CPT 00851: Anesthesia for Intraperitoneal Lower Abdominal Procedures
Commercial payers pay $74 on average nationally for this procedure.
CPT code 00851 describes anesthesia services provided for intraperitoneal procedures in the lower abdomen, such as laparoscopy and tubal ligation/transection; the service type is anesthesia for intraperitoneal lower abdominal surgery and the typical site of service is operating room or ambulatory surgical center for lower abdominal laparoscopic sterilization procedures.
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National Reimbursement Benchmarks
National commercial rates for CPT 00851 cluster around the BUCA average of $74.30, with notable variation among major carriers. Cigna and Aetna sit above BUCA on mean values ($87.70 and $84.80 respectively), while Blue Cross Blue Shield averages lower at $68.60 and UnitedHealth Group near $67.30. This positions BUCA as a middle reference point for commercial reimbursement.
Dispersion measured by the interquartile range (P75 minus P25) is widest for Aetna at $63.30 (P75 $112.80 minus P25 $45.00) and Cigna at $37.80 (P75 $103.30 minus P25 $65.50), indicating broader variability in negotiated rates. The tightest spread appears with UnitedHealth Group at $27.80 (P75 $80.80 minus P25 $52.00), followed by Blue Cross Blue Shield at $45.40 (P75 $89.80 minus P25 $49.40) and BUCA at $39.60 (P75 $94.40 minus P25 $51.80).