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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesEsophagogastroduodenoscopy ProceduresCPT cpt-43239-esophagogastroduodenoscopy-with-biopsy
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    CPT 43239: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy with Biopsy

    Medicare pays $436 and commercial payers pay $732 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 43239 describes a diagnostic esophagogastroduodenoscopy with flexible endoscope passed transorally into the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum with removal of one or more tissue biopsy specimens; service type: endoscopic diagnostic procedure with biopsy; typical site of service: outpatient endoscopy suite or hospital endoscopy unit.

    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

    Commercial averages vary notably around Medicare: Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealth Group show mean rates well above Medicare’s mean of $435.80, while BUCA’s average commercial mean of $731.90 is substantially higher than Medicare. Aetna and Cigna sit below or near those commercial leaders, creating a clear split between higher-paying commercial contracts and the Medicare baseline.

    Dispersion (P75–P25) highlights which payers are tightest or widest. Aetna’s interquartile range is $284.10, Cigna’s is $280.20, and BUCA’s is $629.60, indicating moderate to wide commercial spread; Blue Cross Blue Shield is the widest at $833.00. UnitedHealth Group’s IQR is $383.50, making it mid-range in variability. Medicare’s IQR is $51.00, the tightest distribution among the listed payers.

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    National Payer Mean Reimbursement Rates

    State Reimbursement Rates

    State: Alaska1 / 51

    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 62-year-old patient with progressive dysphagia and unexplained weight loss is referred to gastroenterology for diagnostic evaluation. The provider performs a flexible esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) via transoral insertion of a flexible endoscope to visualize the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. During the procedure, targeted mucosal biopsies are taken from suspicious esophageal lesions for histopathologic analysis to confirm or rule out malignancy. Endoscopic biopsy specimens may also be obtained when infectious causes are suspected, for example to confirm B37.81 (candidal esophagitis) when white plaques and odynophagia are present. The procedure is typically performed in an outpatient endoscopy suite or hospital endoscopy unit under moderate sedation administered and monitored by anesthesia or the endoscopy team. Tissue specimens are placed in appropriate fixative and sent to pathology with relevant clinical history and suspected diagnosis, and the patient is observed in recovery until discharge criteria are met.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    43249Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, flexible, transoral; with transendoscopic balloon dilation of esophagus (less than 30 mm diameter)Represents an additional therapeutic intervention that may be performed during the same endoscopic session if a stenosis requiring dilation is encountered.

    Related Modifiers

    13 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    25CPT modifier 25 indicates that on the same day as another procedure or service, the same physician or other qualified health care professional provided a significant, separately identifiable…- When to apply: Use modifier 25 only on an E/M code to indicate the same provider delivered a significant, separately identifiable E/M service on the same day as another procedure or service — i.e.,…
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    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…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    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…
    73Modifier 73 indicates a facility-level outpatient hospital or ASC procedure that was discontinued after the patient was prepared and taken to the procedure/operating room but before any anesthesia…- When to use: Apply CPT modifier 73 on the FACILITY (outpatient hospital or ASC) claim when the patient has been fully prepared and physically taken into the procedure/operating room but the…
    74Modifier ‑74 indicates an outpatient hospital or ASC procedure that was discontinued after anesthesia was administered and after the procedure had begun. Use this modifier when anesthesia (local,…- Use modifier -74 when a procedure in an outpatient hospital or ASC setting is terminated after anesthesia has been administered and after the procedure has commenced (for example, after incision,…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    77Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…

    Showing 1–10 of 13

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207RG0100X
    246ZA2600X
    204R00000X
    2471V0106X
    376K00000X
    364SA2200X
    251C00000X
    207ZM0300X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    28 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    B37.81Candidal esophagitis
    C15.9Malignant neoplasm of esophagus, unspecified
    C16.9Malignant neoplasm of stomach, unspecified
    D12.6Benign neoplasm of colon, unspecified
    D13.0Benign neoplasm of esophagus
    K21.9Gastro-esophageal reflux disease without esophagitis
    K25.9Gastric ulcer, unspecified as acute or chronic, without hemorrhage or perforation
    K26.9Duodenal ulcer, unspecified as acute or chronic, without hemorrhage or perforation
    K27.9Peptic ulcer, site unspecified, unspecified as acute or chronic, without hemorrhage or perforation
    K28.9Gastrojejunal ulcer, unspecified as acute or chronic, without hemorrhage or perforation

    Showing 1–10 of 28

    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-43210-ESOPHAGOGASTRODUODENOSCOPY-WITH-FUNDOPLICATION

    CPT 43210: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy with Fundoplication

    CPT-43235-DIAGNOSTIC-ESOPHAGOGASTRODUODENOSCOPY-EGD

    CPT 43235: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, Diagnostic

    CPT-43236-UPPER-ENDOSCOPY-SUBMUCOSAL-INJECTION

    CPT 43236: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy with Submucosal Injection

    CPT-43237-UPPER-ENDOSCOPY-WITH-ENDOSCOPIC-ULTRASOUND-EUS

    CPT 43237: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy with Endoscopic Ultrasound

    CPT-43238-ENDOSCOPIC-ULTRASOUND-FNA-BIOPSY-UPPER-GI

    CPT 43238: Endoscopic Ultrasound with FNA/Biopsy

    CPT-43240-ENDOSCOPIC-PSEUDOCYST-DRAINAGE-STENT-PLACEMENT

    CPT 43240: Endoscopic Drainage of Gastrointestinal Pseudocyst

    CPT-43241-UPPER-ENDOSCOPY-WITH-TUBE-OR-CATHETER-PLACEMENT

    CPT 43241: EGD with Enteral Tube or Catheter Placement

    CPT-43242-EUS-GUIDED-FNA-BIOPSY-UPPER-GI

    CPT 43242: EUS-Guided Upper GI Fine Needle Aspiration/Biopsy

    CPT-43243-ENDOSCOPIC-SCLEROTHERAPY-ESOPHAGUS-STOMACH

    CPT 43243: Endoscopic Sclerotherapy of Esophagus/Stomach/Duodenum

    CPT-43244-ENDOSCOPIC-VARICEAL-BAND-LIGATION

    CPT 43244: Endoscopic Variceal Band Ligation

    Showing 1–10 of 25

    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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