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    OpenPayerBilling CodesAnesthesia for Burn Excisions or Debridement ProceduresCPT cpt-01951-anesthesia-burn-excision-debridement-less-than-4pct-bsa
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    CPT 01951: Anesthesia for Excision/Debridement of <4% Burns

    Commercial payers pay $82 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 01951 describes anesthesia services provided for excision or debridement of second- or third-degree burns involving less than 4% of total body surface area; service type: anesthesia for burn debridement/excision; typical site of service: operating room or procedure suite for surgical burn care under general or regional anesthesia.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Intravenous Anesthetics for the Treatment of Chronic Pain and Psychiatric or Substance Use Disorders, Intravenous Anesthetics for the Treatment of Chronic Pain and Psychiatric or Substance Use Disorders, Intravenous Anesthetics for the Treatment of Chronic Pain and Psychiatric or Substance Use Disorders.

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    National Reimbursement Benchmarks

    For CPT 01951 the average commercial benchmark represented by BUCA sits at $82.30, with a median of $72.50 and interquartile spread from $57.20 to $105.80. Among named payers, Cigna posts the highest mean at $105.00 and Blue Cross Blue Shield shows a strong central tendency with a median of $76.60; Aetna and UnitedHealth Group have lower means at $74.30 and $68.30 respectively. This positions BUCA as a mid-to-high market average relative to the individual commercial payers listed.

    Dispersion measured by the interquartile range (P75–P25) is widest for Cigna at $65.90 (P75 $139.00 minus P25 $73.10), indicating the broadest middle 50% spread, while UnitedHealth Group is the tightest at $30.40 (P75 $81.40 minus P25 $51.00). Blue Cross Blue Shield and BUCA show moderate dispersion of $44.30 and $48.60 respectively, with Aetna’s IQR at $60.80, reflecting notable variability across commercial contracts for this code.

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    National Payer Mean Reimbursement Rates

    State Reimbursement Rates

    State: Alaska1 / 51

    Rate by payer

    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 32-year-old female presents to the outpatient ambulatory surgery center after a recent induced termination of pregnancy complicated by retained products and localized second-degree burns from a thermal injury during the procedure. The surgical team schedules an excision and debridement of the burn areas, estimated as less than 4 percent of total body surface area, under general endotracheal anesthesia. The pre-anesthesia evaluation documents ASA Class P3 due to anemia and reactive airway disease. Anesthesia induction, airway management, intraoperative monitoring, analgesia, and emergence are provided by an anesthesiologist credentialed in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine. Postoperative recovery occurs in the PACU with routine monitoring and discharge when criteria are met.

    Common workflow steps:

    • Preoperative evaluation, consent, and documentation of indications and ASA status.

    • Anesthesia plan selection (general or monitored anesthesia care) and documentation of airway approach and anticipated difficulties.

    • Intraoperative anesthetic management during excision/debridement of <4% TBSA second- or third-degree burns, including fluid management and hemodynamic monitoring.

    • Immediate postoperative handoff to PACU with documentation of procedure, anesthetic agents, estimated blood loss, and complications.

    • Postoperative analgesia plan and follow-up instructions documented in the record.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT Code

    Related Modifiers

    9 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    22Modifier –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…
    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…
    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…
    54Modifier ‑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…
    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…
    56Modifier ‑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…
    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 CodeSpecialtyNotes
    207L00000XAnesthesiology PhysicianAn anesthesiologist is trained to provide pain relief and maintenance, or restoration, of a stable condition during and immediately following an opera…
    207LA0401XAddiction Medicine (Anesthesiology) PhysicianAn anesthesiologist who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of addictions.
    207LC0200XCritical Care Medicine (Anesthesiology) PhysicianAn anesthesiologist, who specializes in critical care medicine diagnoses, treats and supports patients with multiple organ dysfunction. This specialis…
    2086X0206XSurgical Oncology PhysicianA surgical oncologist is a well-qualified surgeon who has obtained additional training and experience in the multidisciplinary approach to the prevent…
    2080P0202XPediatric Cardiology PhysicianA pediatric cardiologist provides comprehensive care to patients with cardiovascular problems. This specialist is skilled in selecting, performing and…
    2085R0204XVascular & Interventional Radiology PhysicianA radiologist who diagnoses and treats diseases by various radiologic imaging modalities. These include fluoroscopy, digital radiography, computed tom…
    207P00000XEmergency Medicine PhysicianAn emergency physician focuses on the immediate decision making and action necessary to prevent death or any further disability both in the pre-hospit…
    124Q00000XDental HygienistAn individual who has completed an accredited dental hygiene education program, and an individual who has been licensed by a state board of dental exa…

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    13 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    L89.303Pressure ulcer of unspecified buttock, stage 3
    L89.304Pressure ulcer of unspecified buttock, stage 4
    L89.309Pressure ulcer of unspecified buttock, unspecified stage
    O03.9Complete or unspecified spontaneous abortion without complication
    O04.7Embolism following (induced) termination of pregnancy
    O04.89(Induced) termination of pregnancy with other complications
    O07.4Failed attempted termination of pregnancy without complication
    T21.10XABurn of first degree of trunk, unspecified site, initial encounter
    T21.11XABurn of first degree of chest wall, initial encounter
    T23.309ABurn of third degree of unspecified hand, unspecified site, initial encounter

    Showing 1–10 of 13

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Anesthesiology1 / 3

    7 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    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-01952-ANESTHESIA-BURN-EXCISION-DEBRIDEMENT-4-9-TBSA

    CPT 01952: Anesthesia for Burn Excision/Debridement 4–9% TBSA

    CPT-01953-ANESTHESIA-BURN-EXCISION-DEBRIDEMENT-ADDITIONAL-9PCT-TBSA

    CPT 01953: Anesthesia for Burn Excision/Debridement per Additional 9% TBSA

    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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    Description
    Relationship to This Procedure
    01952Anesthesia for excision or debridement of 4‑9 percent of the body surface for second‑ or third‑degree burns.Use when the excision/debridement involves 4–9% TBSA; represents the next tier of anesthesia CPT for larger burn area.
    01953Anesthesia for burn excision or debridement each additional 9 percent of body surface area or part thereof.Use to report additional anesthesia units when burn excision/debridement exceeds the base percentages; reported in addition to primary burn anesthesia codes.