Summary & Overview
CPT 80412: CRH Stimulation Panel with Cortisol and ACTH Assays
CPT code 80412 represents the technical laboratory component for a corticotropic-releasing hormone (CRH) stimulation panel that includes six cortisol assays and six adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) assays. This code captures a multi-sample endocrine diagnostic procedure used to assess hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis function and is relevant for providers, laboratories, and payers managing complex endocrine testing.
Key national payers in scope include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of the code’s clinical context, typical sites of service, and laboratory procedures associated with the panel. The publication summarizes benchmark considerations for reimbursement and utilization, highlights common modifier usage when reported, and explains how this code fits within laboratory billing workflows.
This summary is intended to clarify clinical purpose and billing classification: what the code denotes, why it matters for laboratory diagnostics nationwide, and what stakeholders should expect when encountering CPT code 80412 on claims. Data not available in the input will be noted where applicable elsewhere in the publication.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 80412 describes a laboratory technical service for a corticotropic-releasing hormone (CRH) stimulation panel. The service requires the lab analyst to perform and report a series of assays that include six cortisol measurements and six adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) measurements as part of a single stimulated diagnostic panel.
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Service type: Clinical laboratory technical component performing an endocrine stimulation panel involving serial hormone assays
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Typical site of service: Clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory performing specialized endocrine testing
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Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 38-year-old female with a history of episodic hypertension, weight gain, and unexplained hyperglycemia presents to an endocrinology clinic for evaluation of possible Cushing syndrome. The endocrinologist orders a corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) stimulation panel to help distinguish pituitary from ectopic ACTH secretion. The clinical workflow: the patient is instructed on pretest requirements (medication review, timing, and fasting if needed). On test day, peripheral venous access is established in an outpatient infusion suite or clinical laboratory; baseline blood samples for cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) are drawn. CRH is administered intravenously per protocol and additional paired blood samples are obtained at multiple time points. The laboratory performs the technical testing for the panel, which requires six cortisol assays and six ACTH assays per the CPT description. Results are reported to the ordering endocrinologist, who integrates them with clinical findings and imaging to guide diagnosis and management. Typical sites of service include hospital outpatient laboratories, independent clinical laboratories, and hospital-based clinical pathology labs.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Use when billing only the physician interpretation portion if separated from the technical lab component. |