Summary & Overview
CPT 84075: Alkaline Phosphatase Measurement, Serum
CPT code 84075 represents a laboratory assay measuring alkaline phosphatase activity in serum, a widely used biochemical test for assessing liver function, bone metabolism, and certain intestinal or pulmonary processes. As a common component of basic metabolic or hepatic panels, this test matters nationally for clinical diagnosis, care coordination, and laboratory reimbursement frameworks.
Key payers typically involved in coverage and reimbursement include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a clinical context for when the assay is ordered, typical sites of service, and an overview of payer coverage scopes. The publication summarizes common billing and coding considerations, benchmark rate themes, and policy updates affecting laboratory testing reimbursement. It also outlines operational implications for laboratories and health systems, including ordering patterns and reporting expectations.
This resource is intended for health policy analysts, revenue cycle managers, laboratory directors, and clinicians seeking a concise reference on CPT code 84075, its clinical uses, and the payer environment that shapes access and payment for alkaline phosphatase testing.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 84075 measures alkaline phosphatase concentration, typically performed on a serum sample. The test assesses the activity of alkaline phosphatase enzymes primarily originating from the liver, bone, intestine, and lungs, and aids in evaluating hepatic function, bone metabolism, and certain gastrointestinal or pulmonary conditions.
Service Type: Clinical laboratory test — biochemical assay
Typical Site of Service: Clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory; outpatient blood draw collection sites
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is a 52-year-old outpatient who presents to primary care with fatigue, mild jaundice, and elevated liver enzymes on a basic metabolic panel. The clinician orders a serum alkaline phosphatase measurement to evaluate hepatobiliary versus bone sources of the enzyme elevation. A phlebotomy technician obtains a serum sample in the clinic lab or outpatient draw station. The specimen is routed to the clinical chemistry laboratory where an automated analyzer performs the 84075 alkaline phosphatase assay. Results are reviewed by the ordering clinician and the laboratory director as needed; abnormal results may trigger additional testing (liver function panel, bilirubin fractionation, gamma‑glutamyl transferase, or bone turnover markers) or imaging studies. Typical sites of service include outpatient clinic laboratories, physician office labs, hospital outpatient departments, and independent clinical laboratories.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Use when only the professional interpretation or review of laboratory results is billed separately (rare for routine chemistry assays). |
90 |