Summary & Overview
CPT 80408: Aldosterone Suppression Evaluation Panel
Headline: CPT code 80408: Aldosterone Suppression Evaluation Panel for Primary Aldosteronism Workup
Lead: CPT code 80408 identifies a laboratory diagnostic panel used to evaluate aldosterone suppression, commonly performed as a saline infusion test and requiring paired aldosterone and renin measurements. This panel supports definitive biochemical assessment in patients being evaluated for primary aldosteronism and informs subsequent clinical and procedural decisions.
CPT code 80408 matters nationally because it standardizes reporting for a specific endocrine diagnostic panel that requires multiple timed assays and often involves monitored infusion procedures in a clinical laboratory setting. Payors commonly referenced in coverage and payment discussions for this service include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.
Readers will learn the clinical context and service setting associated with the code, the typical laboratory composition (two aldosterone and two renin assays), and which major payors are relevant to billing and coverage conversations. The publication also summarizes common billing modifiers and identifies where data is unavailable. Benchmarks, policy updates, and clinical guidance relevant to utilization and coding practices are presented to help billing professionals and clinical laboratories align claims submission with payer expectations.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 80408 describes an aldosterone suppression evaluation panel, for example a saline infusion test, performed by a laboratory analyst. The panel requires two aldosterone assays and two renin assays as part of the suppression evaluation.
Service type: Laboratory diagnostic panel
Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient laboratory or independent clinical laboratory
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult evaluated for possible primary aldosteronism after detection of hypertension that is difficult to control or accompanied by hypokalemia. The patient often presents to endocrinology or nephrology clinic after initial screening tests (plasma aldosterone concentration and plasma renin activity or direct renin concentration) show an elevated aldosterone-to-renin ratio. The clinician schedules an aldosterone suppression evaluation panel, commonly a saline infusion test, performed in an outpatient infusion suite or hospital observation unit.
Pre-procedure workflow includes medication review and adjustment (minimizing interfering antihypertensives such as mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, potassium-wasting diuretics, or drugs affecting renin/aldosterone), baseline laboratory tests (basic metabolic panel to assess potassium), and patient consent. On the day of testing the patient receives a controlled isotonic saline infusion per protocol; blood samples are drawn at baseline and after infusion for two aldosterone assays and two renin assays as required by the panel. The laboratory performs paired assays, documents specimen handling, and reports results to the ordering provider for interpretation and subsequent imaging or adrenal venous sampling referrals if suppression is inadequate.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
11 | Normal, or significant, procedural service | When this is the primary, standard aldosterone suppression panel performed without unusual circumstances |