, subacromial bursa)Analogous percutaneous aspiration/injection procedure in musculoskeletal practice; similar anesthesia considerations for sedation or MAC.
    29827Arthroscopy, shoulder, surgical; with rotator cuff repairArthroscopic shoulder surgery requiring perioperative anesthesia; included as related procedural codes for context.