Summary & Overview
CPT 80417: Stimulated Renin Measurement
CPT code 80417 covers stimulated renin measurement: lab analysis of renin levels in two peripheral blood samples drawn before and after a stimulant such as captopril. This diagnostic assay plays a key role in evaluating disorders of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, including secondary causes of hypertension and some adrenal and renal conditions. As a specialized laboratory service, it impacts clinical decision-making, diagnostic pathways, and downstream care management nationally.
Key payers commonly involved include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The publication provides a national overview of clinical context and coding usage for CPT code 80417, and outlines what readers can expect: benchmarks for utilization and site-of-service patterns, coding and billing considerations, and relevant clinical indications for stimulated renin testing. Practical information covers where the service is typically performed (clinical and hospital outpatient laboratories) and the types of clinical scenarios in which the test is ordered.
Readers will gain a concise reference on the definition and clinical purpose of CPT code 80417, payer coverage landscape at a high level, and the aspects of laboratory service delivery that affect billing and documentation. Data not available in the input.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 80417 describes measurement of plasma renin activity in two peripheral blood samples taken before and after administration of a stimulant (for example, captopril). This is a laboratory diagnostic procedure used to assess the renin-angiotensin system and help evaluate causes of hypertension, secondary hyperaldosteronism, and related endocrine or renal disorders.
Service type: Laboratory diagnostic test — stimulated renin measurement
Typical site of service: Clinical laboratory or hospital outpatient laboratory, with blood drawn from a peripheral vein and processed by a laboratory analyst.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult referred by a primary care physician or endocrinologist for evaluation of suspected primary hyperaldosteronism or secondary causes of hypertension. The patient presents with persistent hypertension, hypokalemia, or resistant hypertension despite multi-drug therapy. Prior to the test, the patient undergoes medication review and, if appropriate, adjustment or temporary discontinuation of interfering antihypertensives per the ordering clinician. On the day of service, two peripheral venous blood samples are drawn: one baseline sample and a second sample obtained after administration of an oral or IV stimulant such as captopril, depending on the protocol. The laboratory measures plasma renin levels in both samples. Results are reported to the ordering clinician to aid in interpretation of the renin–aldosterone axis and guide further diagnostic steps (e.g., adrenal imaging, adrenal venous sampling) or management decisions (medication selection). Typical site of service is an outpatient phlebotomy or outpatient laboratory facility; inpatient hospital settings or ambulatory care clinics may also perform the test when clinically indicated.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
11 | Primary procedure | When 80417 is the principal service on the claim. |