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CPT 81050: Timed Urine Collection Volume Measurement
CPT code 81050 represents the laboratory service of measuring and recording the total volume of urine collected during a timed urine collection. This basic but essential laboratory procedure supports diagnosis and monitoring of renal function, fluid balance, metabolic disorders, and other conditions where timed urine output is clinically relevant. Nationally, accurate documentation of timed urine volume is important for clinical decision-making, quality measurement, and proper billing of associated laboratory services.
Key payers in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise explanation of what the code covers, typical sites of service, and the clinical contexts in which the measurement is used. The publication also provides benchmarking context, common modifier usage (listed separately), and guidance on where this service is commonly billed within the laboratory service line.
The content aims to clarify the clinical purpose of CPT code 81050, outline payers that commonly reimburse such laboratory measurements, and summarize what facilities and coders should expect when documenting timed urine volume measurements. Data not provided in the source input (such as specific payer rates, related ICD-10 diagnoses, and associated taxonomies) are noted as unavailable and are not fabricated.
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Billing Code Overview
CPT code 81050 documents the laboratory measurement and recording of the volume of urine collected during a timed urine collection. The service involves a laboratory analyst or technician measuring total urine output for a specified timed interval and recording that volume as part of a diagnostic or monitoring procedure.
Service type: Laboratory specimen processing and measurement
Typical site of service: Clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory setting; specimen may be collected in inpatient, outpatient, or ambulatory settings prior to measurement
Data not available in the input.