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CPT 84443: Thyroid‑Stimulating Hormone (TSH) Assay
CPT code 84443 denotes a quantitative laboratory assay for thyroid‑stimulating hormone (TSH), a key diagnostic test for evaluating thyroid function. Nationally, TSH measurement is a common and clinically important lab service used in primary care, endocrinology, and hospital outpatient settings to detect hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and to monitor thyroid therapy. The code supports billing for routine venous blood collection and laboratory analysis performed by clinical medical laboratories.
This publication covers coverage and billing considerations for major national payers, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise explanation of the test purpose, typical clinical contexts, common encounter sites, and related laboratory panels. The report also outlines which ICD‑10 diagnosis categories are commonly associated with TSH testing and lists related laboratory CPT codes for bundled or complementary testing.
Intended for revenue cycle managers, laboratory directors, and clinicians, the piece provides benchmark context and policy-relevant details that inform coding decisions and claims submission. Data not available in the input is explicitly noted where applicable.
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Billing Code Overview
CPT code 84443 describes a laboratory test that measures thyroid‑stimulating hormone (TSH) in a patient's blood. The analysis quantifies the concentration of TSH, a pituitary hormone that regulates thyroid function, to assist clinicians in evaluating thyroid status.
Service type: Clinical laboratory testing
Typical site of service: Clinical laboratory or outpatient phlebotomy collection
National Reimbursement Benchmarks
Commercial reimbursement for CPT 84443 centers on a BUCA average of $42.50, with major national payers showing distinct centering and spread. Blue Cross Blue Shield posts a higher central tendency (median $52.70) relative to Blue Urban Commercial Average, while Aetna and Cigna cluster lower (medians $16.80 and $16.30, respectively). UnitedHealth Group’s median of $10.10 sits below the BUCA average. Maximums and minimums vary by carrier, but BUCA provides a useful midpoint for commercial negotiations and benchmarking.
Dispersion measured by the interquartile range (P75–P25) highlights variability: Blue Cross Blue Shield is the tightest with a spread of $21.70 ($69.20–$45.50), suggesting more concentrated pricing, while Aetna shows the widest spread at $18.00 ($31.20–$13.00) among lower-cost payers. Cigna’s spread is $13.30 ($23.20–$9.90), UnitedHealth Group’s spread is $9.20 ($16.80–$7.60), and BUCA’s IQR is $19.40 ($49.70–$30.30). These spreads indicate differing levels of price consistency across carriers for this code.