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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesAnesthesia for Procedures on the Lower Leg (Below Knee)CPT cpt-01490-anesthesia-lower-leg-cast-application-removal-repair
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    CPT 01490: Anesthesia for Lower Leg Cast Application/Removal/Repair

    Commercial payers pay $80 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 01490 describes anesthesia services provided when a patient undergoes application, removal, or repair of a lower leg cast; this is an anesthesia service typically delivered in an operating room, procedure suite, or ambulatory surgical center during casting procedures on the lower leg (below the knee) and includes pre- and intra-procedure anesthetic management for the duration of the casting intervention.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Dental Anesthesia Services, Anesthesia Services for Interventional Pain Management Procedures in an Adult, General Anesthesia and Conscious Sedation Services.

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    National Reimbursement Benchmarks

    For CPT 01490 the national commercial landscape centers on BUCA’s average commercial rate of $80.30 as a practical midpoint; several large insurers sit both above and below that benchmark. Blue Cross Blue Shield’s spread between the 75th and 25th percentiles is $47.80, Cigna’s spread is the widest at $66.00, Aetna’s spread is $42.50, and UnitedHealth Group’s spread is the tightest at $29.00. These dispersion measures indicate Cigna and Blue Cross Blue Shield offer the greatest variability in reimbursed amounts, while UnitedHealth Group is comparatively consistent around its median.

    When looking at mean and median tendencies, Cigna posts one of the higher mean rates at $105.00 with a median of $90.80, while UnitedHealth Group and Aetna cluster closer to BUCA’s average with means of $68.20 and $64.00 respectively. Blue Cross Blue Shield’s higher maximum ($222.00) and broader upper tail help explain its larger spread; Aetna and UnitedHealth Group show narrower upper tails and tighter central tendencies relative to that variability.

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    National Payer Mean Reimbursement Rates

    State Reimbursement Rates

    State: Alaska1 / 51

    Rate by payer

    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 62-year-old patient with symptomatic unilateral knee osteoarthritis of the right knee (M17.11) who previously underwent arthroscopic meniscal repair for a medial meniscus tear (S83.241A) presents with a painful, malodorous short leg cast that requires removal and replacement under monitored anesthesia care. The patient has chronic knee instability (M23.50) and prior immobilization after an open lower leg procedure. The procedure is performed in an ambulatory surgical center or hospital operating room where the anesthesia provider (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist) administers sedation or general anesthesia to facilitate safe manipulation, application, removal, or repair of a lower leg cast below the knee. The clinical workflow includes a pre-anesthesia assessment, intraoperative monitoring during the cast procedure, airway and hemodynamic management, and immediate post-anesthesia recovery. Documentation includes indication for anesthesia, anesthetic technique, pre-procedure vitals and ASA physical status, intra-procedure medications and monitoring, any intraoperative complications or use of modifiers (for example, prolonged services or concurrent procedures), and post-anesthesia recovery and discharge instructions.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    01480

    Related Modifiers

    7 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    23Modifier -23 (Unusual Anesthesia) is used on anesthesia service CPT codes when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia…- Use modifier -23 only on anesthesia CPT codes (00100–01999) when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia because of…
    50Modifier –50 (Bilateral Procedure) is appended to a CPT code when an identical procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures during the same operative session. The AMA states to add…- Use modifier -50 when the same CPT surgical, diagnostic, or radiology procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures (both sides of the body) during the same operative/session by the same…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    55Modifier –55 indicates the billing provider furnished only postoperative management for a procedure that has a global surgical period. According to AAPC, this modifier is appended to the same CPT…- Use modifier -55 when billing the same CPT surgical code that has a 10- or 90-day global period and you, as a provider other than the original surgeon, furnished ONLY postoperative management (no…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    78CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    367500000X
    207ZP0102X
    376K00000X
    2082S0105X
    126800000X
    164W00000X
    246ZC0007X
    163WP1700X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    27 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    M17.11Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, right knee
    M17.12Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, left knee
    M23.50Chronic instability of knee, unspecified knee
    M24.871Other specific joint derangements of right ankle, not elsewhere classified
    M25.571Pain in right ankle and joints of right foot
    M25.572Pain in left ankle and joints of left foot
    M67.861Other specified disorders of synovium, right knee
    M79.661Pain in right lower leg
    M84.451APathological fracture, right femur, initial encounter for fracture
    M84.461APathological fracture, right tibia, initial encounter for fracture

    Showing 1–10 of 27

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Anesthesiology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Dental Anesthesia ServicesProvidence Health Plan2026-10-01
    Anesthesia Services for Interventional Pain Management Procedures in an AdultCigna2026-09-15
    General Anesthesia and Conscious Sedation ServicesUnitedHealthcare2026-09-01
    Intravenous Anesthetics for the Treatment of Chronic Pain and Psychiatric or Substance Use DisordersPremera Bluecross2026-07-01
    Intravenous Anesthetics for the Treatment of Chronic Pain and Psychiatric or Substance Use DisordersPremera Bluecross2026-07-01
    Intravenous Anesthetics for the Treatment of Chronic Pain and Psychiatric or Substance Use DisordersPremera Bluecross2026-07-01
    Intravenous Anesthetics for the Treatment of Chronic Pain and Psychiatric or Substance Use DisordersPremera Bluecross2026-07-01
    Elective Inpatient Services (for Idaho Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-06-01
    Sites of Servicepriority health2026-06-01
    Coverage for Ambulatory Surgery Unit (ASU)/Outpatient Facility and Anesthesia for Dental Servicesuniverahealthcare2026-05-21

    Related Codes

    CPT-01462-ANESTHESIA-CLOSED-PROCEDURES-LOWER-LEG-ANKLE-FOOT

    CPT 01462: Anesthesia for Closed Procedures on Lower Leg, Ankle, Foot

    CPT-01464-ANKLE-FOOT-ARTHROSCOPY-ANESTHESIA

    CPT 01464: Anesthesia for Ankle/Foot Arthroscopic Procedure

    CPT-01470-ANESTHESIA-LOWER-LEG-ANKLE-FOOT-SOFT-TISSUE-PROCEDURE

    CPT 01470: Anesthesia for Lower Leg, Ankle, and Foot Soft-Tissue Procedures

    CPT-01472-LOWER-LEG-ANKLE-FOOT-TENDON-ANESTHESIA-ACHILLES-REPAIR

    CPT 01472: Anesthesia for Lower Leg/Ankle/Foot (Achilles Repair)

    CPT-01474-ANESTHESIA-LOWER-LEG-ANKLE-FOOT-SOFT-TISSUE-PROCEDURES

    CPT 01474: Anesthesia for Lower Leg/Ankle/Foot Soft-Tissue Procedures

    CPT-01480-ANESTHESIA-OPEN-LOWER-LEG-ANKLE-FOOT-BONE-PROCEDURE

    CPT 01480: Anesthesia for Open Lower Leg, Ankle, and Foot Procedures

    CPT-01482-ANESTHESIA-LOWER-LEG-ANKLE-FOOT-RADICAL-RESECTION

    CPT 01482: Anesthesia for Lower Leg, Ankle, and Foot Procedures

    CPT-01484-ANESTHESIA-OSTEOTOMY-OSTEOPLASTY-TIBIA-FIBULA

    CPT 01484: Anesthesia for Tibia/Fibula Osteotomy or Osteoplasty

    CPT-01486-TOTAL-ANKLE-REPLACEMENT-ANESTHESIA

    CPT 01486: Anesthesia for Total Ankle Replacement

    CPT-01500-LOWER-LEG-ARTERIAL-BYPASS-ANESTHESIA

    CPT 01500: Anesthesia for Lower Leg Arterial Bypass Graft

    Showing 1–10 of 13

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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    Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.

    Under anesthesia for procedures on the lower leg (below knee) – open procedure on bones of lower leg, ankle, and foot
    May be used instead of 01490 when an open bony procedure is performed rather than cast application/removal
    01482Under anesthesia for procedures on the lower leg (below knee) – procedure on bones including radical resection (including below knee amputation)Related when a more extensive bone procedure or amputation necessitates anesthesia beyond cast management
    01484Under anesthesia for procedures on the lower leg (below knee) – osteotomy or osteoplasty of tibia and/or fibulaApplicable when surgical osteotomy is performed in the same operative episode as cast application or replacement
    01486Under anesthesia for procedures on the lower leg (below knee) – total ankle replacementRelevant when an ankle arthroplasty is performed and anesthesia services cover both the operative procedure and subsequent cast application
    01500Under anesthesia for procedures on the lower leg (below knee) – procedure on arteries including placement of bypass graftRelated when vascular procedures of the lower leg are performed and anesthesia billing must reflect the more complex vascular service alongside cast management