Summary & Overview
CPT 47562: Laparoscopic Surgical Removal of Gallbladder
CPT code 47562 is a nationally recognized billing code for laparoscopic surgical cholecystectomy, a procedure to remove the gallbladder using minimally invasive techniques. This code is central to general surgery practice and is frequently utilized in hospital outpatient departments and ambulatory surgical centers. The procedure is indicated for a range of gallbladder diseases, including gallstones and acute cholecystitis, and is preferred for its reduced patient recovery time and lower risk profile compared to traditional open surgery.
Major payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, Medicare, and UnitedHealthcare. The publication provides a comprehensive overview of clinical indications, typical sites of service, and related billing codes. Readers will gain insight into national benchmarks, policy updates, and the clinical context surrounding the use of CPT code 47562. The summary also highlights common modifiers and associated taxonomies relevant to billing and coding professionals. This resource is designed to inform healthcare administrators, coding specialists, and policy analysts about the latest trends and requirements for laparoscopic cholecystectomy billing.
CPT Code Overview
CPT code 47562 represents a laparoscopic surgical cholecystectomy, a minimally invasive procedure to remove the gallbladder. This service falls under general surgery and is commonly performed in a hospital outpatient setting (e.g., POS 22) or an ambulatory surgical center (POS 24). The procedure is widely used for patients with gallbladder disease, offering reduced recovery times and lower complication rates compared to open surgery.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient scenario involves an adult presenting to the hospital outpatient department or ambulatory surgical center with symptoms such as right upper quadrant abdominal pain, nausea, and possibly fever. Diagnostic imaging reveals gallstones or inflammation of the gallbladder. The patient is diagnosed with a condition such as acute cholecystitis or gallbladder disease and is scheduled for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (47562). The surgical workflow includes preoperative assessment, anesthesia, laparoscopic removal of the gallbladder, and postoperative recovery. The procedure is performed by a general surgeon or a physician with relevant surgical taxonomy.
Coding Specifications
- Modifier
22: Used to indicate increased procedural services when the laparoscopic cholecystectomy is significantly more complex or time-consuming than usual, such as due to extensive adhesions or anatomical variations.
| Modifier Code | Description | When Used |
|---|---|---|
22 | Increased procedural services | When procedure is more complex than typical |
- Provider Taxonomies:
| Taxonomy Code | Specialty Name |
|---|---|
208600000X | Surgery Physician |
208C00000X | Colon & Rectal Surgery Physician |
208D00000X | General Practice Physician |
These taxonomies represent providers qualified to perform surgical procedures, including laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Related Diagnoses
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K80.20- Calculus of gallbladder without cholecystitis- Indicates gallstones present in the gallbladder without associated inflammation. Relevant for patients undergoing cholecystectomy due to symptomatic gallstones.
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K80.10- Calculus of gallbladder with acute cholecystitis- Represents gallstones with acute inflammation of the gallbladder. Common indication for urgent laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
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K81.0- Acute cholecystitis- Refers to acute inflammation of the gallbladder, often requiring surgical removal.
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K82.8- Other specified diseases of gallbladder- Used for gallbladder diseases not otherwise specified, such as polyps or other rare conditions, which may necessitate cholecystectomy.
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K82.9- Disease of gallbladder, unspecified- Indicates gallbladder disease without further specification. May be used when the exact diagnosis is unclear but surgery is indicated.
Related CPT Codes
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47563- Laparoscopy, surgical; cholecystectomy with cholangiography- Used when intraoperative cholangiography is performed to visualize the bile ducts during cholecystectomy. This code is selected instead of
47562when cholangiography is included.
- Used when intraoperative cholangiography is performed to visualize the bile ducts during cholecystectomy. This code is selected instead of
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47564- Laparoscopy, surgical; cholecystectomy with exploration of common duct- Used when the procedure includes exploration of the common bile duct, typically to remove stones or investigate ductal pathology. This code is an alternative to
47562when duct exploration is performed.
- Used when the procedure includes exploration of the common bile duct, typically to remove stones or investigate ductal pathology. This code is an alternative to
These codes are alternatives to 47562 and are selected based on additional intraoperative procedures. They are not typically billed together with 47562 for the same surgical session.
National Reimbursement Benchmarks
Medicare's national mean rate for CPT code 47562 is $638.06, which is notably lower than the BUCA (Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealth Group, Cigna, and Aetna) average commercial mean rate of $879.61. Commercial payers such as UnitedHealth Group and Cigna have the highest mean rates, at $1,186.73 and $1,119.08 respectively, while Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield are closer to the BUCA average.
Rate dispersion, measured by the difference between the 75th and 25th percentiles, varies significantly across payers. Medicare exhibits the tightest range ($53.00), indicating relatively consistent reimbursement rates. In contrast, UnitedHealth Group and Cigna show the widest dispersions ($685.00 and $623.00 respectively), reflecting greater variability in commercial payments. Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield have moderate ranges ($377.50 and $392.58).
The table and chart below present a detailed breakdown of national mean rates and percentile values for each payer.
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.