Surgical · General

80047

Basic metabolic blood panel that includes ionized calcium along with glucose, electrolytes, carbon dioxide, BUN, and creatinine.

3 sources ↓

Medicare
$0.00
Work RVU
0
Global, days
Region
General
Drawn from CMS

Documentation requirements

What must appear in the operative or office note to support the claim.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in 3 cited references ↓

  • Order with clinical reason, such as pre-op evaluation for a specific procedure or a known kidney issue
  • All panel components resulted
  • Specimen type and collection time
  • CLIA certificate number on the claim when billed in-office
  • Results reviewed and signed by the ordering provider

Applicable modifiers

Modifiers commonly billed with this code.

Source · AMA CPT modifier descriptors · CMS NCCI Policy Manual

What this code covers

Source · Editorial summary grounded in 3 cited references ↓

This is the BMP with ionized calcium in place of total calcium. Orthopedic practices see it in pre-operative testing, in inpatient fracture care, and for patients on long-term NSAIDs or with kidney disease before contrast or certain medications. Ionized calcium is more common in hospital and point-of-care settings.

This is a lab code, paid under the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule rather than the Physician Fee Schedule, which is why it shows no physician payment. The practice needs a CLIA certificate at the right level to bill it. Some point-of-care analyzers are CLIA-waived and those claims need modifier QW.

Two rules trip people. First, do not bill 80047 and 80048 together. They are the same panel with different calcium methods. Second, do not bill the individual tests in the panel separately when all of them were run. Pre-op labs need a diagnosis tied to the patient's condition or the planned procedure, not just a routine screening code.

RVU & reimbursement

Component RVUs and Medicare national rate. Actual payment varies by GPCI locality.

Source · CMS Physician Fee Schedule, RVU26A · January 2026

Work RVU 0
Practice expense RVU 0
Malpractice RVU 0
Total RVU 0
Medicare national rate $0.00
Global period days

Payment by site of service

Medicare pays different rates by setting. HOPD typically pays substantially more than ASC for the same procedure.

Source · CMS OPPS Addendum B·ASC HCPCS payment rates·2026

SettingMedicare rate (national)
Office (PFS non-facility)
Procedure performed in physician's office
$0.00

Common denial reasons

The recurring reasons claims for CPT 80047 get rejected.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in CMS NCCI edits, AAOS coding appeals, and cited references ↓

  • Billed with 80048 on the same date
  • Individual component tests billed separately
  • Routine screening diagnosis without a clinical reason
  • Missing QW modifier for a waived test
  • Lab not CLIA-certified for the test complexity

Frequently asked questions

Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 3 cited references ↓

01What is the difference between 80047 and 80048?
80047 uses ionized calcium. 80048 uses total calcium. The rest of the panel is the same, and only one should be billed.
02Why does 80047 show $0 on the physician fee schedule?
It is paid under the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule, not the Physician Fee Schedule.
03Does Medicare pay for pre-op metabolic panels?
When there is a clinical reason tied to the patient or procedure. Routine screening without symptoms or risk factors is not covered.

Mira Scribe

Mira Scribe records the reason for pre-op labs in the visit, such as kidney disease or diuretic use, so the lab order carries a real indication.

See how Mira captures CPT 80047 documentation

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