CPT code 49083 denotes an image-guided abdominal paracentesis performed to remove abnormal fluid from the peritoneal cavity for symptom relief or diagnostic sampling. This code captures procedures where imaging—such as ultrasound or fluoroscopy—is used to guide needle or catheter placement, increasing procedural accuracy and safety. Nationally, paracentesis is a common procedure across inpatient and outpatient settings for patients with ascites from diverse etiologies, making accurate coding important for clinical documentation and payer adjudication.

Key payers in typical analyses include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context and service settings, plus benchmarking and policy considerations relevant to reimbursement and coding practice. The publication outlines common billing themes for image-guided paracentesis, documentation elements that support medical necessity, and how payers typically categorize and reimburse these services. It also highlights areas where policy updates or payer-specific edits may affect claims processing. Data not available in the input: detailed payer-specific rates, ICD-10 pairings, and taxonomy mappings.