Summary & Overview
CPT 01682: Anesthesia for Total Knee Arthroplasty
CPT code 01682 represents anesthesia services provided during total knee arthroplasty procedures, a critical intervention for patients with severe knee joint conditions such as osteoarthritis. This code is nationally significant due to the high volume of knee replacement surgeries performed each year and the essential role of anesthesiology in ensuring safe and effective outcomes. The publication covers key payer policies, with a focus on Blue Cross Blue Shield, and provides insights into clinical benchmarks, billing practices, and recent policy updates relevant to anesthesia for knee arthroplasty. Readers will gain a comprehensive understanding of the clinical context for 01682, including typical sites of service, common modifiers, and associated provider taxonomies. The summary also highlights related CPT codes and ICD-10 diagnoses frequently encountered in knee replacement cases, offering a broader perspective on coding and reimbursement trends in orthopedic and anesthesiology practice. This resource is designed to inform healthcare professionals, billing specialists, and policy analysts about the latest developments and standards for anesthesia billing in total knee arthroplasty.
CPT Code Overview
CPT code 01682 is used to report anesthesia services for procedures on the knee joint, specifically for total knee arthroplasty. This code falls under the anesthesiology service type and is most commonly performed in an inpatient hospital setting (Place of Service 21). The procedure involves providing anesthesia care during surgical replacement of the knee joint, ensuring patient comfort and safety throughout the operation.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient scenario involves an adult patient admitted to an inpatient hospital for a total knee arthroplasty due to advanced osteoarthritis of the knee. The patient may present with chronic knee pain, reduced mobility, and radiographic evidence of joint degeneration. The procedure is performed by an orthopedic surgeon, and anesthesia services are provided by an anesthesiologist or a certified registered nurse anesthetist. The anesthesia team ensures the patient is safely sedated and pain-free throughout the surgery, monitoring vital signs and managing perioperative care. The workflow includes preoperative assessment, administration of anesthesia, intraoperative monitoring, and postoperative recovery support.
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 rather than general anesthesia. -
QX: CRNA service with medical direction by a physician. Used when a certified registered nurse anesthetist provides anesthesia services under the medical direction of a physician.
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Provider Taxonomies:
Taxonomy Code Specialty Name 207L00000XAnesthesiology 207LA0401XPain Medicine (Anesthesiology) 367500000XCertified Registered Nurse Anesthetist -
Specialties Represented:
- Anesthesiology: Physicians specializing in anesthesia care.
- Pain Medicine (Anesthesiology): Physicians with additional expertise in pain management.
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist: Advanced practice nurses specializing in anesthesia.
Related Diagnoses
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M17.10: Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, unspecified knee- Indicates osteoarthritis affecting one knee, but the side is not specified. Relevant as a common indication for total knee arthroplasty.
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M17.11: Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, right knee- Specifies osteoarthritis in the right knee. Directly related to patients undergoing right knee arthroplasty.
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M17.12: Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, left knee- Specifies osteoarthritis in the left knee. Directly related to patients undergoing left knee arthroplasty.
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M17.5: Other unilateral secondary osteoarthritis of knee- Refers to secondary osteoarthritis in one knee, which may result from prior injury or other conditions. May necessitate knee arthroplasty.
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Z96.651: Presence of right artificial knee joint- Indicates a patient has a right knee prosthesis. Relevant for documentation in cases of revision surgery or follow-up care after arthroplasty.
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 is the surgical procedure for which anesthesia is provided under
01682. Commonly billed together in the same surgical episode.
- This is the surgical procedure for which anesthesia is provided under
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01402: Anesthesia for open or surgical arthroscopic procedures on knee joint; total knee arthroplasty- An alternative anesthesia code for total knee arthroplasty, depending on the specific procedure and coding guidelines.
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20610: Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection into a major joint or bursa- Related to knee procedures but typically not used in conjunction with total knee arthroplasty. May be used for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes prior to surgery.
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29881: Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; with meniscectomy (medial OR lateral, including any meniscal shaving)- Represents a less invasive knee procedure. Not commonly performed at the same time as total knee arthroplasty, but may be considered as an alternative treatment for certain knee conditions.
National Reimbursement Benchmarks
For CPT code 01682, Blue Cross Blue Shield and BUCA (average commercial) both report a national mean rate of $277.22. Medicare rates are not available in the input for comparison. The mean rates for commercial payers are identical, reflecting a consistent pricing landscape at the national level.
Rate dispersion, measured as the difference between the 75th and 25th percentiles, is $15.00 for both Blue Cross Blue Shield and BUCA. This indicates a relatively tight range in reimbursement rates across these commercial payers. The table and chart below present the full breakdown of national benchmarks for CPT code 01682.
State Benchmarks
State: AK1 / 49
Alaska Benchmarks
For CPT 01682, Alaska's reimbursement rates from Blue Cross Blue Shield and BUCA show no spread, with the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles all at $80.00. This means there is no variation in rates among providers for these payers, resulting in a rate spread of $0.00. Compared to national averages, Alaska's mean rates are substantially lower, with a difference of nearly $195.00.
The table and chart below present the full breakdown of payer-specific rates for Alaska, highlighting the uniformity in reimbursement and the gap relative to national benchmarks.
Key Insights for Alaska
- Blue Cross Blue Shield and BUCA both reimburse at the same mean rate of $82.29 for CPT
01682, making them the highest and lowest paying payers in Alaska. - The rate spread in Alaska is $0.00, indicating no variation between the 25th and 75th percentiles for these payers.
- Alaska's mean rates are significantly lower than national averages, with a difference of nearly $195.00 compared to national benchmarks.
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.