CPT 82024: Quantitative Corticotropin (ACTH) Assay
CPT code 82024 denotes a quantitative laboratory assay for corticotropin (ACTH), a hormone measured to evaluate adrenal and pituitary function. This test is clinically important for distinguishing primary adrenal insufficiency from secondary causes and for diagnosing hormone-dependent disorders that affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. As a widely used endocrine diagnostic, it is performed in clinical and hospital laboratory settings and factors into diagnostic panels for adrenal and thyroid-related disease.
Key payers considered in this national overview include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise account of what the code represents, the clinical context for ordering the assay, typical sites of service, and how the test relates to common endocrine diagnostic workflows. The publication also reviews related laboratory assays and codes for clinicians and billing personnel to reference, and it summarizes payer coverage scope and common billing considerations for lab-based hormone testing.
This executive summary provides clinicians, billing staff, and policy analysts with a clear description of CPT code 82024, the clinical scenarios where the test is applicable, and the national payer landscape covered in the analysis. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable in supporting sections.
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Billing Code Overview
CPT code 82024 is a quantitative assay for corticotropin (ACTH) measured by a laboratory analyst to assist in the evaluation of hormone-dependent conditions. The test aids in differentiating primary versus secondary adrenal insufficiency and supports diagnostic workups for disorders of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
Service Type: Laboratory diagnostic test (quantitative hormone assay)
Typical Site of Service: Clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory
National Reimbursement Benchmarks
National commercial rates for CPT 82024 show BUCA (average commercial) centered at $81.20, while individual commercial payers vary: Aetna has a relatively low mean at $33.30, Cigna and UnitedHealth Group sit near the low-to-mid $30s–$40s with means of $42.70 and $39.00 respectively, and Blue Cross Blue Shield displays the highest dispersion and mean at $113.40. Blue Cross Blue Shield’s maximum outlier of $460.20 drives a wider distribution compared with others, creating notable upward pressure on the upper tail of the market.
Assessing dispersion via interquartile range (P75 minus P25) highlights differences in rate consistency: Blue Cross Blue Shield has the widest IQR at $58.70 ($137.50 - $80.80), indicating the least tight pricing band among payers. UnitedHealth Group and Cigna show moderate dispersion with IQRs of $24.70 ($46.90 - $23.20) and $33.30 ($56.00 - $23.70) respectively, while Aetna’s IQR is the tightest at $12.00 ($37.00 - $25.00). BUCA’s quartiles ($56.40, $68.80, $98.59) imply a mid-to-upper commercial range centered on the $81.20 mean.