Summary & Overview
CPT 01432: Anesthesia for Knee and Popliteal Vein Arteriovenous Fistula Procedures
CPT code 01432 represents anesthesia services for procedures on veins of the knee and popliteal area, specifically for arteriovenous fistula creation or repair. This code is significant for hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers, as it ensures proper billing and reimbursement for specialized anesthesia care during vascular interventions in the knee region. Nationally, the code is recognized by major payers including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, and UnitedHealthcare, reflecting its widespread applicability across diverse insurance plans.
This publication provides a comprehensive overview of CPT code 01432, including payer coverage, clinical context, and related billing practices. Readers will gain insights into typical sites of service, common modifiers used in conjunction with this code, and associated diagnoses and procedures. The analysis also highlights relevant policy updates and benchmarks, offering a clear understanding of how this code fits within the broader landscape of anesthesiology and orthopedic vascular procedures. By examining payer policies and clinical scenarios, the article equips healthcare professionals and administrators with essential information for accurate coding and compliance.
CPT Code Overview
CPT code 01432 is used to report anesthesia services for procedures involving veins of the knee and popliteal area, specifically for arteriovenous fistula creation or repair. This code falls under the anesthesiology service type and is typically utilized in a hospital setting, which may include inpatient facilities or ambulatory surgery centers (place of service 21 or 24). The code ensures accurate billing and documentation for anesthesia care provided during these specialized vascular procedures around the knee region.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient scenario involves an adult patient with advanced knee pathology, such as primary osteoarthritis or a history of knee joint replacement, who requires a surgical procedure to create an arteriovenous fistula in the veins of the knee or popliteal area. This procedure is often performed in a hospital setting, either inpatient or ambulatory surgery center. The clinical workflow includes preoperative assessment by an anesthesiologist, administration of anesthesia specific to the vascular procedure, intraoperative monitoring, and postoperative care. The anesthesia service is documented under CPT code 01432 and may involve monitored anesthesia care or CRNA services with physician direction, depending on the clinical situation.
Coding Specifications
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Modifiers:
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QS: Monitored anesthesia care service. Used when the anesthesia provider delivers monitored anesthesia care during the procedure. -
QX: CRNA service with medical direction by a physician. Used when a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) provides anesthesia under the medical direction of a physician.
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Provider Taxonomies:
Taxonomy Code Specialty 207K00000XAnesthesiology -
Specialties Represented:
- Anesthesiology: Providers specializing in perioperative anesthesia management for surgical procedures.
Related Diagnoses
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M17.10: Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, unspecified knee- Indicates osteoarthritis affecting one knee, relevant for patients undergoing vascular or joint procedures.
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M17.11: Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, right knee- Specifies osteoarthritis in the right knee, often leading to surgical intervention requiring anesthesia.
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M17.12: Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, left knee- Specifies osteoarthritis in the left knee, clinically relevant for procedures on that side.
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M17.0: Bilateral primary osteoarthritis of knee- Indicates osteoarthritis in both knees, which may necessitate bilateral procedures and anesthesia.
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Z96.651: Presence of right artificial knee joint- Denotes a patient with a right knee prosthesis, relevant for surgical planning and anesthesia management.
Related CPT Codes
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27447: Arthroplasty, knee, condyle and plateau; medial AND lateral compartments with or without patella resurfacing (total knee arthroplasty)- This code represents total knee replacement surgery, which may require anesthesia services similar to those described by
01432.
- This code represents total knee replacement surgery, which may require anesthesia services similar to those described by
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20610: Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection into a major joint or bursa- This procedure involves joint aspiration or injection, often performed for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. Anesthesia may be required for patient comfort.
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29881: Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; with meniscectomy (medial OR lateral, including any meniscal shaving)- Surgical arthroscopy of the knee for meniscectomy, which may be performed in conjunction with anesthesia services.
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29888: Arthroscopically aided anterior cruciate ligament repair/augmentation or reconstruction- ACL repair or reconstruction is a major knee procedure requiring anesthesia. This code may be used alongside
01432when anesthesia is provided for such surgeries.
- ACL repair or reconstruction is a major knee procedure requiring anesthesia. This code may be used alongside
Clinical Workflow Relation:
- These codes are commonly used in the surgical management of knee pathology. Anesthesia services coded as
01432may be provided during these procedures, either as primary anesthesia or as monitored anesthesia care. Some codes may be alternatives depending on the specific surgical intervention.
National Reimbursement Benchmarks
For CPT 01432, the national mean rate for BUCA (average commercial) is $143.42, which is substantially higher than the UnitedHealth Group mean rate of $65.59. Among commercial payers, Cigna stands out with the highest mean rate at $350.90, while Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield also report elevated averages compared to BUCA.
Rate dispersion varies significantly across payers. Blue Cross Blue Shield exhibits the tightest range between the 25th and 75th percentiles ($369.00 - $206.44 = $162.56), indicating more consistent reimbursement levels. In contrast, Cigna shows the widest spread ($519.00 - $88.50 = $430.50), reflecting greater variability in rates. Aetna also demonstrates a broad range, with a difference of $323.00 between its 75th and 25th percentiles.
The table and chart below present a detailed breakdown of national benchmarks for CPT 01432 by payer, including mean rates and percentile values.
State Benchmarks
State: AK1 / 50
Alaska Benchmarks
Alaska displays a significant spread in reimbursement rates for CPT code 01432, with Blue Cross Blue Shield showing the widest range between the 25th and 75th percentiles ($213.80), while Aetna and UnitedHealth Group have minimal spread ($0 to $3). This indicates that Blue Cross Blue Shield's rates are not only the highest but also more variable compared to other payers in the state. The mean rates for most payers in Alaska are notably higher than their national averages, particularly for Blue Cross Blue Shield and BUCA, highlighting Alaska's elevated reimbursement environment for this code.
The table and chart below present the full breakdown of payer-specific rates, including mean, 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles, offering a clear comparison across Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, UnitedHealth Group, and BUCA in Alaska.
Key Insights for Alaska
- Blue Cross Blue Shield is the highest paying payer for CPT 01432 in Alaska, with a mean rate of $416.44.
- UnitedHealth Group offers the lowest mean rate at $74.78.
- Mean rates for most payers in Alaska are higher than their respective national averages, especially for Blue Cross Blue Shield and BUCA.
Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.