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CPT 00562: Anesthesia for Major Cardiac and Great Vessel Procedures
CPT code 00562 designates anesthesia services for major cardiac and great-vessel procedures (excluding standard coronary artery bypass grafting) performed on patients one year and older when cardiopulmonary bypass (pump oxygenator) is required. Nationally, this code captures high-acuity intraoperative anesthesia tied to complex cardiothoracic surgical care and intensive resource use, making it relevant for hospital billing, anesthesia group specialty contracting, and payer policy alignment.
Key payers examined include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of where CPT code 00562 is used clinically, how it maps to service lines and typical sites of care, and the payer landscape relevant to coverage and claim adjudication. The publication also outlines common modifiers associated with anesthesia reporting and highlights related clinical context such as use of cardiopulmonary bypass and re-operation timing.
This analysis is designed for national audiences including hospital billing leaders, anesthesia providers, and payers seeking to align coding, billing policies, and clinical documentation practices for high-acuity cardiac anesthesia services.
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Billing Code Overview
CPT code 00562 describes anesthesia services provided for patients aged one year or older undergoing major cardiac procedures that involve the heart, the pericardium (sac around the heart), and the great vessels of the chest (for example, the aorta and major pulmonary vessels). The procedure is specified as other than a coronary bypass procedure, though it may occur as a re-operation within one month of an original bypass.
Service type: General/complex intraoperative anesthesia for major cardiothoracic surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass (pump oxygenator required).
Typical site of service: Inpatient operating room or cardiac surgery suite within a hospital setting, where cardiopulmonary bypass is available for use.