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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesAnesthesia for Procedures on the Spine and Spinal CordCPT cpt-00626-anesthesia-thoracic-spine-anterior-transthoracic-one-lung
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    CPT 00626: Anesthesia for Thoracic Spine Procedure, One-Lung Ventilation

    Commercial payers pay $68 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 00626 describes anesthesia services for a patient undergoing a thoracic spine and spinal cord procedure performed via an anterior transthoracic approach with utilization of one-lung ventilation; service type is anesthesia for thoracic spine surgery and the typical site of service is an inpatient or hospital-based operating room (transthoracic surgical suite).

    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 00626 centers on a BUCA average commercial rate of $68.5, with individual payer means diverging around that level. Cigna posts the highest mean at $92.4, Blue Cross Blue Shield averages $64.8, UnitedHealth Group is at $67.4, and Aetna is lower at $56.9. These means indicate a modest clustering near the BUCA average but with notable upward deviation from Cigna.

    Dispersion (P75 minus P25) highlights variability: Aetna’s interquartile range is $27.0 ($69.3 - $42.0), Blue Cross Blue Shield’s is $40.7 ($84.6 - $43.9), BUCA’s is $38.4 ($87.3 - $48.9), Cigna’s is $53.4 ($120.0 - $67.6), and UnitedHealth Group’s is $29.0 ($81.0 - $52.0). Cigna shows the widest spread at $53.4, while Aetna is the tightest at $27.0.

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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 male with progressive thoracic myelopathy secondary to multilevel thoracic disc herniation and spinal stenosis is scheduled for an anterior transthoracic thoracic discectomy and fusion. The patient reports increasing gait instability, bilateral lower-extremity numbness, and worsening midline thoracic pain refractory to conservative care. Preoperative evaluation identifies a history of well-controlled hypertension and prior tobacco use; ASA physical status classification is P3.

    Perioperative workflow: The patient is brought to an operating room equipped for thoracic surgery with single-lung ventilation capability. After standard monitors and invasive arterial line placement, the anesthesia team induces general anesthesia and performs endotracheal intubation with a left-sided double-lumen tube to facilitate one-lung ventilation. Epidural or multimodal analgesia may be planned postoperatively. The anesthesiologist codes the procedure as 00626 for anesthesia for anterior transthoracic procedure on the thoracic spine/cord using one-lung ventilation. Postoperative care includes monitoring in a post-anesthesia care unit with potential transfer to a step-down or intensive care setting depending on intraoperative blood loss and respiratory status.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    63030

    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…
    367500000XCertified Registered Nurse Anesthetist(1) A licensed registered nurse with advanced specialty education in anesthesia who, in collaboration with appropriate health care professionals, prov…
    207LP2900XPain Medicine (Anesthesiology) PhysicianAn anesthesiologist who provides a high level of care, either as a primary physician or consultant, for patients experiencing problems with acute, chr…
    2278E0002XEmergency Care Certified Respiratory TherapistThe immediate availability of diagnostic and therapeutic cardiopulmonary services in the assessment and management of trauma victims, patients requiri…
    111NR0400XRehabilitation ChiropractorRehabilitation is the discipline focused on restoring a patient's functional abilities to pre-injury or pre-disease status. Functional abilities are d…
    261QP1100XPodiatric Clinic/CenterAmbulatory Health Care Facilities · Clinic/Center
    1835G0000XDeactivated - Pharmacist
    163WX0003XInpatient Obstetric Registered NurseNursing Service Providers · Registered Nurse

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    23 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    C79.51Secondary malignant neoplasm of bone
    C79.52Secondary malignant neoplasm of bone marrow
    G83.4Cauda equina syndrome
    G95.9Disease of spinal cord, unspecified
    M43.06Spondylolysis, lumbar region
    M43.16Spondylolisthesis, lumbar region
    M43.17Spondylolisthesis, lumbosacral region
    M47.816Spondylosis without myelopathy or radiculopathy, lumbar region
    M48.02Spinal stenosis, cervical region
    M48.04Spinal stenosis, thoracic region

    Showing 1–10 of 23

    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-00620-ANESTHESIA-THORACIC-SPINE-SPINAL-CORD-PROCEDURE

    CPT 00620: Anesthesia for Thoracic Spine and Spinal Cord Procedures

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

    CPT 00625: Anesthesia for Thoracic Spine Procedure, Anterior Transthoracic

    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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    Laminectomy with decompression of spinal cord and/or nerve roots
    May be performed in thoracic decompression procedures; anesthesia 00626 supports intrathoracic access and spinal cord decompression.
    63047Laminectomy, facetectomy and foraminotomyRepresents posterior decompression techniques that may be staged or combined with anterior approaches; anesthesia planning depends on combined procedures.
    22830Exploration of spinal fusionPerformed when assessing or revising prior fusion hardware during thoracic spine surgery; impacts anesthetic time and complexity.
    20930Spinal bone graft, localBone grafting often accompanies fusion procedures performed through an anterior transthoracic approach; increases operative time and anesthetic considerations.
    22558Arthrodesis, anterior interbody technique, lumbarDescribes anterior interbody fusion technique (lumbar); included here as a related anterior approach arthrodesis code, analogous in workflow to anterior thoracic interbody fusion procedures where 00626 would apply.