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CPT 82043: Urine Albumin Quantitation for Kidney Disease
Headline: CPT code 82043: Timed or Random Urine Albumin Quantitation, Used to Detect and Monitor Kidney Disease
Lead: CPT code 82043 covers quantitation of albumin in timed or random urine specimens, a widely used laboratory test for diagnosing and monitoring kidney disease and albuminuria. The measure has clinical importance for early detection of renal injury in patients with diabetes, hypertension, and other risk factors.
What this code represents and why it matters: CPT code 82043 denotes a laboratory assay that quantifies urine albumin from timed or random collections. Nationally, urine albumin measurement is a cornerstone of chronic kidney disease (CKD) screening and management pathways, informing clinical decisions and care planning. Accurate coding supports appropriate laboratory billing and clinical tracking of albuminuria prevalence across populations.
Key payers covered: This analysis covers major national payers including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.
What readers will learn: The publication provides benchmarks and clinical context for CPT code 82043, outlines common clinical indications and typical sites of service, and positions related laboratory tests useful for interpretation. Readers will also find guidance on how CPT code 82043 relates to other urine and protein assays frequently used in nephrology and primary care workflows.
Scope: National clinical and billing context for CPT code 82043, intended for coding, laboratory management, and clinical operations audiences.
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Billing Code Overview
CPT code 82043 describes the laboratory quantitation of albumin in a timed or random urine specimen. The test measures urinary albumin concentration and is used to diagnose and manage kidney disease, including detection of albuminuria that may indicate renal damage.
Service type: Clinical laboratory urine test – albumin quantitation
Typical site of service: Clinical laboratory or outpatient collection site, including hospital outpatient laboratories and independent diagnostic laboratories.
National Reimbursement Benchmarks
National commercial reimbursement for CPT 82043 centers around an average commercial benchmark represented by BUCA at $18.50. Blue Cross Blue Shield shows the highest central tendency with a median of $25.10 and a mean of $27.40, while Aetna, Cigna, and UnitedHealth Group cluster lower with means of $7.80, $6.60, and $5.10 respectively. BUCA’s average sits between those clusters and helps frame the market midpoint for commercial contracts at $18.50.
Dispersion varies notably: Blue Cross Blue Shield has the widest interquartile spread (P75–P25 = $9.80), indicating greater variability across its contracted rates, while UnitedHealth Group is the tightest with a spread of $3.40. Aetna and Cigna show moderate spreads of $4.90 and $4.50 respectively, suggesting more consistent pricing than Blue Cross Blue Shield but less consistency than UnitedHealth Group. BUCA provides a single average benchmark without quartile extremes.