Summary & Overview

CPT 0887T: End-Tidal Control Technique for Anesthesia Add-On

CPT code 0887T denotes an add-on anesthesia service for the end-tidal control technique, a technology-driven method that automates adjustment of inhaled anesthetic agent and oxygen concentrations based on measured end-tidal gas values. Nationally, this code matters because it identifies use of advanced anesthesia delivery systems that can improve precision of anesthetic dosing and intraoperative physiologic control. Common public and commercial payers include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.

Readers will learn what the code represents, the clinical context for its use, and how it is reported as an add-on to primary anesthesia services. The publication provides benchmarks and coverage context where available, summarizes billing considerations tied to add-on anesthesia reporting, and outlines the clinical setting and typical workflows for end-tidal automated control. Data not available in the input will be noted explicitly. This resource is intended for billing managers, anesthesiology clinicians, and policy analysts seeking a concise national overview of CPT code 0887T and its role in anesthesia service reporting.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicare0887TCPTanesthesiaend-tidal monitoringautomated anesthesiaadd-on serviceoperating roomprocedure billing

Billing Code Overview

CPT code 0887T is an add-on anesthesia service describing the use of the end-tidal control technique. The provider uses specialized automated anesthesia machines to precisely control the concentration of anesthetic agents and oxygen in the patient’s exhaled breath (end-tidal monitoring) to optimize anesthetic depth and patient safety.

Service type: Anesthesia add-on service using automated end-tidal control techniques
Typical site of service: Operating room or procedural suite where general anesthesia is administered

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A typical patient is an adult scheduled for a moderate to major surgical procedure under general anesthesia (for example, laparoscopic colectomy, total hip arthroplasty, or major thoracic surgery) who requires precise control of inhaled anesthetic concentration and oxygen delivery to maintain targeted depth of anesthesia and rapid emergence. Preoperative evaluation documents airway status, cardiopulmonary comorbidities, and planned anesthetic technique. In the operating room, standard monitors are applied (ECG, noninvasive blood pressure, pulse oximetry, capnography). General endotracheal anesthesia is induced, and the anesthesia team employs an anesthesia machine equipped with end–tidal control technology to continuously measure the patient’s exhaled concentrations of volatile anesthetic agents and oxygen. The provider programs target end–tidal agent and oxygen concentrations; the system automatically adjusts fresh gas flows and vaporizer output to maintain targets, optimizing anesthetic depth, reducing agent waste, and facilitating hemodynamic stability. Documentation includes start and stop times for the end–tidal control technique, target and achieved end–tidal concentrations, any adjustments made, and intraoperative events that affected ventilatory or anesthetic management. The service is reported as an add‑on to the primary anesthesia service when end–tidal control is actively used; it is not reported independently of the base anesthesia code.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`22`	Increased procedural services	Use when the end–tidal control technique required significantly greater work or complexity than typical anesthesia management and documentation supports the increased work.
`52`	Reduced services	Use when end–tidal control was started but discontinued early or was only partially performed.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when the technique was initiated but aborted due to patient instability or technical failure before meaningful service was rendered.
`78`	Unplanned return to the operating/procedure room by the same physician following initial procedure for a related procedure during the postoperative period	Use when repeat anesthesia with end–tidal control is required emergently for a related return to the OR.
`AA`	Anesthesia services performed personally by anesthesiologist	Use when the named anesthesiologist personally performed the anesthesia including end–tidal control.
`AD`	Medical supervision by physician; more than four concurrent anesthesia procedures	Use when the physician supervised end–tidal control while supervising more than four concurrent cases.
`QK`	Medical direction of 2–4 concurrent anesthesia procedures involving qualified individuals	Use when the physician medically directs qualified personnel providing end–tidal control in 2–4 concurrent cases.
`QS`	Monitored anesthesia care service	Use when end–tidal control technique is used during monitored anesthesia care rather than full general anesthesia, if appropriate and allowable.
`QX`	CRNA service: CRNA with medical direction by physician	Use when a CRNA furnishes the end–tidal control service under medical direction by a physician.
`QY`	Medical direction of one CRNA by an anesthesiologist	Use when the anesthesiologist medically directs one CRNA providing the end–tidal control technique.
`QZ`	CRNA service: CRNA without medical direction by a physician	Use when a CRNA independently provides end–tidal control and the payer recognizes `QZ`.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207L00000X	Anesthesiology	Primary specialty performing anesthesia services and supervising end–tidal control technology.
290600000X	Nurse Anesthetist	CRNAs commonly deliver anesthesia and operate end–tidal control systems under varying supervision models.
2084P0800X	Critical Care Medicine	Critical care physicians may perform or direct anesthesia in complex cases where end–tidal control is used for hemodynamically unstable patients.
208D00000X	Emergency Medicine	Emergency physicians may use controlled inhaled anesthesia with end–tidal monitoring in select urgent airway or procedural sedation scenarios.
207R00000X	Pain Medicine	Pain medicine specialists using advanced anesthetic management techniques in certain procedural settings may utilize end–tidal control systems.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`I21.9`	Acute myocardial infarction, unspecified	Major surgery and anesthetic depth control affect myocardial oxygen demand; precise end‑tidal control helps avoid hemodynamic fluctuations in patients with recent MI.
`I50.9`	Heart failure, unspecified	Patients with heart failure are sensitive to anesthetic depth and oxygenation; end‑tidal control supports stable gas delivery and rapid titration.
`J96.00`	Acute respiratory failure, unspecified whether with hypoxia or hypercapnia	Patients with respiratory compromise undergoing anesthesia benefit from closely controlled agent and oxygen delivery via end‑tidal monitoring.
`K35.80`	Acute appendicitis without perforation or abscess	Common acute abdominal condition requiring general anesthesia where end‑tidal control may be used for intraoperative management.
`M16.11`	Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, right hip	Typical elective orthopedic indication (e.g., total hip arthroplasty) where end‑tidal control optimizes anesthetic depth during major joint surgery.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`00100`	Anesthesia for procedures on salivary glands, lower face, and floor of mouth; not otherwise specified	Example base anesthesia codes represent the primary anesthesia service to which the end–tidal control add‑on (`0887T`) is appended when applicable; the specific base code depends on the surgical procedure.
`00630`	Anesthesia for procedures on the integumentary system of the lower extremity (e.g., total hip arthroplasty)	Represents another type of base anesthesia service commonly performed with end–tidal control in major orthopedic procedures.
`00790`	Anesthesia for upper abdominal procedures (e.g., laparoscopic colectomy)	Common base anesthesia code for major abdominal surgery where precise end–tidal control may be used to optimize intraoperative management.
`94002`	Ventilation assist and management, initiation of pressure or volume preset ventilator for assisted or controlled breathing; hospital inpatient/observation	Related respiratory management services that may be performed in patients requiring ventilatory support under general anesthesia employing end–tidal control.
`99100`	Anesthesia complicated by utilization of total body hypothermia	Example of an anesthesia add‑on or modifier scenario where complexity of physiologic control (like end‑tidal management) coincides with other complex intraoperative management; shows interplay of complexity with additional billing considerations.

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Summary & Overview

CPT 0887T: End-Tidal Control Technique for Anesthesia Add-On

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicare0887TCPTanesthesiaend-tidal monitoringautomated anesthesiaadd-on serviceoperating roomprocedure billing

Billing Code Overview

Service type: Anesthesia add-on service using automated end-tidal control techniques
Typical site of service: Operating room or procedural suite where general anesthesia is administered

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`22`	Increased procedural services	Use when the end–tidal control technique required significantly greater work or complexity than typical anesthesia management and documentation supports the increased work.
`52`	Reduced services	Use when end–tidal control was started but discontinued early or was only partially performed.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when the technique was initiated but aborted due to patient instability or technical failure before meaningful service was rendered.
`78`	Unplanned return to the operating/procedure room by the same physician following initial procedure for a related procedure during the postoperative period	Use when repeat anesthesia with end–tidal control is required emergently for a related return to the OR.
`AA`	Anesthesia services performed personally by anesthesiologist	Use when the named anesthesiologist personally performed the anesthesia including end–tidal control.
`AD`	Medical supervision by physician; more than four concurrent anesthesia procedures	Use when the physician supervised end–tidal control while supervising more than four concurrent cases.
`QK`	Medical direction of 2–4 concurrent anesthesia procedures involving qualified individuals	Use when the physician medically directs qualified personnel providing end–tidal control in 2–4 concurrent cases.
`QS`	Monitored anesthesia care service	Use when end–tidal control technique is used during monitored anesthesia care rather than full general anesthesia, if appropriate and allowable.
`QX`	CRNA service: CRNA with medical direction by physician	Use when a CRNA furnishes the end–tidal control service under medical direction by a physician.
`QY`	Medical direction of one CRNA by an anesthesiologist	Use when the anesthesiologist medically directs one CRNA providing the end–tidal control technique.
`QZ`	CRNA service: CRNA without medical direction by a physician	Use when a CRNA independently provides end–tidal control and the payer recognizes `QZ`.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207L00000X	Anesthesiology	Primary specialty performing anesthesia services and supervising end–tidal control technology.
290600000X	Nurse Anesthetist	CRNAs commonly deliver anesthesia and operate end–tidal control systems under varying supervision models.
2084P0800X	Critical Care Medicine	Critical care physicians may perform or direct anesthesia in complex cases where end–tidal control is used for hemodynamically unstable patients.
208D00000X	Emergency Medicine	Emergency physicians may use controlled inhaled anesthesia with end–tidal monitoring in select urgent airway or procedural sedation scenarios.
207R00000X	Pain Medicine	Pain medicine specialists using advanced anesthetic management techniques in certain procedural settings may utilize end–tidal control systems.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`I21.9`	Acute myocardial infarction, unspecified	Major surgery and anesthetic depth control affect myocardial oxygen demand; precise end‑tidal control helps avoid hemodynamic fluctuations in patients with recent MI.
`I50.9`	Heart failure, unspecified	Patients with heart failure are sensitive to anesthetic depth and oxygenation; end‑tidal control supports stable gas delivery and rapid titration.
`J96.00`	Acute respiratory failure, unspecified whether with hypoxia or hypercapnia	Patients with respiratory compromise undergoing anesthesia benefit from closely controlled agent and oxygen delivery via end‑tidal monitoring.
`K35.80`	Acute appendicitis without perforation or abscess	Common acute abdominal condition requiring general anesthesia where end‑tidal control may be used for intraoperative management.
`M16.11`	Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, right hip	Typical elective orthopedic indication (e.g., total hip arthroplasty) where end‑tidal control optimizes anesthetic depth during major joint surgery.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`00100`	Anesthesia for procedures on salivary glands, lower face, and floor of mouth; not otherwise specified	Example base anesthesia codes represent the primary anesthesia service to which the end–tidal control add‑on (`0887T`) is appended when applicable; the specific base code depends on the surgical procedure.
`00630`	Anesthesia for procedures on the integumentary system of the lower extremity (e.g., total hip arthroplasty)	Represents another type of base anesthesia service commonly performed with end–tidal control in major orthopedic procedures.
`00790`	Anesthesia for upper abdominal procedures (e.g., laparoscopic colectomy)	Common base anesthesia code for major abdominal surgery where precise end–tidal control may be used to optimize intraoperative management.
`94002`	Ventilation assist and management, initiation of pressure or volume preset ventilator for assisted or controlled breathing; hospital inpatient/observation	Related respiratory management services that may be performed in patients requiring ventilatory support under general anesthesia employing end–tidal control.
`99100`	Anesthesia complicated by utilization of total body hypothermia	Example of an anesthesia add‑on or modifier scenario where complexity of physiologic control (like end‑tidal management) coincides with other complex intraoperative management; shows interplay of complexity with additional billing considerations.