CPT 00790: Anesthesia for Upper Abdominal Intraperitoneal Procedures
CPT code 00790 designates anesthesia for intraperitoneal procedures in the upper abdomen, including laparoscopic operations, when no other anesthesia code applies. This code captures anesthesia work accompanying a range of upper abdominal surgeries and is relevant for national billing, coding consistency, and procedure-level analysis because it addresses cases that fall outside more specific anesthesia codes. Key payers included in the review are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, United Healthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical framing of when CPT code 00790 is used, how it maps to typical operative settings, and the common surgical contexts where it applies (for example, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, appendectomy, colectomy, hernia repair, and adhesiolysis). The publication also summarizes payer coverage considerations, typical sites of service, related surgical procedures, and guidance on clinical context and coding relationships. This overview is intended for clinicians, coding professionals, and health policy analysts seeking a clear national-level description of the code’s clinical scope and billing significance. Data not available in the input is explicitly noted where applicable.
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Billing Code Overview
CPT code 00790 describes anesthesia services provided for intraperitoneal procedures in the upper abdomen, including laparoscopy, not otherwise specified by other anesthesia codes. The service type is anesthesia for upper abdominal intraperitoneal surgery (including laparoscopic approaches). The typical site of service is operating room or surgical suite where laparoscopic or open upper abdominal intraperitoneal procedures are performed.
National Reimbursement Benchmarks
Across national commercial payers, BUCA’s mean commercial benchmark of $91.50 serves as a mid-market reference point for CPT 00790 while substantial differences persist among carriers. Blue Cross Blue Shield’s interquartile spread (P75–P25) is $39.40, and UnitedHealth Group’s spread is $29.00, both tighter than Aetna’s spread of $132.00 and Cigna’s spread of $54.40. BUCA’s interquartile range is $55.70, placing it closer to Cigna than to the extremes.
Aetna displays the widest dispersion (P75–P25 = $132.00), indicating the greatest variability in commercial allowed amounts, while UnitedHealth Group is the tightest (P75–P25 = $29.00). Blue Cross Blue Shield’s narrower spread suggests more consistency versus BUCA and Cigna, which sit in the middle of the dispersion spectrum.