CPT 00848: Anesthesia for Intraperitoneal Lower Abdominal Procedures
CPT code 00848 denotes anesthesia services for intraperitoneal procedures in the lower abdomen, covering both laparoscopic approaches and extensive pelvic operations such as pelvic exenteration. This code captures anesthesia care complexity associated with lower abdominal intraperitoneal surgery and is relevant to surgical teams, anesthesia providers, hospital billing departments, and payers nationwide.
Key payers included in this overview are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise explanation of the clinical scope of the code, typical sites of service, and the common clinical diagnoses that often accompany its use. The publication also highlights related anesthesia codes for adjacent lower-abdominal intraperitoneal procedures to aid coder and billing staff in selecting appropriate codes.
The content prioritizes national relevance by focusing on the clinical context and billing implications of using 00848 for lower abdominal intraperitoneal anesthesia care. It serves as a reference for revenue cycle and clinical leaders seeking clarity on the code’s clinical application, common diagnostic associations, and neighboring CPT codes for similar procedures.
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Billing Code Overview
CPT code 00848 describes anesthesia services provided for an intraperitoneal procedure in the lower abdomen. The definition explicitly includes procedures performed via laparoscopy and extensive pelvic operations such as pelvic exenteration.
Service Type: Anesthesia for intraperitoneal lower abdominal surgery
Typical Site of Service: Operating room or other procedural suite where intraperitoneal lower abdominal surgeries (including laparoscopy and pelvic exenteration) are performed
National Reimbursement Benchmarks
Commercial rates for CPT 00848 cluster around BUCA’s average commercial rate of $70.20, with notable variation across major carriers. Cigna and Blue Cross Blue Shield show higher central tendencies (Cigna median $85.70; BCBS median $59.40) while Aetna and UnitedHealth Group sit lower (Aetna median $48.00; UnitedHealth Group median $64.00). Maximum values differ substantially—Cigna max $151.40 and BCBS max $190.90—illustrating upside variability among carriers.
Dispersion measured by the interquartile range (P75 minus P25) highlights BCBS as the widest at $39.30 (P75 $86.90 minus P25 $47.60) and UnitedHealth Group as relatively tight at $27.80 (P75 $80.80 minus P25 $52.00). Cigna’s IQR is $52.00 (P75 $119.90 minus P25 $67.90), Aetna’s is $33.00, and BUCA’s IQR is $40.60. These ranges indicate where negotiated commercial allowance variability is concentrated across payers.