Summary & Overview
CPT 01380: Anesthesia for Closed Procedure of the Knee Joint
CPT code 01380 denotes anesthesia services for a patient undergoing any closed procedure of the knee joint. This code captures perioperative anesthesia care for closed interventions on the knee and is relevant to hospital and ambulatory surgery settings where such procedures are performed. Accurate use of this code affects billing for anesthesia time and service classification across anesthesia providers. Nationally, correct coding supports consistent payment, quality measurement, and operational planning for surgical and anesthesia departments.
Key payers in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The publication provides a concise overview of clinical context for closed knee procedures, common billing scenarios, and how 01380 relates to other knee procedure codes used in surgical care. Readers will find benchmarks for typical use, payer coverage considerations, and coding relationships that clarify when 01380 applies versus other anesthesia or procedure codes. The material is intended to inform billing staff, anesthesiology leaders, and revenue cycle professionals about the clinical scope and billing implications of CPT code 01380 in national practice settings.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 01380 describes anesthesia services provided for any closed procedure of the knee joint. The billing code represents anesthesia care furnished by an anesthesiologist, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, or anesthesiology assistant for closed knee procedures such as manipulations, reductions, or minimally invasive closed interventions.
Service Type: Anesthesia services for closed knee joint procedures
Typical Site of Service: Operating room or procedure suite for knee procedures
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 56-year-old patient presents with a several-month history of progressive right knee pain, mechanical catching, and intermittent swelling after a twisting injury playing tennis. Imaging and exam demonstrate a lateral meniscal tear and early unicompartmental osteoarthritis of the right knee. The orthopedic surgeon schedules an arthroscopic, closed knee procedure with meniscectomy and/or debridement. An anesthesiologist or certified registered nurse anesthetist performs general endotracheal anesthesia or monitored anesthesia care depending on patient comorbidities and surgeon preference. Preoperative workflow includes anesthesia evaluation, airway and fasting assessment, informed consent, and documentation of medical history and medications. Intraoperative documentation captures the anesthesia technique, airway management, anesthetic agents, vital signs, fluid balance, positioning, and any intraoperative events. Postoperative workflow includes emergence, recovery room monitoring, pain control plan, discharge criteria, and documentation of immediate outcomes. The typical site of service is an ambulatory surgery center or hospital operating room for a closed (arthroscopic) knee procedure.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
AA | Anesthesia service performed personally by anesthesiologist | When the named anesthesiologist personally provided the anesthesia care |
AD | Medical supervision by a physician; more than four concurrent anesthesia procedures | When an anesthesiologist supervises CRNAs for >4 cases concurrently |
QK | Medical direction of two to four concurrent anesthesia cases involving one CRNA/assistant per case | When the physician medically directs 2–4 concurrent CRNA-administered anesthesia cases |
QX | CRNA service with medical direction by physician (used with QK/AD) | When a CRNA furnishes anesthesia services under physician direction; report with appropriate supervisory modifier as required |
QS | Monitored anesthesia care (MAC) service | When MAC is provided instead of general or regional anesthesia for the procedure |
23 | Unusual anesthesia (e.g., severe systemic disturbance) | When anesthesia is unusually complex due to patient condition requiring atypical management |
22 | Increased procedural services (separate professional service modifier) | When anesthesia required substantially greater resources/complexity than typical and documentation supports increased work |
50 | Bilateral procedure | When bilateral knee procedures are performed during the same operative session (if applicable) |
78 | Unplanned return to the operating/procedure room by the same physician following initial procedure for a related procedure during the postoperative period | When the patient returns to the OR intra- or postoperatively for a related anesthesia-covered intervention |
52 | Reduced services | When the anesthesia service was partially reduced or limited relative to the full procedure (e.g., procedure aborted) |
53 | Discontinued procedure | When the procedure was started but discontinued for patient safety or other documented reasons |
56 | Split (shared) anesthesia care with a physician and non-physician anesthetist | When care is shared between a physician anesthesiologist and a CRNA for the same anesthetic episode as allowed by payer rules |
62 | Two surgeons | When two surgeons perform distinct procedures; may affect anesthesia documentation in complex cases |
P1 | Healthy patient (ASA I) | To indicate low perioperative risk for anesthesia reporting or internal tracking |
P3 | Patient with severe systemic disease (ASA III) | To indicate higher anesthetic risk which may impact monitoring and billing considerations |
| Taxonomy Code | Specialty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
207L00000X | Anesthesiology | Physician anesthesiologists who provide and/or supervise anesthesia services for closed knee procedures |
367500000X | Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist | CRNAs who independently or under direction administer anesthesia in ambulatory and hospital settings |
207RA0401X | Anesthesiology Assistant | Anesthesiology assistants who work under the supervision of anesthesiologists to deliver anesthesia care |
Related Diagnoses
| ICD-10 Code | Description | Clinical Relevance |
|---|---|---|
M23.50 | Chronic instability of knee, unspecified knee | Indicates chronic mechanical instability that may prompt arthroscopic evaluation or meniscal debridement under anesthesia |
M17.11 | Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, right knee | Osteoarthritic changes causing pain and mechanical symptoms that can coincide with meniscal pathology managed during closed knee procedures |
M17.12 | Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, left knee | Same relevance as M17.11 for left-sided knee disease requiring arthroscopic intervention and anesthesia care |
S83.241A | Other tear of lateral meniscus, current injury, right knee, initial encounter | Acute lateral meniscal tear commonly treated with arthroscopic meniscectomy/repair requiring anesthesia services |
S83.242A | Other tear of lateral meniscus, current injury, left knee, initial encounter | Acute lateral meniscal tear of the left knee that typically necessitates closed arthroscopic management with anesthesia coverage |
Related CPT Codes
| CPT Code | Description | Relationship to This Procedure |
|---|---|---|
29881 | Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; with meniscectomy (medial OR lateral, including any meniscal shaving) | Common primary surgical procedure for which anesthesia 01380 is reported when a closed arthroscopic meniscectomy is performed |
29880 | Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; with meniscectomy (medial AND lateral, including any meniscal shaving) | Used when both medial and lateral meniscal work is performed during the closed knee arthroscopy that requires anesthesia services |
20610 | Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection; major joint or bursa (e.g., shoulder, hip, knee) | May be performed preoperatively or intraoperatively for diagnostic aspiration or therapeutic injection under anesthesia or sedation during the same encounter |
29876 | Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; synovectomy, major, 2 or more compartments | Performed in conjunction with arthroscopic debridement for more extensive intra-articular disease and requires anesthesia coverage indicated by 01380 |