CPT 00797: Anesthesia for Gastric Restrictive Procedure for Morbid Obesity - OpenPayer

Summary & Overview

CPT 00797: Anesthesia for Gastric Restrictive Procedure for Morbid Obesity

CPT code 00797 represents anesthesia services provided for gastric restrictive procedures used to treat morbid obesity, most commonly laparoscopic placement of an adjustable gastric band. This code matters nationally because bariatric surgery is a common, resource-intensive intervention for obesity, and accurate anesthesia coding supports appropriate payment, quality measurement, and perioperative planning.

Key commercial and public payers included in this analysis are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of the clinical context for CPT code 00797, common payer coverage considerations, and benchmarking elements related to service utilization and reimbursement patterns across major payers. The publication also summarizes typical sites of service and the anesthesia service type associated with this code.

The content covers: a concise clinical description of the procedure and anesthesia role; payer coverage landscape; commonly encountered coding and billing scenarios; and related surgical procedures for context. This information is intended for billing professionals, anesthesia providers, and policy analysts seeking a national-level understanding of CPT code 00797 and its place within perioperative care for bariatric restrictive surgery.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicareCPT 00797anesthesiabariatric surgerygastric bandinglaparoscopyoperating roomperioperative caremedical coding

Billing Code Overview

CPT code 00797 describes anesthesia services for gastric restrictive procedures for morbid obesity, typically performed when the surgical provider places an adjustable band or other restrictive device around the stomach to reduce gastric volume. The anesthesia provider manages perioperative sedation, analgesia, and physiological support for patients undergoing this bariatric operation.

Service type: Anesthesia for bariatric restrictive procedure
Typical site of service: Operating room or ambulatory surgery center during laparoscopic or open abdominal surgery

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 42-year-old female with morbid obesity (body mass index 42 kg/m2) presents for an elective laparoscopic gastric banding procedure to restrict gastric volume and promote weight loss. Preoperative evaluation in the ambulatory surgical center includes medical history, focused airway exam, review of obstructive sleep apnea risk and cardiopulmonary status, medication reconciliation, and anesthetic planning. On the day of surgery the patient receives routine monitors, IV access, and general endotracheal anesthesia or laryngeal mask airway as determined by the anesthesiologist or CRNA. The anesthetic course includes induction, intraoperative management of ventilation and hemodynamics during pneumoperitoneum and Trendelenburg positioning, perioperative analgesia, antiemetic prophylaxis, and emergence with extubation in the operating room. Postanesthesia care includes monitoring for airway compromise, pain control, nausea management, and discharge criteria for ambulatory or short-stay recovery. Perioperative documentation includes anesthesia start/end times, airway device, ASA physical status, intraoperative events, fluids/transfusions, and postoperative instructions.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`22`	Increased procedural services	When work required is substantially greater than typical for the procedure due to complexity or complications.

Related Codes

00802

CPT 00802: Anesthesia for Lower Anterior Abdominal Wall Procedures

00752

CPT 00752: Anesthesia for Upper Abdominal Hernia Repairs

cpt-00836-anesthesia-infant-lower-abdominal-hernia-repair

CPT 00836: Anesthesia for Infant Lower Abdominal Hernia Repair

00730

CPT 00730: Anesthesia for Upper Posterior Abdominal Wall Procedures

00860

CPT 00860: Anesthesia for Extraperitoneal Lower Abdominal Procedures

00832

CPT 00832: Anesthesia for Lower Abdominal Procedures Including Colonoscopy

cpt-00860-anesthesia-extraperitoneal-lower-abdomen-urinary-tract

CPT 00860: Anesthesia for Extraperitoneal Lower Abdominal and Urinary Tract Procedures

cpt-00794-anesthesia-for-pancreatectomy-whipple-including-laparoscopy

CPT 00794: Anesthesia for Partial or Total Pancreatectomy

cpt-00752-upper-abdomen-hernia-repair-anesthesia

CPT 00752: Anesthesia for Upper Abdominal Hernia Repair

cpt-00866-anesthesia-for-adrenalectomy

CPT 00866: Anesthesia for Adrenal Gland Removal

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Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`207L00000X`	Anesthesiology Physician	Physician credential for billing physician-delivered anesthesia services.
`367H00000X`	Anesthesiologist Assistant	Allied provider who may deliver anesthesia under physician supervision per state rules.
`367500000X`	Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist	CRNA credential commonly used for delivery of anesthesia in bariatric procedures.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`K35.80`	Acute appendicitis without perforation or gangrene	Acute intra-abdominal inflammatory process that may be an alternative laparoscopic indication; influences anesthesia urgency and perioperative risk.
`K40.90`	Unilateral inguinal hernia, without obstruction or gangrene, not specified as recurrent	Common laparoscopic general surgery diagnosis; may be encountered in patients undergoing abdominal procedures and affects operative planning.
`K56.60`	Unspecified intestinal obstruction	May complicate intra-abdominal surgery or represent a separate indication for laparoscopy; increases anesthetic risk and potential for prolonged procedure.
`K57.30`	Diverticulosis of large intestine without perforation or abscess without bleeding	Colonic pathology that may require laparoscopic evaluation or surgery; can coexist with bariatric patients and alter operative complexity.
`K63.5`	Polyp of colon	May be identified or addressed during intra-abdominal procedures; typically not the primary indication for gastric restrictive surgery but relevant to abdominal surgical history.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`47562`	Laparoscopy, surgical; cholecystectomy	Represents another common laparoscopic abdominal procedure that shares similar anesthesia considerations (laparoscopic pneumoperitoneum, positioning).
`44970`	Laparoscopy, surgical, appendectomy	Example of laparoscopic abdominal surgery for acute appendicitis; similar perioperative anesthesia management and potential concurrent diagnosis code `K35.80`.
`49650`	Laparoscopy, surgical; repair initial inguinal hernia	Representative minimally invasive hernia repair with comparable anesthetic techniques for short laparoscopic cases.
`44180`	Laparoscopy, surgical, enterolysis (freeing of intestinal adhesion)	May be performed when adhesions are encountered during laparoscopic bariatric surgery; can increase operative time and anesthetic complexity.
`44204`	Laparoscopy, surgical; colectomy, partial, with anastomosis	Major laparoscopic abdominal procedure that may occur in patients with colonic disease and requires extended anesthesia care and postoperative monitoring.