CPT 01935: Anesthesia for Percutaneous Image-Guided Diagnostic Spine Procedures

Commercial payers pay $232 on average nationally for this procedure.

CPT code 01935 describes anesthesia for percutaneous image-guided procedures on the spine and spinal cord for diagnostic purposes, typically provided as anesthesia service during fluoroscopically guided needle placements or diagnostic injections; service type: anesthesia for diagnostic spinal procedures; typical site of service: hospital outpatient department or ambulatory surgery center where image-guided spinal diagnostic procedures are performed.

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National Reimbursement Benchmarks

Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, UnitedHealth Group and the BUCA aggregate show a wide commercial rate spectrum for CPT 01935. BUCA’s average commercial rate is high at $232.20, sitting well above the other payers’ means; Cigna’s mean of $720.30 is an outlier driven by very high central tendency values. Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealth Group cluster at lower averages ($64.40 and $79.50 respectively), creating a clear bifurcation between BUCA/Cigna and the two national carriers.

Rate dispersion measured by the interquartile range (P75–P25) is tightest for Blue Cross Blue Shield (IQR = $11.70) and widest for BUCA (IQR = $41.60). UnitedHealth Group shows moderate dispersion (IQR = $49.50) while Cigna’s published quartiles imply very large upper values but a calculated IQR of $95.20, indicating substantial variability among commercial contracts.

National Payer Mean Reimbursement Rates

State Reimbursement Rates

State: Alaska1 / 51

Rate by payer

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 54-year-old patient with chronic low back pain (M54.5) refractory to conservative care is scheduled for a diagnostic percutaneous, image-guided procedure of the lumbar spine to localize a suspected facet-mediated pain generator. The patient presents to an ambulatory surgical center where pre-anesthesia assessment documents prior response to medications, allergy status, airway exam, and ASA classification. Under fluoroscopic guidance, an interventional pain physician performs diagnostic medial branch blocks using 77003 for imaging guidance and 62323 or 64483 techniques for needle placement and injection. An anesthesiologist or certified registered nurse anesthetist provides monitored anesthesia care or sedation appropriate for a percutaneous image-guided spinal diagnostic procedure. Intra-procedure documentation includes the anesthetic technique, agents and dosages, monitoring, airway management, and any unexpected events. Post-procedure recovery includes pain assessment, neurologic check, and discharge instructions. Billing uses 01935 for anesthesia specific to percutaneous image-guided diagnostic procedures on the spine/spinal cord; relevant modifiers are appended as indicated by clinical circumstances (for example, provider service line, anesthesia medical direction, unusual procedural difficulty, or patient-related intraoperative events). Payers involved may include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, BUCA, and Medicare depending on patient coverage.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description

Related Modifiers

8 rows

Modifier	Description	When to Use
62	Modifier 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…
23	Modifier -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…
22	Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…	- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
52	Modifier ‑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…
53	Modifier 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…
56	Modifier ‑56 indicates the reporting provider furnished only the preoperative management for a surgical procedure and did not perform the intraoperative or postoperative care. It is used in…	- Use Modifier -56 when a provider performs only the preoperative management in a split‑care situation (one physician manages preop care while a different physician performs the intraoperative…
55	Modifier –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…
54	Modifier ‑54 (“Surgical care only”) is appended to a CPT surgical procedure when the reporting surgeon performs the intraoperative (surgical) component but does not furnish the preoperative and/or…	- Use modifier -54 when the reporting surgeon provided only the intraoperative (surgical) component of a procedure and preoperative and/or postoperative management has been or will be provided by…

Related Provider Taxonomies

8 rows

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207L00000X	Anesthesiology Physician	An anesthesiologist is trained to provide pain relief and maintenance, or restoration, of a stable condition during and immediately following an opera…
207LP2900X	Pain Medicine (Anesthesiology) Physician	An anesthesiologist who provides a high level of care, either as a primary physician or consultant, for patients experiencing problems with acute, chr…
207RA0000X	Adolescent Medicine (Internal Medicine) Physician	An internist who specializes in adolescent medicine is a multi-disciplinary healthcare specialist trained in the unique physical, psychological and so…
3418M1110X	Military or U.S. Coast Guard Ground Transport Ambulance	Vehicle and staff for patient emergency or non-emergency ground transport. Includes traditional ambulances as well as ambulance buses.
111NX0100X	Occupational Health Chiropractor	Occupational Health is that specialty within the chiropractic profession that deals with the prevention and management of work related injuries. It al…
102X00000X	Poetry Therapist	A medical or mental health professional who has attained credentials after satisfactorily completing a poetry therapy training program approved by the…
101YA0400X	Addiction (Substance Use Disorder) Counselor	Behavioral Health & Social Service Providers · Counselor
176B00000X	Midwife	A Midwife is a trained professional with special expertise in supporting women to maintain a healthy pregnancy birth, offering expert individualized c…

Related ICD-10-CM Codes

28 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
G03.9	Meningitis, unspecified
G89.21	Chronic pain due to trauma
G89.29	Other chronic pain
G95.20	Unspecified cord compression
M43.16	Spondylolisthesis, lumbar region
M47.27	Other spondylosis with radiculopathy, lumbosacral region
M48.02	Spinal stenosis, cervical region
M48.07	Spinal stenosis, lumbosacral region
M48.8X6	Other specified spondylopathies, lumbar region
M48.9	Spondylopathy, unspecified

Showing 1–10 of 28

Frequently Asked Questions

References

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.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.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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State Reimbursement Rates

State: Alaska1 / 51

Rate by payer

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description

Related Modifiers

8 rows

Modifier	Description	When to Use
62	Modifier 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…
23	Modifier -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…
22	Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…	- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
52	Modifier ‑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…
53	Modifier 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…
56	Modifier ‑56 indicates the reporting provider furnished only the preoperative management for a surgical procedure and did not perform the intraoperative or postoperative care. It is used in…	- Use Modifier -56 when a provider performs only the preoperative management in a split‑care situation (one physician manages preop care while a different physician performs the intraoperative…
55	Modifier –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…
54	Modifier ‑54 (“Surgical care only”) is appended to a CPT surgical procedure when the reporting surgeon performs the intraoperative (surgical) component but does not furnish the preoperative and/or…	- Use modifier -54 when the reporting surgeon provided only the intraoperative (surgical) component of a procedure and preoperative and/or postoperative management has been or will be provided by…

Related Provider Taxonomies

8 rows

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207L00000X	Anesthesiology Physician	An anesthesiologist is trained to provide pain relief and maintenance, or restoration, of a stable condition during and immediately following an opera…
207LP2900X	Pain Medicine (Anesthesiology) Physician	An anesthesiologist who provides a high level of care, either as a primary physician or consultant, for patients experiencing problems with acute, chr…
207RA0000X	Adolescent Medicine (Internal Medicine) Physician	An internist who specializes in adolescent medicine is a multi-disciplinary healthcare specialist trained in the unique physical, psychological and so…
3418M1110X	Military or U.S. Coast Guard Ground Transport Ambulance	Vehicle and staff for patient emergency or non-emergency ground transport. Includes traditional ambulances as well as ambulance buses.
111NX0100X	Occupational Health Chiropractor	Occupational Health is that specialty within the chiropractic profession that deals with the prevention and management of work related injuries. It al…
102X00000X	Poetry Therapist	A medical or mental health professional who has attained credentials after satisfactorily completing a poetry therapy training program approved by the…
101YA0400X	Addiction (Substance Use Disorder) Counselor	Behavioral Health & Social Service Providers · Counselor
176B00000X	Midwife	A Midwife is a trained professional with special expertise in supporting women to maintain a healthy pregnancy birth, offering expert individualized c…

Related ICD-10-CM Codes

28 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
G03.9	Meningitis, unspecified
G89.21	Chronic pain due to trauma
G89.29	Other chronic pain
G95.20	Unspecified cord compression
M43.16	Spondylolisthesis, lumbar region
M47.27	Other spondylosis with radiculopathy, lumbosacral region
M48.02	Spinal stenosis, cervical region
M48.07	Spinal stenosis, lumbosacral region
M48.8X6	Other specified spondylopathies, lumbar region
M48.9	Spondylopathy, unspecified

Showing 1–10 of 28

Frequently Asked Questions

References

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.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.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 powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

`77003`	Fluoroscopic guidance and localization for needle placement (eg, biopsy, aspiration, injection, or catheter placement); spine	Provides real-time imaging guidance used during percutaneous diagnostic spinal procedures billed with `01935`
`62323`	Injection(s), of diagnostic or therapeutic substance(s), including anesthetic agent, or neurolytic agent; single level, lumbar or sacral	Diagnostic or therapeutic injections that may be performed during the same visit; imaging and anesthesia support billed separately
`64483`	Injection(s) for nerve block, lumbar or sacral; including imaging guidance when applicable	Common nerve block code for lumbar medial branch or other spinal nerve blocks performed in the diagnostic workflow alongside anesthesia `01935`
`01936`	Anesthesia for percutaneous image guided procedures on the spine and spinal cord; therapeutic	Used when anesthesia is furnished for therapeutic (rather than diagnostic) percutaneous image-guided spinal procedures; complements `01935` in code sets

CPT 01935: Anesthesia for Percutaneous Image-Guided Diagnostic Spine Procedures

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National Reimbursement Benchmarks

CPT 01935: Anesthesia for Percutaneous Image-Guided Diagnostic Spine Procedures

Sign up for cpt 01935 policy alerts

National Reimbursement Benchmarks

State Reimbursement Rates

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

Related Modifiers

Related Provider Taxonomies

Related ICD-10-CM Codes

What does CPT 01935 specifically describe?

Which imaging guidance and procedural CPT codes are commonly billed alongside 01935?

In what clinical context would 01935 be used according to the provided example?

How does 01935 differ from CPT 01936 in this content?

Which payers and diagnosis codes are listed as relevant to claims involving 01935?

References

State Reimbursement Rates

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

Related Modifiers

Related Provider Taxonomies

Related ICD-10-CM Codes

What does CPT 01935 specifically describe?

Which imaging guidance and procedural CPT codes are commonly billed alongside 01935?

In what clinical context would 01935 be used according to the provided example?

How does 01935 differ from CPT 01936 in this content?

Which payers and diagnosis codes are listed as relevant to claims involving 01935?

References