Summary & Overview
CPT 01482: Anesthesia for Radical Resection of Lower Leg, Ankle, and Foot
CPT code 01482 represents anesthesia for open procedures on the bones of the lower leg, ankle, and foot, specifically for radical resection, including below knee amputation. This code is significant in the national healthcare landscape as it addresses the complex anesthesia needs associated with major orthopedic surgeries. Accurate coding ensures proper reimbursement and compliance with payer policies, which is critical for providers and facilities performing these high-risk procedures.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, and UnitedHealthcare. The publication provides a comprehensive overview of payer coverage, policy updates, and clinical context for CPT 01482. Readers will gain insights into relevant benchmarks, common modifiers, associated taxonomies, and ICD-10 diagnoses frequently linked to this code. Additionally, the report highlights related CPT codes and outlines the importance of precise documentation for anesthesia services in orthopedic surgery.
This summary equips healthcare professionals, billing specialists, and policy analysts with the information needed to understand the scope and significance of CPT 01482 in medical billing and reimbursement. The content is organized to deliver the most critical information first, followed by supporting details to facilitate informed decision-making and compliance with national standards.
CPT Code Overview
CPT 01482 is used to report anesthesia services for open procedures on the bones of the lower leg, ankle, and foot, specifically for radical resection procedures, including below knee amputation. This code falls under the anesthesia service type, which involves the administration and management of anesthesia during surgical interventions. The typical site of service for procedures billed under CPT 01482 is not explicitly documented in the provided sources. This code is essential for accurately capturing the complexity and scope of anesthesia care required for major orthopedic surgeries involving the lower extremities.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient scenario involves an adult presenting with advanced osteoarthritis of the knee, resulting in severe pain and functional impairment. The patient may have failed conservative management and is scheduled for a radical resection of the affected bone, which could include a below-knee amputation. The procedure is performed in an operating room setting, requiring anesthesia services to ensure patient comfort and safety during the open surgical intervention on the bones of the lower leg, ankle, or foot. The clinical workflow includes preoperative assessment, administration of anesthesia, intraoperative monitoring, and postoperative care.
Coding Specifications
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Modifiers:
QS: Monitored anesthesia care service. Used when anesthesia is provided in a manner that allows the patient to remain responsive but comfortable, typically for procedures where full general anesthesia is not required.QX: CRNA service with medical direction by a physician. Used when a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) provides anesthesia under the supervision of a physician.
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Provider Taxonomies:
| Taxonomy Code | Specialty Name |
|---|---|
207L00000X | Anesthesiology |
367500000X | Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist |
207RA0401X | Anesthesiology Assistant |
These taxonomies represent providers qualified to deliver anesthesia services for open procedures on bones of the lower leg, ankle, and foot.
Related Diagnoses
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M17.10: Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, unspecified knee- Indicates osteoarthritis affecting one knee, without specification of laterality. Relevant for patients undergoing radical resection due to severe joint disease.
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M17.11: Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, right knee- Specifies osteoarthritis in the right knee. May be the underlying reason for surgical intervention.
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M17.12: Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, left knee- Specifies osteoarthritis in the left knee. May prompt radical resection or amputation if disease is advanced.
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M17.5: Other unilateral secondary osteoarthritis of knee- Refers to secondary osteoarthritis in one knee, possibly due to prior injury or other conditions, leading to surgical management.
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Z96.651: Presence of right artificial knee joint- Indicates the patient has a prosthetic knee joint on the right side. Relevant for surgical planning and anesthesia considerations.
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Z96.652: Presence of left artificial knee joint- Indicates the patient has a prosthetic knee joint on the left side. Important for clinical context and perioperative management.
Each diagnosis code reflects conditions commonly associated with the need for radical resection or amputation procedures, for which anesthesia services described by 01482 are required.
Related CPT Codes
01480: Anesthesia for open procedures on bones of lower leg, ankle, and foot. This code is used for anesthesia services during open surgical procedures on these bones, but does not specify radical resection or amputation.01484: Anesthesia for procedures on bones of lower leg, ankle, and foot; osteotomy or osteoplasty of tibia and/or fibula. This code is used when anesthesia is provided for osteotomy (cutting of bone) or osteoplasty (bone repair) procedures of the tibia and/or fibula.
01480 and 01484 are related to 01482 in that they all pertain to anesthesia for surgical interventions on the lower leg, ankle, and foot. 01480 may be used for less extensive procedures, while 01484 is specific to bone cutting or repair. 01482 is distinct in its application to radical resection, including below-knee amputation. These codes may be used as alternatives depending on the specific surgical procedure performed.
National Reimbursement Benchmarks
National mean rates for CPT code 01482 show that Blue Cross Blue Shield and Cigna have the highest average reimbursement, with Cigna at $248.09 and Blue Cross Blue Shield at $215.40. UnitedHealth Group's mean rate is notably lower at $65.55, while the BUCA (average commercial) mean rate stands at $131.73. Medicare rates are not available in the input for comparison.
Rate dispersion, measured by the difference between the 75th and 25th percentiles, varies significantly across payers. Blue Cross Blue Shield has the tightest range ($101.70), indicating more consistent rates, while Cigna exhibits the widest spread ($259.00), reflecting greater variability in reimbursement. Aetna and BUCA also show substantial dispersion, with ranges of $250.00 and $131.75, respectively. UnitedHealth Group's range is the smallest at $24.75.
The table and chart below present the full breakdown of national benchmarks for each payer.
State Benchmarks
State: AK1 / 50
Alaska Benchmarks
Alaska demonstrates a significant rate spread for CPT code 01482, particularly among commercial payers. Blue Cross Blue Shield shows the widest spread, with a 75th percentile rate of $298.50 and a 25th percentile rate of $225.80, resulting in a $72.70 difference. BUCA also exhibits a notable spread of $123.47 between its 75th and 25th percentiles. In contrast, Aetna and UnitedHealth Group have minimal spreads, with all percentiles clustered closely around $72.00–$75.00, indicating limited rate variability for these payers.
Compared to national averages, Alaska's mean rates for most payers are substantially higher, especially for BUCA and Blue Cross Blue Shield. The table and chart below present the full breakdown of payer-specific reimbursement rates in Alaska, highlighting the differences in payment levels and variability across the major commercial payers.
Key Insights for Alaska
- Blue Cross Blue Shield is the highest paying payer for CPT 01482 in Alaska, with a mean rate of $266.95.
- UnitedHealth Group offers the lowest mean rate at $74.78.
- Alaska's mean rates for most payers are higher than their respective national averages, especially for BUCA and Blue Cross Blue Shield.
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.