CPT 01961: Anesthesia for Cesarean Delivery
Commercial payers pay $90 on average nationally for this procedure.
CPT code 01961 describes anesthesia services provided specifically for a cesarean delivery, representing perioperative anesthetic management for cesarean section procedures; the service type is anesthesia for cesarean delivery and the typical site of service is an operating room or other inpatient/surgical setting where cesarean deliveries are performed.
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
Commercial reimbursement for CPT 01961 centers on BUCA as an average benchmark with a mean of $89.50 and an interquartile band from $56.50 to $116.80. Among named commercial payers, Aetna and Cigna show the highest ceiling values (Aetna max $322.30, Cigna max $320.10), while UnitedHealth Group and Blue Cross Blue Shield sit at lower maximums. This creates a wide apparent spread among top-tier rates even though BUCA represents a mid-market average.
Dispersion measured by the IQR (P75 minus P25) highlights variability: Aetna’s IQR is $100.00 ($182.50 - $82.50), Cigna’s is $76.60 ($151.60 - $75.00), Blue Cross Blue Shield’s is $57.80 ($95.20 - $43.40), UnitedHealth Group’s is $29.60 ($80.80 - $51.20), and BUCA’s IQR is $61.30 ($116.80 - $56.50). UnitedHealth Group is the tightest payer distribution, while Aetna is the widest.