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CPT 92950: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for Cardiac Arrest

CPT code 92950 denotes cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) performed for patients in cardiopulmonary arrest. Nationally, this code captures a high-acuity, time-sensitive emergency procedure used to restore oxygenation and circulation in patients with cardiac or respiratory arrest. Accurate coding of 92950 is important for clinical documentation, retrospective case review, and emergency care reporting.

Key payers addressed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of clinical context for use of the code, typical sites of service, common associated diagnoses, and how 92950 relates to other emergent critical-care services. The publication also covers common modifiers and billing relationships with related critical care codes to clarify coding boundaries and reporting scenarios.

This summary provides practitioners, billing professionals, and policy audiences with concise background on when CPT code 92950 applies, the clinical situations that prompt its use, and the payers most commonly relevant to coverage and claims processing. Data not available in the input is identified where applicable in detailed sections.

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Billing Code Overview

CPT code 92950 represents cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) performed for cardiopulmonary arrest. The procedure involves attempts to restart the patient's heart and lungs during a cardiopulmonary arrest to restore oxygenation and circulation.

Service Type: Emergency resuscitative procedure

Typical Site of Service: Emergency department or other acute care settings (inpatient bedside or pre-hospital emergency setting)

National Reimbursement Benchmarks

Nationally, Medicare’s mean allowed rate for CPT 92950 sits at $391.80, which is modestly lower than BUCA’s average commercial mean of $474.20. That gap of $82.40 reflects a common difference between Medicare and an average commercial plan baseline; Medicare’s central tendency (P50 $388) is close to its mean, indicating a compact central cluster around the mid-$300s, while BUCA’s median (P50 $439.10) sits above Medicare’s mean, signaling higher typical commercial reimbursements for this procedure.

Dispersion varies materially across payers when measured as P75 minus P25: Blue Cross Blue Shield has a range of $224.00 ($656.00 - $423.20), UnitedHealth Group shows $275.10 ($561.20 - $286.10), Cigna posts $257.40 ($529.40 - $257.50), Aetna is $180.00 ($354.00 - $174.00), and BUCA’s interquartile span is $236.90 ($581.20 - $344.30). The tightest IQR is Aetna at $180.00 and the widest is UnitedHealth Group at $275.10, indicating the greatest mid-distribution variability among the major commercial payers.

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CPT 92950: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for Cardiac Arrest

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Billing Code Overview

Service Type: Emergency resuscitative procedure

Typical Site of Service: Emergency department or other acute care settings (inpatient bedside or pre-hospital emergency setting)

National Reimbursement Benchmarks

National Payer Mean Reimbursement Rates

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 62-year-old male with known ischemic cardiomyopathy collapses at home and is brought to the emergency department by EMS with no palpable pulse and apnea. The ED team initiates immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) protocols, including chest compressions, bag-mask ventilation, application of a defibrillator, administration of epinephrine, and advanced airway management. The provider documents cardiopulmonary arrest and performs the life‑saving procedure described by CPT 92950 to attempt to restart cardiac and respiratory function. Simultaneous workflow steps include rapid assessment, chest compressions, defibrillation if indicated for shockable rhythms, airway placement (endotracheal tube or supraglottic device), medication administration, and continuous monitoring of cardiac rhythm and oxygenation. If return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) is achieved, the team transitions to post–resuscitation care, including stabilization, targeted temperature management if indicated, arterial blood gas evaluation, and admission to the intensive care unit. If ROSC is not achieved in the ED, documentation supports continued resuscitative efforts, termination decisions per local protocol, and communication with the family.

Coding Specifications

The following table lists the most clinically relevant modifiers for use with CPT 92950, with standard CMS meanings and typical ED/critical care scenarios.

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`25`	Significant, separately identifiable E/M service by the same physician on the same day of the procedure	Use when a distinct evaluation/management service (e.g., initial ED assessment) is performed in addition to CPR and is documented separately from `92950`.
`52`	Reduced services	Use if resuscitative attempts were performed but services were partially reduced or not completed as documented.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use if resuscitation was attempted but terminated prior to full performance for documented clinical reasons.
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Use when another procedure on the same day is distinct and separate from the CPR effort (ensure documentation supports distinctness).
`76`	Repeat procedure by same physician	Use if CPR/advanced resuscitation is repeated by the same provider during the same encounter (document separate events).
`77`	Repeat procedure by another physician	Use if a different physician repeats resuscitative procedure during the same encounter.
`78`	Return to the operating/procedure room for a related procedure following the initial service	Rare for ED CPR but applicable if a patient returns to procedure area for a related intervention post-ROSC; use with caution and documentation.
`79`	Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician during the postoperative period	Typically not applicable to CPR but available if unrelated services occur; include only with clear documentation.
`XE`	Separate encounter, a distinct procedural service	Use when the resuscitation occurred during a separate encounter from another procedure by the same provider that day and documentation supports distinctness.
`XP`	Separate practitioner, a distinct practitioner performed the procedure	Use when a different practitioner performed the resuscitation-related procedure and payer rules require this modifier.
`XU`	Unusual non-overlapping service	Use when the resuscitation is an unusual, non-overlapping service relative to other services on the same day and documentation justifies it.
`ER`	Emergency service	Use to indicate an emergency service setting if payer accepts this modifier for additional billing context.
`CR`	Catastrophe/disaster related	Use if the resuscitation occurred as part of a declared catastrophe and payor guidance supports this modifier.
`26`	Professional component	Use if billing separately for the professional interpretation component of a related diagnostic procedure performed during resuscitation and payer requires splitting components.

Associated provider taxonomies:

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`207P00000X`	Emergency Medicine Physician	Most common specialty performing ED resuscitation and documentation for CPT `92950`.
`207RC0000X`	Cardiovascular Disease Physician	In-hospital or consultative involvement for cardiac arrest patients, post-ROSC management or cardiac causes.
`207R00000X`	Internal Medicine Physician	Critical care or hospitalist physicians involved in post-resuscitation management and decisions regarding ongoing critical care.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`I46.9`	Cardiac arrest, cause unspecified	Primary presenting diagnosis for which CPR/advanced resuscitation (`92950`) is performed when the cause of arrest is not yet determined.
`I46.2`	Cardiac arrest due to underlying cardiac condition	Indicates cardiac-origin arrest where resuscitation is directed at restoring perfusion pending cardiac interventions.
`I49.9`	Cardiac arrhythmia, unspecified	Arrhythmias can precipitate cardiac arrest; documentation of arrhythmia guides management and post-ROSC treatment.
`R09.2`	Respiratory arrest	Indicates primary respiratory failure leading to cessation of circulation; airway and ventilation are central to resuscitation.
`R57.9`	Shock, unspecified	Shock may accompany or precipitate arrest; resuscitation addresses perfusion and hemodynamic stabilization.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`99291`	Critical care, evaluation and management of the critically ill or critically injured patient; first 30–74 minutes	Often reported in conjunction with `92950` when the clinician provides critical care services during or immediately after resuscitation; documentation must support time and critical care medical decision-making.

CPT 92953: Cardiac Electrical Stimulation for Arrhythmia

CPT-92960-EXTERNAL-ELECTRICAL-CARDIOVERSION

CPT 92960: External Electrical Cardioversion

CPT-92961-ELECTRICAL-CARDIOVERSION-WITH-IV-MEDICATION

CPT 92961: Electrical Cardioversion with Intravenous Antiarrhythmic Medication

CPT-92970-AORTIC-BALLOON-CATHETER-CIRCULATORY-ASSIST

CPT 92970: Aortic Balloon-Tipped Catheter for Circulatory Assist

CPT-92971-LOWER-EXTREMITY-PNEUMATIC-COMPRESSION

CPT 92971: Lower Extremity Intermittent Pneumatic Compression

CPT-92973-PERCUTANEOUS-CORONARY-MECHANICAL-THROMBECTOMY-ASPIRATION

CPT 92973: Percutaneous Coronary Mechanical Thrombectomy (Aspiration)

CPT-92974-INTRAVASCULAR-BRACHYTHERAPY-FOR-CORONARY-STENOSIS

CPT 92974: Coronary Brachytherapy Adjunct to Stenosis Treatment

CPT-92978-INTRAVASCULAR-IMAGING-INTERPRETATION-CORONARY-VESSEL

CPT 92978: Intravascular Imaging and Interpretation for Coronary Vessel

CPT-92986-BALLOON-AORTIC-VALVULOPLASTY

CPT 92986: Balloon Aortic Valvuloplasty, Percutaneous

CPT-92987-MITRAL-VALVULOPLASTY-BALLOON-DILATION

CPT 92987: Percutaneous Mitral Valvuloplasty (Balloon Dilation)

Showing 1–10 of 13

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

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Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

The following table lists the most clinically relevant modifiers for use with CPT 92950, with standard CMS meanings and typical ED/critical care scenarios.

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`25`	Significant, separately identifiable E/M service by the same physician on the same day of the procedure	Use when a distinct evaluation/management service (e.g., initial ED assessment) is performed in addition to CPR and is documented separately from `92950`.
`52`	Reduced services	Use if resuscitative attempts were performed but services were partially reduced or not completed as documented.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use if resuscitation was attempted but terminated prior to full performance for documented clinical reasons.
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Use when another procedure on the same day is distinct and separate from the CPR effort (ensure documentation supports distinctness).
`76`	Repeat procedure by same physician	Use if CPR/advanced resuscitation is repeated by the same provider during the same encounter (document separate events).
`77`	Repeat procedure by another physician	Use if a different physician repeats resuscitative procedure during the same encounter.
`78`	Return to the operating/procedure room for a related procedure following the initial service	Rare for ED CPR but applicable if a patient returns to procedure area for a related intervention post-ROSC; use with caution and documentation.
`79`	Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician during the postoperative period	Typically not applicable to CPR but available if unrelated services occur; include only with clear documentation.
`XE`	Separate encounter, a distinct procedural service	Use when the resuscitation occurred during a separate encounter from another procedure by the same provider that day and documentation supports distinctness.
`XP`	Separate practitioner, a distinct practitioner performed the procedure	Use when a different practitioner performed the resuscitation-related procedure and payer rules require this modifier.
`XU`	Unusual non-overlapping service	Use when the resuscitation is an unusual, non-overlapping service relative to other services on the same day and documentation justifies it.
`ER`	Emergency service	Use to indicate an emergency service setting if payer accepts this modifier for additional billing context.
`CR`	Catastrophe/disaster related	Use if the resuscitation occurred as part of a declared catastrophe and payor guidance supports this modifier.
`26`	Professional component	Use if billing separately for the professional interpretation component of a related diagnostic procedure performed during resuscitation and payer requires splitting components.

Associated provider taxonomies:

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`207P00000X`	Emergency Medicine Physician	Most common specialty performing ED resuscitation and documentation for CPT `92950`.
`207RC0000X`	Cardiovascular Disease Physician	In-hospital or consultative involvement for cardiac arrest patients, post-ROSC management or cardiac causes.
`207R00000X`	Internal Medicine Physician	Critical care or hospitalist physicians involved in post-resuscitation management and decisions regarding ongoing critical care.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`I46.9`	Cardiac arrest, cause unspecified	Primary presenting diagnosis for which CPR/advanced resuscitation (`92950`) is performed when the cause of arrest is not yet determined.
`I46.2`	Cardiac arrest due to underlying cardiac condition	Indicates cardiac-origin arrest where resuscitation is directed at restoring perfusion pending cardiac interventions.
`I49.9`	Cardiac arrhythmia, unspecified	Arrhythmias can precipitate cardiac arrest; documentation of arrhythmia guides management and post-ROSC treatment.
`R09.2`	Respiratory arrest	Indicates primary respiratory failure leading to cessation of circulation; airway and ventilation are central to resuscitation.
`R57.9`	Shock, unspecified	Shock may accompany or precipitate arrest; resuscitation addresses perfusion and hemodynamic stabilization.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`99291`	Critical care, evaluation and management of the critically ill or critically injured patient; first 30–74 minutes	Often reported in conjunction with `92950` when the clinician provides critical care services during or immediately after resuscitation; documentation must support time and critical care medical decision-making.

CPT 92953: Cardiac Electrical Stimulation for Arrhythmia

CPT-92960-EXTERNAL-ELECTRICAL-CARDIOVERSION

CPT 92960: External Electrical Cardioversion

CPT-92961-ELECTRICAL-CARDIOVERSION-WITH-IV-MEDICATION

CPT 92961: Electrical Cardioversion with Intravenous Antiarrhythmic Medication

CPT-92970-AORTIC-BALLOON-CATHETER-CIRCULATORY-ASSIST

CPT 92970: Aortic Balloon-Tipped Catheter for Circulatory Assist

CPT-92971-LOWER-EXTREMITY-PNEUMATIC-COMPRESSION

CPT 92971: Lower Extremity Intermittent Pneumatic Compression

CPT-92973-PERCUTANEOUS-CORONARY-MECHANICAL-THROMBECTOMY-ASPIRATION

CPT 92973: Percutaneous Coronary Mechanical Thrombectomy (Aspiration)

CPT-92974-INTRAVASCULAR-BRACHYTHERAPY-FOR-CORONARY-STENOSIS

CPT 92974: Coronary Brachytherapy Adjunct to Stenosis Treatment

CPT-92978-INTRAVASCULAR-IMAGING-INTERPRETATION-CORONARY-VESSEL

CPT 92978: Intravascular Imaging and Interpretation for Coronary Vessel

CPT-92986-BALLOON-AORTIC-VALVULOPLASTY

CPT 92986: Balloon Aortic Valvuloplasty, Percutaneous

CPT-92987-MITRAL-VALVULOPLASTY-BALLOON-DILATION

CPT 92987: Percutaneous Mitral Valvuloplasty (Balloon Dilation)

Showing 1–10 of 13

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

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CPT 92950: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for Cardiac Arrest

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Billing Code Overview

National Reimbursement Benchmarks

OpenPayer

CPT 92950: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for Cardiac Arrest

Sign up for cpt 92950 policy alerts

Billing Code Overview

National Reimbursement Benchmarks

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References