CPT 81462: Plasma Liquid Biopsy Genomic Sequencing Panel
Commercial payers pay $1016 on average nationally for this procedure.
CPT code 81462 describes a genomic sequencing panel performed on a plasma specimen (liquid biopsy) to analyze cell-free DNA or DNA/RNA for sequence variants, copy number variants, and rearrangements relevant to diagnosis and treatment of solid organ cancers; service type: genomic sequencing panel / molecular pathology; typical site of service: clinical laboratory or outpatient phlebotomy where plasma specimens are collected and processed for next-generation sequencing–based tumor profiling.
For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: RTM Testing of Homocysteine Metabolism-Related Conditions, Multimarker Serum Testing Related to Ovarian Cancer, Genomic Profiling for Selecting Targeted Cancer Therapies.
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National Reimbursement Benchmarks
BUCA’s average commercial rate for CPT 81462 sits at $1,015.80, providing a useful anchor for comparing major commercial payers. Blue Cross Blue Shield’s interquartile spread (P75–P25) is $500.10, UnitedHealth Group’s spread is $693.50, Cigna’s spread is $781.40, and Aetna’s spread is $425.20. These spreads indicate Cigna and UnitedHealth Group exhibit the widest price dispersion among the listed payers, while Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield show comparatively tighter clustering around their mid-range commercial payments.
Overall, the market centers near BUCA’s mean but with meaningful variation by payer: Cigna and UnitedHealth Group demonstrate the largest IQRs, suggesting greater variability in negotiated commercial rates, whereas Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield are the tightest on an IQR basis. Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealth Group also have high-end values that extend above BUCA’s average, contributing to broader upper-tail exposure for those payers.