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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesModerate (Conscious) SedationCPT cpt-99153-moderate-sedation-beyond-intraservice-time
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    CPT 99153: Moderate Sedation with Observer Monitoring

    Medicare pays $13 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 99153 describes administration of medication by the provider to produce reduced consciousness (moderate sedation) during a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure, requiring a trained observer to assist in continuous patient monitoring; this service is an add-on intra-procedural monitoring service typically provided in ambulatory surgical centers, endoscopy suites, or hospital procedural areas for procedures that extend monitoring beyond the 15 minutes covered by the primary procedure code.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Dental Anesthesia Services, Anesthesia Services for Interventional Pain Management Procedures in an Adult, General Anesthesia and Conscious Sedation Services.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 54-year-old patient presents to an outpatient endoscopy center for colonoscopy with planned biopsy and polypectomy. The endoscopist anticipates that the procedure may provoke discomfort and elects to administer moderate (conscious) sedation to reduce anxiety and pain while maintaining patient responsiveness. The provider administering the sedative (for example, a gastroenterologist or proceduralist) gives an initial bolus and titrates medication during the procedure. A trained observer (such as a registered nurse or anesthesia assistant) is present solely to monitor the patient’s level of consciousness, airway, hemodynamics, and oxygenation. The monitoring and medication administration extend beyond the 15 minutes of intraservice sedation already included in the primary colonoscopy code; therefore, the additional time and services are reported using 99153. Typical site of service is an ambulatory surgical center or hospital outpatient department where moderate sedation is necessary for endoscopic, minor surgical, or interventional diagnostic procedures. The clinical workflow includes pre-procedure assessment, informed consent for sedation, medication administration and monitoring during the procedure, recovery monitoring until discharge criteria are met, and documentation of drugs, doses, monitoring intervals, and presence of the trained observer.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    45378Colonoscopy, flexible, diagnostic; with or without collection of specimen(s) by brushing or washingPrimary procedure commonly paired with moderate sedation reported by 99153 when sedation exceeds included intraservice time

    | 45385 | Colonoscopy with removal of tumor(s), polyp(s), or other lesion(s) by snare technique | Therapeutic procedure often requiring extended sedation time beyond the 15-minute intraservice allowance

    | 43239 | Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, flexible, transoral; with biopsy, single or multiple | Upper endoscopic diagnostic procedure where additional moderate sedation time may be reported with 99153

    | 99152 | Moderate sedation services provided by the physician or other qualified health care professional, first 15 minutes, intra-service time, for all ages, requiring the presence of a trained observer | Used when initial 15 minutes of moderate sedation are billed; 99153 reports additional 15-minute increments beyond the first

    | 99155 | Moderate sedation services provided personally by the physician or other qualified health care professional, each additional 15 minutes | Alternate/add-on for physician-provided moderate sedation time; used based on who administers and documents sedation care

    Related Modifiers

    8 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    25CPT modifier 25 indicates that on the same day as another procedure or service, the same physician or other qualified health care professional provided a significant, separately identifiable…- When to apply: Use modifier 25 only on an E/M code to indicate the same provider delivered a significant, separately identifiable E/M service on the same day as another procedure or service — i.e.,…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    77Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…
    79Modifier 79 indicates a surgical procedure performed during the postoperative global period of a prior surgery that is unrelated to the original procedure. Per AMA/CPT and CMS guidance, it is…- Use modifier 79 when the same physician (or same‑specialty physician in the same group) performs a surgical procedure during the postoperative global period of a prior surgery and the new procedure…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207RC0000X
    207L00000X
    363A00000X
    207K00000X
    207ZC0006X
    331L00000X
    363LS0200X
    246ZB0301X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Anesthesiology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Dental Anesthesia ServicesProvidence Health Plan2026-10-01
    Anesthesia Services for Interventional Pain Management Procedures in an AdultCigna2026-09-15
    General Anesthesia and Conscious Sedation ServicesUnitedHealthcare2026-09-01
    Intravenous Anesthetics for the Treatment of Chronic Pain and Psychiatric or Substance Use DisordersPremera Bluecross2026-07-01
    Intravenous Anesthetics for the Treatment of Chronic Pain and Psychiatric or Substance Use DisordersPremera Bluecross2026-07-01
    Intravenous Anesthetics for the Treatment of Chronic Pain and Psychiatric or Substance Use DisordersPremera Bluecross2026-07-01
    Intravenous Anesthetics for the Treatment of Chronic Pain and Psychiatric or Substance Use DisordersPremera Bluecross2026-07-01
    Elective Inpatient Services (for Idaho Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-06-01
    Sites of Servicepriority health2026-06-01
    Coverage for Ambulatory Surgery Unit (ASU)/Outpatient Facility and Anesthesia for Dental Servicesuniverahealthcare2026-05-21

    Related Codes

    CPT-99151-PEDIATRIC-MODERATE-SEDATION-INITIAL-15-MINUTES

    CPT 99151: Moderate Procedural Sedation for Child <5 Years

    CPT-99152-PROCEDURAL-SEDATION-INITIAL-15-MINUTES

    CPT 99152: Moderate (Conscious) Sedation, Initial 15 Minutes

    CPT-99155-PEDIATRIC-PROCEDURAL-SEDATION-INITIAL-15-MINUTES

    CPT 99155: Pediatric Moderate Sedation Medication Administration

    CPT-99156-MODERATE-SEDATION-INITIAL-15-MINUTES

    CPT 99156: Moderate Sedation, Initial 15 Minutes

    CPT-99157-MODERATE-SEDATION-EXTENDED-MONITORING

    CPT 99157: Moderate Sedation Medication Administration and Monitoring

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 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. 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. 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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