Summary & Overview
CPT 01440: Anesthesia for Knee and Popliteal Artery Procedures
CPT code 01440 represents anesthesia services for procedures involving arteries of the knee and popliteal area, a critical component in vascular and orthopedic interventions. This code is nationally recognized and plays a significant role in ensuring accurate billing and reimbursement for anesthesia care in outpatient hospital settings. The publication provides a comprehensive overview of the clinical context, typical use cases, and payer coverage for this code, focusing on major insurers such as Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, and UnitedHealthcare.
Readers will gain insights into the benchmarks and policy updates relevant to 01440, including its application in procedures addressing conditions like osteoarthritis, meniscal injuries, and ligament repairs. The summary also highlights the importance of proper coding for anesthesia services, which supports both clinical documentation and compliance with payer requirements. By understanding the scope and utilization of CPT code 01440, stakeholders can better navigate the complexities of medical billing and policy in the context of knee and popliteal artery procedures.
CPT Code Overview
CPT code 01440 is used to report anesthesia services for procedures performed on arteries of the knee and popliteal area. This code falls under the anesthesiology service type and is most commonly utilized in the outpatient hospital setting (Place of Service 22). The code is essential for accurately documenting and billing anesthesia care provided during vascular interventions in the knee region, ensuring proper reimbursement and compliance with national standards.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient scenario involves an adult presenting to an outpatient hospital setting with right knee pain, instability, or injury. The patient may have a diagnosis such as unilateral primary osteoarthritis, chronic instability, meniscal tear, or ligament sprain. The orthopedic surgeon schedules a procedure on the arteries of the knee or popliteal area, such as vascular repair or intervention, requiring anesthesia. An anesthesiologist or certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) provides anesthesia services for the duration of the procedure, ensuring patient safety and comfort throughout the surgical intervention.
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 (MAC) during the procedure. -
QX: CRNA service with medical direction by a physician. Used when a CRNA provides anesthesia services under the medical direction of a physician.
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Provider Taxonomies:
Taxonomy Code Specialty Name 207L00000XAnesthesiology 367500000XCertified Registered Nurse Anesthetist 207X00000XOrthopaedic Surgery
Related Diagnoses
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M17.11: Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, right knee- Indicates degenerative changes in the right knee, often leading to surgical intervention requiring anesthesia.
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M23.50: Chronic instability of knee, unspecified knee- Represents ongoing instability, which may necessitate surgical repair and anesthesia services.
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S83.241A: Other tear of medial meniscus, current injury, right knee, initial encounter- Describes an acute meniscal injury, commonly treated surgically with anesthesia.
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M25.561: Pain in right knee- Non-specific knee pain, which may be addressed with diagnostic or therapeutic procedures requiring anesthesia.
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S83.511A: Sprain of anterior cruciate ligament of right knee, initial encounter- Acute ligament injury, often managed surgically with anesthesia support.
Related CPT Codes
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29881: Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; with meniscectomy (medial OR lateral, including any meniscal shaving)- Often performed for meniscal tears. Anesthesia for this procedure may be coded with
01440if arterial intervention is involved.
- Often performed for meniscal tears. Anesthesia for this procedure may be coded with
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29888: Arthroscopically aided anterior cruciate ligament repair/augmentation or reconstruction- Used for ACL injuries. Anesthesia services for this procedure may require
01440if arterial procedures are performed.
- Used for ACL injuries. Anesthesia services for this procedure may require
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20610: Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection into a major joint or bursa- May be performed for pain or effusion. Anesthesia is less commonly required, but may be used in complex cases.
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27447: Total knee arthroplasty- Used for severe osteoarthritis. Anesthesia for arterial procedures during knee replacement may be coded with
01440.
- Used for severe osteoarthritis. Anesthesia for arterial procedures during knee replacement may be coded with
These codes may be used together in cases where multiple procedures are performed, or as alternatives depending on the clinical scenario.
National Reimbursement Benchmarks
National mean rates for CPT code 01440 show significant variation between payers. The average commercial rate (BUCA) is $196.13, while UnitedHealth Group's mean rate is notably lower at $65.52. Blue Cross Blue Shield and Cigna report the highest mean rates, at $428.96 and $453.44 respectively.
Rate dispersion, measured by the difference between the 75th and 25th percentiles, is widest for Cigna ($603.50) and Aetna ($433.00), indicating substantial variability in contracted rates. UnitedHealth Group has the tightest range ($24.85), suggesting more consistent reimbursement levels. Blue Cross Blue Shield and BUCA also show moderate dispersion, with ranges of $242.24 and $266.83 respectively.
The table and chart below present a detailed breakdown of national benchmarks for each payer.
State Benchmarks
State: AK1 / 50
Alaska Benchmarks
Alaska displays a wide spread in reimbursement rates for CPT code 01440, with Blue Cross Blue Shield showing the largest range between the 25th and 75th percentiles ($583.75 minus $420.60 = $163.15), indicating substantial variability in payments. In contrast, Aetna, Cigna, and UnitedHealth Group have much narrower spreads, with their rates clustered closely around the lower percentiles, suggesting more uniform reimbursement practices. Compared to national averages, Alaska's mean rates for Blue Cross Blue Shield and Aetna are considerably higher, while UnitedHealth Group's mean rate remains below the national benchmark. This highlights Alaska's unique market dynamics, especially for Blue Cross Blue Shield.
The table and chart below present the full breakdown of payer-specific reimbursement rates for CPT code 01440 in Alaska, including mean rates and percentile distributions for each payer with available data.
Key Insights for Alaska
- Blue Cross Blue Shield is the highest paying payer in Alaska for CPT 01440, with a mean rate of $509.51.
- UnitedHealth Group offers the lowest mean rate at $74.78, significantly below both the state and national averages.
- Alaska's mean rates for most payers, especially Blue Cross Blue Shield, are notably higher than national benchmarks, except for UnitedHealth Group, which remains low.
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.