Summary & Overview
CPT 82164: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Measurement in Serum or Plasma
CPT code 82164 denotes a laboratory assay measuring an enzyme in serum or plasma that converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II — commonly understood as an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity measurement. This laboratory test has clinical relevance for assessing elements of the renin–angiotensin system, with implications for hypertension evaluation, cardiovascular and endocrine assessment, and monitoring of related therapies. Nationally, standardized coding for this assay supports consistent clinical documentation and claims processing across payers.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context, typical sites of service, and payer coverage considerations. The publication summarizes common billing modifiers, highlights where data is not available, and outlines policy and reimbursement framing relevant to laboratories and billing teams. It provides benchmarks for interpretation, notes common areas of coding clarification, and presents operational details that billing professionals and laboratory managers use when preparing claims for CPT code 82164.
Data not available in the input includes payer-specific reimbursement amounts, precise associated taxonomies, and linked ICD-10 diagnoses. Where those items are missing, the report specifies that the data are not available.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 82164 describes a laboratory measurement of an enzyme in serum or plasma that converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II. This analyte measurement is used to assess aspects of the renin–angiotensin system and can inform the evaluation of blood pressure regulation and certain endocrine or cardiovascular conditions.
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Service type: Laboratory diagnostic assay
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Typical site of service: Clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory setting
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 58-year-old outpatient with resistant hypertension and suspected primary hyperaldosteronism is referred to the clinical laboratory for measurement of plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity. The patient presents after withholding ACE inhibitors per clinician instruction. A phlebotomy technician collects serum or plasma in the outpatient draw station; the specimen is transported to the core chemistry laboratory where a laboratory analyst performs the enzymatic assay described by CPT 82164. Results are documented in the electronic medical record and communicated to the ordering clinician to assist in diagnosis and management of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis disorders. Typical sites of service include outpatient ambulatory laboratory, hospital outpatient department, and clinical laboratory within an inpatient setting when monitoring therapy or evaluating acute presentations.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Use when only the professional interpretation or reporting is billed separately from the technical component. |
TC | Technical component |