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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesOrgan or Disease Oriented PanelsCPT cpt-80051-electrolyte-panel-na-cl-k-clo-co2
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    CPT 80051: Electrolyte Panel (Na, K, Cl, CO2)

    Commercial payers pay $25 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 80051 describes a clinical laboratory electrolyte panel that includes measurement of carbon dioxide, chloride, potassium, and sodium; it represents a routine chemistry blood test typically performed on serum or plasma specimens and used in inpatient, outpatient, and emergency laboratory settings to assess fluid and electrolyte balance.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Long-Acting Injectable Antiretroviral Agents for HIV, B-Hemolytic Streptococcus Testing, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) — Coverage Criteria for Testing and Resistance Assays.

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    National Reimbursement Benchmarks

    National commercial rates for CPT 80051 center on a BUCA average commercial rate of $24.70, with individual payer patterns that show meaningful variation. Blue Cross Blue Shield’s middle range sits notably higher than UnitedHealth Group and Cigna, while Aetna exhibits extreme high-end outliers that push its mean well above other payers. UnitedHealth Group and Cigna have lower central tendencies, and Blue Cross Blue Shield is intermediate.

    Examining dispersion using the interquartile spread (P75−P25) highlights which payers are tightest or widest: Blue Cross Blue Shield’s IQR is $11.00 ($33.00−$22.00), Cigna’s is $5.40 ($10.00−$4.60), UnitedHealth Group’s is $3.90 ($7.00−$3.10), BUCA’s is $8.90 ($22.50−$13.60), and Aetna’s is $4.30 ($8.40−$4.10). Blue Cross Blue Shield shows the widest IQR while UnitedHealth Group is the tightest among these payers.

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    National Payer Mean Reimbursement Rates

    State Reimbursement Rates

    State: Alaska1 / 51

    Rate by payer

    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is an adult presenting to an emergency department or outpatient clinic with symptoms such as weakness, dizziness, palpitations, altered mental status, edema, or shortness of breath. The clinician orders an electrolyte panel to evaluate serum sodium, potassium, chloride, and total carbon dioxide (bicarbonate) to assess hydration status, acid–base balance, and electrolyte disturbances. A phlebotomist collects a venous blood specimen; the sample is processed in the clinical laboratory. The lab analyst performs measurements for sodium, potassium, chloride, and carbon dioxide and reports values in the electronic medical record. Results guide immediate clinical decisions such as IV fluid selection, electrolyte repletion, diuretic adjustments, and further diagnostic testing (for example, renal function tests or arterial blood gas). Typical sites of service include hospital inpatient laboratories, emergency departments, urgent care centers, and outpatient clinic laboratories. The service type is a routine chemistry panel focused on basic electrolytes.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    80053

    Related Modifiers

    8 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    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…
    90Modifier ‑90 (Reference/Outside Laboratory) indicates that a laboratory test was performed by an entity other than the treating or reporting provider. The American Medical Association defines…- Use CPT modifier -90 when a laboratory test is performed by an outside/reference laboratory (an entity other than the treating or reporting physician or qualified professional) and the claim needs…
    91Modifier 91 — “Repeat Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Test” — is appended when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once for the same patient on the same day because serial,…- Use modifier 91 when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once on the same patient on the same date because serial or repeated testing is medically necessary to monitor…
    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…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207R00000X
    207L00000X
    207P00000X
    261QF0400X
    2251S0007X
    2085U0001X
    2278P3800X
    261QB0400X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    27 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    A41.9Sepsis, unspecified organism
    B34.9Viral infection, unspecified
    E11.65Type 2 diabetes mellitus with hyperglycemia
    E11.9Type 2 diabetes mellitus without complications
    E86.0Dehydration
    E86.1Hypovolemia
    E87.1Hypo-osmolality and hyponatremia
    E87.6Hypokalemia
    E87.8Other disorders of electrolyte and fluid balance, not elsewhere classified
    F32.9Major depressive disorder, single episode, unspecified

    Showing 1–10 of 27

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Infectious Disease1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Long-Acting Injectable Antiretroviral Agents for HIVColorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans2026-10-01
    B-Hemolytic Streptococcus TestingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) — Coverage Criteria for Testing and Resistance AssaysOscar Health2026-10-01
    Hepatitis Testing (A, B, C, D) Coverage CriteriaOscar Health2026-10-01
    Lyme Disease Testing Coverage CriteriaOscar Health2026-10-01
    Pathogen Panel TestingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Diagnostic Testing of Common Sexually Transmitted InfectionsOscar Health2026-10-01
    Coronavirus Testing in the Outpatient SettingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Testing for Vector-Borne InfectionsOscar Health2026-10-01
    Testing for Diagnosis of Active or Latent TuberculosisOscar Health2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-80047-BASIC-METABOLIC-PANEL-BMP

    CPT 80047: Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP)

    CPT-80048-BASIC-METABOLIC-PANEL-BMP

    CPT 80048: Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP)

    CPT-80050-GENERAL-HEALTH-PANEL-SCREENING-LAB

    CPT 80050: General Health Panel Screening

    CPT-80053-COMPREHENSIVE-METABOLIC-PANEL-CMP

    CPT 80053: Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)

    CPT-80055-OBSTETRIC-PANEL-PRENATAL-LAB-TESTING

    CPT 80055: Obstetric Laboratory Panel

    CPT-80061-LIPID-PANEL-CHOLESTEROL-TRIGLYCERIDES

    CPT 80061: Lipid Panel (Cholesterol and Triglycerides)

    CPT-80069-RENAL-FUNCTION-PANEL-LAB-TEST

    CPT 80069: Renal Function Panel, Blood

    CPT-80074-ACUTE-HEPATITIS-PANEL-SEROLOGY

    CPT 80074: Acute Hepatitis Serology Panel

    CPT-80076-HEPATIC-FUNCTION-PANEL-LIVER-CHEMISTRY

    CPT 80076: Hepatic Function Panel (Liver Chemistry Tests)

    CPT-80081-OBSTETRIC-PANEL-INITIAL-PRENATAL-TESTING

    CPT 80081: Obstetric Screening Panel for Prenatal Care

    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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    Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

    Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.

    Comprehensive metabolic panel; includes multiple chemistry tests such as glucose, calcium, electrolytes, kidney and liver tests
    Often ordered alongside 80051 when broader metabolic assessment is required; may supersede if comprehensive panel performed.
    80048Basic metabolic panel (Calcium, total)Alternative panel that overlaps with 80051; used when calcium is also required.
    82803Lactate (if available in some panels)May be ordered concurrently in critically ill patients for perfusion assessment; complements electrolyte data.
    82374Blood carbon dioxide (bicarbonate) (Note: component tests may be billed within panels)Specific assay related to the carbon dioxide measurement included in 80051; lab may report as part of panel rather than separately.
    84132Creatinine; bloodKidney function test commonly ordered with electrolytes to assess renal contribution to electrolyte abnormalities.