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    OpenPayerBilling CodesAnesthesia for Procedures on the Spine and Spinal CordCPT cpt-00620-anesthesia-thoracic-spine-spinal-cord-procedure
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    CPT 00620: Anesthesia for Thoracic Spine and Spinal Cord Procedures

    Commercial payers pay $73 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 00620 describes anesthesia services provided for procedures on the thoracic spine and spinal cord not otherwise classified, typically covering general or regional anesthesia for operative interventions on the thoracic spine; service type: anesthesia for thoracic spine and cord procedures; typical site of service: hospital operating room or inpatient surgical suite where spine surgery is 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

    National commercial reimbursement for CPT 00620 centers around BUCA’s average commercial rate of $72.70, providing a useful midpoint for comparison across major payers. Cigna and Aetna exhibit higher mean levels at $93.10 and $82.10 respectively, while Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealth Group sit closer to BUCA at $64.50 and $67.40. Absolute maxima are seen with Aetna ($236.70) and Cigna ($151.40), indicating sporadic high outliers that lift their means above BUCA.

    Dispersion measured by the interquartile range (P75−P25) is widest for Aetna at $60.00 (P75 $105.50 − P25 $45.00), followed by Cigna at $52.20 and BUCA at $40.00. Blue Cross Blue Shield ($38.20) and UnitedHealth Group ($29.00) show the tightest IQRs, with UnitedHealth Group being the most concentrated around its median.

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    National Payer Mean Reimbursement Rates

    State Reimbursement Rates

    State: Alaska1 / 51

    Rate by payer

    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 62-year-old patient with progressive thoracic myelopathy presents for elective decompressive laminectomy and possible fusion of the thoracic spine due to symptomatic spinal stenosis and an extruded thoracic disc. Preoperative evaluation notes motor weakness, sensory level change, and MRI-confirmed cord compression at T6–T8. An anesthesiologist provides general endotracheal anesthesia with neuromonitoring (SSEP/MEP) and intraoperative hemodynamic management. The care team includes the attending anesthesiologist (primary procedure coder), an anesthesia assistant if applicable, and perioperative nursing. Typical intraoperative tasks include induction, airway management, positioning for prone thoracic exposure, maintenance of anesthesia with agents compatible with neuromonitoring, intraoperative fluid and blood management, and emergence with neurological assessment. Postoperative handoff is performed to the PACU or ICU for continued neurological observation and pain control. The typical site of service is an operating room within an acute care hospital or ambulatory surgical center capable of spine surgery.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    00625Anesthesia for procedures on the thoracic spine and cord, via an anterior transthoracic approach; not utilizing one lung ventilationAlternative anesthesia code when the surgical approach is an anterior transthoracic exposure rather than a posterior or unspecified thoracic spine approach; select based on documented operative approach.

    Related Modifiers

    7 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…
    50Modifier –50 (Bilateral Procedure) is appended to a CPT code when an identical procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures during the same operative session. The AMA states to add…- Use modifier -50 when the same CPT surgical, diagnostic, or radiology procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures (both sides of the body) during the same operative/session by the same…
    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…
    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.
    207LC0200XCritical Care Medicine (Anesthesiology) PhysicianAn anesthesiologist, who specializes in critical care medicine diagnoses, treats and supports patients with multiple organ dysfunction. This specialis…
    3418M1120XMilitary or U.S. Coast Guard Air Transport AmbulanceVehicle and staff for patient emergency or non-emergency air transport.
    261QE0002XEmergency Care Clinic/CenterAmbulatory Health Care Facilities · Clinic/Center
    261QM1102XMilitary Outpatient Operational (Transportable) Component Clinic/Center"Non-fixed" facilities or distinct parts of a "non-fixed" facility, providing outpatient medical and dental services, primarily intended for DoD activ…
    324500000XSubstance Abuse Rehabilitation FacilityA facility or distinct part of a facility that provides a 24 hr therapeutically planned living and rehabilitative intervention environment for the tre…
    173F00000XSleep Specialist (PhD)Sleep medicine is a clinical specialty with a focus on clinical problems that require accurate diagnosis and treatment. The knowledge base of sleep me…

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Anesthesiology1 / 4

    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-00600-ANESTHESIA-CERVICAL-SPINE-CORD-PROCEDURES

    CPT 00600: Anesthesia for Cervical Spine and Cord Procedure

    CPT-00604-ANESTHESIA-CERVICAL-SPINE-SITTING-POSITION

    CPT 00604: Anesthesia for Cervical Spine and Spinal Cord Procedure, Sitting

    CPT-00625-ANESTHESIA-THORACIC-SPINE-ANTERIOR-TRANSTHORACIC-NO-ONE-LUNG-VENTILATION

    CPT 00625: Anesthesia for Thoracic Spine Procedure, Anterior Transthoracic

    CPT-00626-ANESTHESIA-THORACIC-SPINE-ANTERIOR-TRANSTHORACIC-ONE-LUNG

    CPT 00626: Anesthesia for Thoracic Spine Procedure, One-Lung Ventilation

    CPT-00630-ANESTHESIA-LUMBAR-REGION-PROCEDURE

    CPT 00630: Anesthesia for Procedures in Lumbar Region

    CPT-00632-LUMBAR-REGION-ANESTHESIA-LUMBAR-SYMPATHECTOMY

    CPT 00632: Anesthesia for Lumbar Region Procedures, Including Lumbar Sympathectomy

    CPT-00635-LUMBAR-REGION-ANESTHESIA-LUMBAR-PUNCTURE

    CPT 00635: Anesthesia for Lumbar Procedures Including Lumbar Puncture

    CPT-00640-ANESTHESIA-FOR-SPINE-MANIPULATION-CLOSED-SPINAL-PROCEDURE

    CPT 00640: Anesthesia for Manipulation or Closed Procedure on the Spine

    CPT-00670-ANESTHESIA-SPINE-INSTRUMENTATION-VASCULAR-PROCEDURE

    CPT 00670: Anesthesia for Extensive Spine and Spinal Cord Procedures

    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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