Summary & Overview
CPT 01924: Anesthesia for Therapeutic Interventional Radiological Procedures
CPT code 01924 represents anesthesia for therapeutic interventional radiological procedures involving the arterial system, a service essential for patients undergoing advanced vascular interventions. This code is nationally recognized and plays a significant role in the delivery of safe and effective anesthesia care during complex radiological procedures. The publication covers key payers including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, and UnitedHealthcare, providing a comprehensive overview of payer coverage and policy considerations for this code.
Readers will gain insight into the clinical context of 01924, including its application in anesthesiology and its relevance to interventional radiology. The summary includes benchmarks and policy updates relevant to anesthesia billing, as well as an overview of associated modifiers and taxonomies. Additionally, the publication highlights related CPT codes and common ICD-10 diagnoses linked to these procedures, offering a well-rounded perspective for healthcare professionals, billing specialists, and policy analysts. This resource is designed to inform stakeholders about the national landscape for anesthesia services in interventional radiology, supporting accurate coding and understanding of payer requirements.
CPT Code Overview
CPT code 01924 is used to report anesthesia services for therapeutic interventional radiological procedures involving the arterial system. This code falls under the anesthesiology service type, which encompasses the administration and management of anesthesia during medical procedures. The typical site of service for this code is not specified in the available data. These procedures are critical for patients undergoing complex vascular interventions, where specialized anesthesia care ensures patient safety and comfort. Data not available in the input regarding the specific site of service.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A patient presents with a traumatic injury resulting in a fracture of the orbital floor, potentially accompanied by displacement of the globe or exophthalmos. The clinical team determines that a therapeutic interventional radiological procedure involving the arterial system is necessary to address vascular complications or to facilitate repair. An anesthesiology provider administers anesthesia to ensure patient comfort and safety during the radiological intervention. The workflow involves pre-procedure assessment, anesthesia induction, monitoring throughout the procedure, and post-procedure recovery.
Coding Specifications
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Modifiers:
Modifier Code Description QSMonitored anesthesia care service QXCRNA service with medical direction by a physician - Modifier
QSis used when the anesthesia service provided is monitored anesthesia care (MAC). - Modifier
QXis used when a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) provides the service under the medical direction of a physician.
- Modifier
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Provider Taxonomies:
Taxonomy Code Specialty 207L00000XAnesthesiology - Taxonomy
207L00000Xrepresents providers specializing in anesthesiology.
- Taxonomy
Related Diagnoses
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S02.3XXA- Fracture of orbital floor, initial encounter- Relevant when the patient has sustained a traumatic injury requiring interventional radiological repair.
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H05.20- Unspecified exophthalmos- Indicates abnormal protrusion of the eye, which may necessitate vascular intervention.
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H05.221- Displacement of globe, right eye- Represents displacement of the right eye, potentially requiring arterial system intervention.
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H05.222- Displacement of globe, left eye- Represents displacement of the left eye, potentially requiring arterial system intervention.
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H05.223- Displacement of globe, bilateral- Indicates displacement of both eyes, which may be associated with complex vascular injuries addressed by interventional radiology.
Related CPT Codes
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01916- Anesthesia for diagnostic arteriography/venography- This code is used for anesthesia services during diagnostic arteriography or venography procedures. It is related to
01924as both involve anesthesia for radiological procedures involving the arterial system. 01916is commonly used as an alternative when the procedure is diagnostic rather than therapeutic. These codes are not typically billed together for the same procedure, but may be used in similar clinical workflows depending on the nature of the radiological intervention.
- This code is used for anesthesia services during diagnostic arteriography or venography procedures. It is related to
National Reimbursement Benchmarks
Nationally, the mean rate for BUCA (average commercial) payers is $183.58, which is substantially higher than the UnitedHealth Group mean rate of $65.61. Among the major commercial payers, Cigna has the highest mean rate at $346.34, while UnitedHealth Group is the lowest.
Rate dispersion, measured by the difference between the 75th and 25th percentiles, varies significantly across payers. Blue Cross Blue Shield shows the tightest range at $135.75, indicating less variability in rates. In contrast, Cigna exhibits the widest dispersion at $427.25, reflecting a broad spread in contracted rates. Aetna also has a wide range of $426.50, while BUCA and UnitedHealth Group have moderate dispersions of $218.75 and $25.15, respectively.
The table and chart below present a detailed breakdown of national mean rates and percentile values for each payer.
State Benchmarks
State: AK1 / 50
Alaska Benchmarks
Alaska exhibits a wide spread in reimbursement rates for CPT code 01924, with Blue Cross Blue Shield showing the largest range between the 25th and 75th percentiles ($198.68), while Aetna and UnitedHealth Group have minimal spreads ($0 to $3). This indicates substantial variability in payment levels depending on the payer, with some offering consistently low rates and others much higher. Compared to national averages, Alaska's mean rates for Blue Cross Blue Shield and BUCA are notably higher, while Cigna and UnitedHealth Group remain below national means. The table and chart below present the full breakdown of payer-specific rates for Alaska.
The rate spread highlights the importance of payer selection in Alaska, as the difference between the highest and lowest mean rates is significant. Blue Cross Blue Shield stands out as the highest payer, while UnitedHealth Group and Cigna offer the lowest mean rates. The chart below visually compares these mean rates across payers in Alaska.
Key Insights for Alaska
- Blue Cross Blue Shield is the highest paying payer in Alaska for CPT 01924, with a mean rate of $415.16.
- UnitedHealth Group offers the lowest mean rate at $74.78.
- Alaska's mean rates for most payers are significantly higher than 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.