{"id":168459,"date":"2026-07-28T13:59:56","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T13:59:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/?p=168459"},"modified":"2026-08-17T11:47:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T11:47:08","slug":"cpt-code-00796","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/de\/procedure-codes\/cpt-code-00796\/","title":{"rendered":"CPT Code 00796: Anesthesia for liver transplant (recipient)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"MedicalWebPage\",\"headline\":\"CPT Code 00796: Anesthesia for Liver Transplant (Recipient)\",\"description\":\"CPT code 00796 covers anesthesia for intraperitoneal procedures in the upper abdomen, including liver transplant (recipient). Learn base units, modifiers, fee schedule, and documentation requirements.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/procedure-codes\/cpt-code-00796\/\",\"audience\":{\"@type\":\"MedicalAudience\",\"audienceType\":\"Clinician\"},\"reviewedBy\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Dr Vanja Kitanova\",\"jobTitle\":\"Medical Reviewer\",\"affiliation\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"Pabau\"},\"knowsAbout\":[\"Medical Coding\",\"Clinical Documentation\",\"Healthcare Billing\",\"Clinical Safety\"],\"sameAs\":\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/blog\/author\/vanja\/\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-28\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-28\"}<\/script>\n\n\n        <div id=\"key_takeaways\">\n            <div class=\"header\">\n                                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Key-Takeaways-Icon.svg\" alt=\"Key takeaways\" height=\"42\" width=\"42\">\n                                <h3>Key takeaways<\/h3>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"list\">\n                                                            <div class=\"item\">\n                            <div>\n                                <svg width=\"20\" height=\"27\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 27\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                                    <path\n                                        d=\"M18.6223 14.3857C19.1246 13.8975 19.1246 13.1045 18.6223 12.6162L12.1938 6.36621C11.6915 5.87793 10.8759 5.87793 10.3737 6.36621C9.87143 6.85449 9.87143 7.64746 10.3737 8.13574L14.6125 12.2529H2.28571C1.57455 12.2529 1 12.8115 1 13.5029C1 14.1943 1.57455 14.7529 2.28571 14.7529H14.6085L10.3777 18.8701C9.87545 19.3584 9.87545 20.1514 10.3777 20.6396C10.8799 21.1279 11.6955 21.1279 12.1978 20.6396L18.6263 14.3896L18.6223 14.3857Z\"\n                                        fill=\"#3D3D46\" \/>\n                                <\/svg>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <p>CPT code 00796 covers anesthesia for intraperitoneal procedures in the upper abdomen, specifically liver transplant (recipient) &#8211; with 30 assigned base units.<\/p>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                                                <div class=\"item\">\n                            <div>\n                                <svg width=\"20\" height=\"27\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 27\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                                    <path\n                                        d=\"M18.6223 14.3857C19.1246 13.8975 19.1246 13.1045 18.6223 12.6162L12.1938 6.36621C11.6915 5.87793 10.8759 5.87793 10.3737 6.36621C9.87143 6.85449 9.87143 7.64746 10.3737 8.13574L14.6125 12.2529H2.28571C1.57455 12.2529 1 12.8115 1 13.5029C1 14.1943 1.57455 14.7529 2.28571 14.7529H14.6085L10.3777 18.8701C9.87545 19.3584 9.87545 20.1514 10.3777 20.6396C10.8799 21.1279 11.6955 21.1279 12.1978 20.6396L18.6263 14.3896L18.6223 14.3857Z\"\n                                        fill=\"#3D3D46\" \/>\n                                <\/svg>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <p>Reimbursement uses the formula: (base units + time units) x conversion factor, where one time unit equals 15 minutes of anesthesia time.<\/p>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                                                <div class=\"item\">\n                            <div>\n                                <svg width=\"20\" height=\"27\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 27\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                                    <path\n                                        d=\"M18.6223 14.3857C19.1246 13.8975 19.1246 13.1045 18.6223 12.6162L12.1938 6.36621C11.6915 5.87793 10.8759 5.87793 10.3737 6.36621C9.87143 6.85449 9.87143 7.64746 10.3737 8.13574L14.6125 12.2529H2.28571C1.57455 12.2529 1 12.8115 1 13.5029C1 14.1943 1.57455 14.7529 2.28571 14.7529H14.6085L10.3777 18.8701C9.87545 19.3584 9.87545 20.1514 10.3777 20.6396C10.8799 21.1279 11.6955 21.1279 12.1978 20.6396L18.6263 14.3896L18.6223 14.3857Z\"\n                                        fill=\"#3D3D46\" \/>\n                                <\/svg>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <p>Five modifiers apply: AA, QZ, QX, QY, and QK &#8211; modifier selection determines whether reimbursement pays at 100% or 50% of the allowable amount.<\/p>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                                                <div class=\"item\">\n                            <div>\n                                <svg width=\"20\" height=\"27\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 27\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                                    <path\n                                        d=\"M18.6223 14.3857C19.1246 13.8975 19.1246 13.1045 18.6223 12.6162L12.1938 6.36621C11.6915 5.87793 10.8759 5.87793 10.3737 6.36621C9.87143 6.85449 9.87143 7.64746 10.3737 8.13574L14.6125 12.2529H2.28571C1.57455 12.2529 1 12.8115 1 13.5029C1 14.1943 1.57455 14.7529 2.28571 14.7529H14.6085L10.3777 18.8701C9.87545 19.3584 9.87545 20.1514 10.3777 20.6396C10.8799 21.1279 11.6955 21.1279 12.1978 20.6396L18.6263 14.3896L18.6223 14.3857Z\"\n                                        fill=\"#3D3D46\" \/>\n                                <\/svg>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <p>Digital forms and EMR software like Pabau can capture anesthesia start and stop times and provider credentials at the point of care.<\/p>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    \n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">CPT code 00796 is the anesthesia code for liver transplant in the recipient patient, carrying 30 base units within the 00700-00797 upper abdomen anesthesia section. Billing it correctly requires one of five specific modifiers and a narrow set of ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes, each documented precisely to avoid a stalled claim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"CPT Coding Pitfalls Every Medical Practice Faces\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/vbvV5okdXKg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This reference covers everything billing staff and anesthesia coders need to bill CPT 00796 correctly:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The official descriptor and base unit value<\/li><li>The reimbursement calculation and modifier breakdown<\/li><li>Medicare fee schedule context and the ICD-10 crosswalk<\/li><li>Documentation requirements and the most common denial triggers<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Modifier selection and documentation completeness generate the most claim denials for this code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">CPT code 00796: Definition and clinical description<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Official descriptor:<\/strong> Anesthesia for intraperitoneal procedures in upper abdomen including laparoscopy; liver transplant, recipient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">CPT code 00796 sits within the 00700-00797 section of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ama-assn.org\/practice-management\/cpt\/cpt-code-set-overview\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">AMA&#8217;s CPT code set<\/a>, which covers anesthesia for procedures on the upper abdomen. The &#8222;recipient&#8220; qualifier is critical: this code applies only to the patient receiving the organ, not the donor. A living donor hepatectomy is billed separately under a different code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Clinically, liver transplant anesthesia requires continuous monitoring of hemodynamics, coagulation, temperature, and metabolic parameters throughout a procedure that typically runs six to twelve hours. The complexity of the case justifies the high base unit value of 30, which is among the highest in the upper abdomen anesthesia section. According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ama-assn.org\/practice-management\/cpt\/cpt-coding-resources\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">AMA&#8217;s coding resources<\/a>, base unit values reflect the relative difficulty, risk, and skill required for each anesthesia service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Base units for CPT 00796<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The base unit value for CPT code 00796 is <strong>30 units<\/strong>. This figure comes from the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Relative Value Guide and is used consistently across payers for reimbursement calculations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<table style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:0;border-radius:12px;overflow:hidden;font-size:15px;line-height:1.5;margin:1.5em 0 2em;box-shadow:0 2px 12px rgba(0,0,0,0.08)\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"background:#121D36;color:#fff;padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:0.3px;border-bottom:2px solid #2BADD4\">Code<\/th>\n<th style=\"background:#121D36;color:#fff;padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:0.3px;border-bottom:2px solid #2BADD4\">Description<\/th>\n<th style=\"background:#121D36;color:#fff;padding:14px 16px;text-align:center;font-weight:600;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:0.3px;border-bottom:2px solid #2BADD4\">Base Units (ASA RVG)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">00796<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Anesthesia for intraperitoneal procedures in upper abdomen; liver transplant, recipient<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;text-align:center;color:#374151\">30<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Base units represent the pre-service component of anesthesia reimbursement &#8211; the complexity, risk, and skill inherent to the procedure, independent of how long it takes. This distinction matters because even a shorter-than-average liver transplant still earns the full 30 base units. Time units are the variable that changes with case duration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to calculate reimbursement for CPT code 00796<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Anesthesia reimbursement follows a standard formula documented in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cms.gov\/medicare\/physician-fee-schedule\/search\/overview\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CMS Physician Fee Schedule<\/a>. The formula is straightforward, though the inputs require precise time documentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Formula:<\/strong> (base units + time units) x conversion factor = total reimbursement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Base units:<\/strong> 30 (fixed for CPT 00796)<\/li><li><strong>Time units:<\/strong> Total anesthesia minutes divided by 15 (1 unit per 15 minutes)<\/li><li><strong>Conversion factor:<\/strong> A geographically adjusted dollar amount published annually by CMS; it varies by Medicare locality<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Worked example:<\/strong> A liver transplant with 360 minutes of anesthesia time generates 24 time units (360 \/ 15). Add 30 base units for a total of 54 units. At a hypothetical conversion factor of $22.00, total reimbursement would be $1,188.00. Always verify the current conversion factor for your locality before estimating expected reimbursement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One practical note: some private payers use 10-minute or 12-minute time unit intervals rather than 15. Always verify the specific payer&#8217;s anesthesia billing rules in their provider manual before submitting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Anesthesia billing runs smoother when <a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/blog\/best-medical-practice-management-software\/\">medical practice management software<\/a> ties time units, modifiers, and charges to the visit record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">CPT 00796 fee schedule and Medicare reimbursement rates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Medicare reimbursement for CPT code 00796 is not a single national rate. It varies by geographic locality because CMS applies locality-specific anesthesia conversion factors through the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS). A practice billing in San Francisco will receive a different dollar amount than one billing in rural Mississippi. This holds true even for the same code and anesthesia duration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Private payer rates diverge further. Commercial insurers negotiate their own conversion factors and sometimes their own base unit values. This can result in significantly higher or lower payments than Medicare for identical services. Tracking variance between expected and actual reimbursement is essential for high-acuity codes like 00796. Even a small conversion factor difference multiplies across a high unit total.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For current Medicare rates, use the CMS Physician Fee Schedule lookup tool referenced earlier. Enter code 00796 and your MAC locality to retrieve the current anesthesia conversion factor for your region. Any dollar figure cited in third-party resources may reflect a prior year or a different locality.<\/p>\n\n\n        <div id=\"pro_tip\">\n            <div class=\"img\">\n                <svg width=\"42\" height=\"42\" viewBox=\"0 0 42 42\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\"\n                        d=\"M12.6383 19.5238C12.6632 21.2071 12.8734 22.9926 12.0685 24.5523C11.0341 26.8917 8.45076 28.169 7.56292 30.5918C6.63082 33.1061 7.19505 36.185 9.31371 37.9786C10.929 39.5678 13.4183 39.9873 15.6061 39.5463C17.4592 39.073 19.1049 37.8388 19.9706 36.1608C20.781 34.7141 20.7866 32.9904 20.5293 31.3985C20.1006 29.3092 18.3775 27.8705 16.9807 26.362C14.8814 24.1005 14.6684 20.6854 15.595 17.8915C16.4331 15.4768 19.0026 14.2344 20.0425 11.9461C20.7202 10.6769 20.7506 9.20327 20.6068 7.81304C20.1864 5.40098 18.3139 3.23631 15.8716 2.56674C13.9742 2.03969 11.8224 2.30052 10.1739 3.37614C8.70522 4.34688 7.5878 5.86618 7.28356 7.58178C6.76081 9.82981 7.53525 12.2822 9.20307 13.9118C10.7658 15.4741 12.4806 17.2273 12.6383 19.5238Z\"\n                        fill=\"#2BADD4\" \/>\n                    <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\"\n                        d=\"M22.7048 19.8387C22.6822 22.3279 24.4507 24.6234 26.7493 25.4682C28.0531 25.961 29.4725 25.9183 30.7989 25.5487C32.0575 24.9955 33.301 24.2237 34.0069 23.0092C34.8384 21.5811 35.2982 19.8286 34.7832 18.2094C34.3611 16.2507 32.8739 14.6541 31.0275 13.9426C28.6736 12.9595 25.8073 13.7942 24.1719 15.7001C23.2022 16.8366 22.6143 18.3326 22.7048 19.8387Z\"\n                        fill=\"#2BADD4\" \/>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"text\">\n                <h3>Pro Tip<\/h3>\n                <p>Check your Medicare locality&#8217;s anesthesia conversion factor at the start of each calendar year. CMS updates the MPFS annually, and even a small change to the conversion factor affects every anesthesia claim your practice submits. Set a calendar reminder for January and pull the updated figures directly from cms.gov.<\/p>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    \n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Anesthesia modifiers for CPT code 00796<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Modifier selection is where many 00796 claims fail on first submission. Five HCPCS modifiers apply to this code, and the wrong choice, or a missing modifier, results in denial or reduced payment. The modifiers distinguish who provided the anesthesia and under what level of supervision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<table style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:0;border-radius:12px;overflow:hidden;font-size:15px;line-height:1.5;margin:1.5em 0 2em;box-shadow:0 2px 12px rgba(0,0,0,0.08)\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"background:#121D36;color:#fff;padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:0.3px;border-bottom:2px solid #2BADD4\">Modifier<\/th>\n<th style=\"background:#121D36;color:#fff;padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:0.3px;border-bottom:2px solid #2BADD4\">Meaning<\/th>\n<th style=\"background:#121D36;color:#fff;padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:0.3px;border-bottom:2px solid #2BADD4\">Provider Type<\/th>\n<th style=\"background:#121D36;color:#fff;padding:14px 16px;text-align:center;font-weight:600;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:0.3px;border-bottom:2px solid #2BADD4\">Medicare Rate<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">AA<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Anesthesia services performed personally by an anesthesiologist<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">MD\/DO anesthesiologist<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;text-align:center;color:#374151\">100%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0;background:#F9FAFB\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">QZ<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">CRNA services without medical direction by a physician<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">CRNA (independent)<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;text-align:center;color:#374151\">100%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">QX<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">CRNA services with medical direction by a physician<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">CRNA (directed)<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;text-align:center;color:#374151\">50%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0;background:#F9FAFB\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">QY<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Medical direction of one CRNA by an anesthesiologist<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Directing anesthesiologist<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;text-align:center;color:#374151\">50%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">QK<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Medical direction of 2-4 concurrent anesthesia procedures<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Directing anesthesiologist<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;text-align:center;color:#374151\">50%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In medically directed cases, both the directing anesthesiologist (QY or QK) and the CRNA (QX) must each submit a separate claim with their respective modifier. Submitting only one of the two claims leaves money on the table and creates audit risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">State opt-out rules add another layer. Some states have opted out of the Medicare CRNA supervision requirement, meaning a CRNA in those states can bill QZ independently without physician oversight. Confirm your state&#8217;s opt-out status before selecting QZ versus QX.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who can bill CPT code 00796?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Eligibility to bill for anesthesia services varies by provider type and supervision arrangement. Provider-eligibility rules apply across many CPT code families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Anesthesiologists (MD\/DO):<\/strong> May bill under modifier AA when personally performing all aspects of the anesthesia service<\/li><li><strong>CRNAs (independent):<\/strong> May bill under modifier QZ in states where the Medicare supervision requirement has been waived by the state governor<\/li><li><strong>CRNAs (medically directed):<\/strong> Bill under modifier QX; the supervising anesthesiologist bills simultaneously under QY or QK<\/li><li><strong>Anesthesiologist Assistants (AAs):<\/strong> May provide anesthesia under physician supervision; billing follows the same QX\/QY\/QK framework as directed CRNAs, depending on payer rules<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Non-anesthesia providers cannot bill CPT 00796. Surgeons, internists, and hospitalists who provide monitoring during a procedure are not billing anesthesia services under this code. The anesthesia service must be documented as a distinct service provided by a qualified anesthesia provider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">ICD-10 codes used with CPT 00796<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every 00796 claim needs a supporting ICD-10-CM diagnosis code that establishes medical necessity for the liver transplant. Pairing the right diagnosis code to the correct procedure code is critical for claim acceptance. The most common diagnosis codes paired with CPT 00796 cover end-stage liver disease and related hepatic conditions. Use the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aapc.com\/codify\/icd-10-crosswalk.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">AAPC CPT-to-ICD-10 crosswalk<\/a> to verify current crosswalk mappings before submitting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<table style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:0;border-radius:12px;overflow:hidden;font-size:15px;line-height:1.5;margin:1.5em 0 2em;box-shadow:0 2px 12px rgba(0,0,0,0.08)\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"background:#121D36;color:#fff;padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:0.3px;border-bottom:2px solid #2BADD4\">ICD-10-CM Code<\/th>\n<th style=\"background:#121D36;color:#fff;padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:0.3px;border-bottom:2px solid #2BADD4\">Description<\/th>\n<th style=\"background:#121D36;color:#fff;padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:0.3px;border-bottom:2px solid #2BADD4\">Common Scenario<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">K74.60<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Unspecified cirrhosis of liver<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">End-stage cirrhotic liver disease<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0;background:#F9FAFB\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">K74.69<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Other cirrhosis of liver<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Cryptogenic or specified cirrhosis<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">K72.10<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Chronic hepatic failure without coma<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Chronic liver failure, non-comatose<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0;background:#F9FAFB\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">K72.11<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Chronic hepatic failure with coma<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Hepatic failure with hepatic coma<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">K70.40<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Alcoholic hepatic failure without coma<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Alcoholic cirrhosis with liver failure<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0;background:#F9FAFB\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">B18.2<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Chronic viral hepatitis C<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Hepatitis C-related end-stage liver disease<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Always code to the highest specificity available in the patient record. Using an unspecified code (K74.60) when the record supports a more specific one (K74.69) creates audit exposure. Verify the active diagnosis with the physician&#8217;s documentation before the claim is generated. The same specificity standard applies to other high-acuity anesthesia codes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Documentation requirements for CPT 00796<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Anesthesia claims are audited heavily. A complete anesthesia record for 00796 must contain each of the following elements to support the claim and withstand payer review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Pre-anesthesia evaluation:<\/strong> Documented assessment of the patient&#8217;s medical status, ASA physical status classification, airway assessment, and planned anesthetic approach<\/li><li><strong>Start and stop times:<\/strong> The exact time anesthesia care began (first attendance) and ended (patient transferred to post-anesthesia care); these times drive time unit calculation<\/li><li><strong>Continuous monitoring record:<\/strong> Vital signs, ventilator settings, fluid management, and any significant intraoperative events documented at regular intervals<\/li><li><strong>Anesthesia provider identity:<\/strong> Name and credentials of the performing or directing provider; for directed cases, both the anesthesiologist and the CRNA must be identified<\/li><li><strong>Post-anesthesia note:<\/strong> Assessment of patient condition at the time of transfer from anesthesia care<\/li><li><strong>Attestation for directed cases:<\/strong> When modifier QX\/QY\/QK applies, the directing anesthesiologist must attest in writing to meeting all seven criteria for medical direction (the &#8222;seven requirements&#8220; under 42 CFR 415.110)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Maintaining HIPAA-compliant documentation practices is equally important alongside clinical completeness. The anesthesia record is a legal document, and missing documentation is treated as a missing service. Structured medical record documentation workflows reduce the risk of missing required elements before claim submission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Specialties with heavy audit exposure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related CPT codes to know<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">CPT code 00796 is one of several codes covering anesthesia for upper abdominal procedures. Selecting the most specific code, not defaulting to a higher-complexity one, is both accurate coding practice and a safeguard against upcoding audits. Billers handling IVF CPT codes in other specialties encounter similar code-family selection decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<table style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:0;border-radius:12px;overflow:hidden;font-size:15px;line-height:1.5;margin:1.5em 0 2em;box-shadow:0 2px 12px rgba(0,0,0,0.08)\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"background:#121D36;color:#fff;padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:0.3px;border-bottom:2px solid #2BADD4\">CPT Code<\/th>\n<th style=\"background:#121D36;color:#fff;padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:0.3px;border-bottom:2px solid #2BADD4\">Description<\/th>\n<th style=\"background:#121D36;color:#fff;padding:14px 16px;text-align:center;font-weight:600;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:0.3px;border-bottom:2px solid #2BADD4\">Base Units<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">00790<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Anesthesia for intraperitoneal procedures in upper abdomen; not otherwise specified<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;text-align:center;color:#374151\">7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0;background:#F9FAFB\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">00794<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Anesthesia for intraperitoneal procedures in upper abdomen; pancreatectomy, partial or total<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;text-align:center;color:#374151\">8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">00796<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Anesthesia for intraperitoneal procedures in upper abdomen; liver transplant, recipient<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;text-align:center;color:#374151\">30<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0;background:#F9FAFB\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">00797<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Anesthesia for intraperitoneal procedures in upper abdomen; gastric restrictive procedure for obesity<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;text-align:center;color:#374151\">11<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The jump from 7 base units (00790) to 30 base units (00796) reflects how genuinely different liver transplant anesthesia is from routine upper abdominal work. Billing 00796 for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy or a hernia repair would be a significant upcoding error. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aapc.com\/codes\/cpt-codes-range\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">AAPC Codify CPT lookup<\/a> provides full descriptors and code family context to confirm the right code before submission. See also the ADHD screening CPT code for cross-specialty context on code family navigation.<\/p>\n\n\n        <div id=\"pro_tip\">\n            <div class=\"img\">\n                <svg width=\"42\" height=\"42\" viewBox=\"0 0 42 42\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\"\n                        d=\"M12.6383 19.5238C12.6632 21.2071 12.8734 22.9926 12.0685 24.5523C11.0341 26.8917 8.45076 28.169 7.56292 30.5918C6.63082 33.1061 7.19505 36.185 9.31371 37.9786C10.929 39.5678 13.4183 39.9873 15.6061 39.5463C17.4592 39.073 19.1049 37.8388 19.9706 36.1608C20.781 34.7141 20.7866 32.9904 20.5293 31.3985C20.1006 29.3092 18.3775 27.8705 16.9807 26.362C14.8814 24.1005 14.6684 20.6854 15.595 17.8915C16.4331 15.4768 19.0026 14.2344 20.0425 11.9461C20.7202 10.6769 20.7506 9.20327 20.6068 7.81304C20.1864 5.40098 18.3139 3.23631 15.8716 2.56674C13.9742 2.03969 11.8224 2.30052 10.1739 3.37614C8.70522 4.34688 7.5878 5.86618 7.28356 7.58178C6.76081 9.82981 7.53525 12.2822 9.20307 13.9118C10.7658 15.4741 12.4806 17.2273 12.6383 19.5238Z\"\n                        fill=\"#2BADD4\" \/>\n                    <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\"\n                        d=\"M22.7048 19.8387C22.6822 22.3279 24.4507 24.6234 26.7493 25.4682C28.0531 25.961 29.4725 25.9183 30.7989 25.5487C32.0575 24.9955 33.301 24.2237 34.0069 23.0092C34.8384 21.5811 35.2982 19.8286 34.7832 18.2094C34.3611 16.2507 32.8739 14.6541 31.0275 13.9426C28.6736 12.9595 25.8073 13.7942 24.1719 15.7001C23.2022 16.8366 22.6143 18.3326 22.7048 19.8387Z\"\n                        fill=\"#2BADD4\" \/>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"text\">\n                <h3>Pro Tip<\/h3>\n                <p>Always verify the procedure documentation matches the code descriptor before submitting. If the operative report says &#8218;liver transplant, recipient&#8216; and your claim says 00790, the undercoding is just as problematic as overbilling. Confirm the exact procedure with the surgeon&#8217;s dictation, not just the scheduling system label.<\/p>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    \n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Common billing errors with CPT 00796<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Liver transplant anesthesia claims are scrutinized carefully by Medicare and commercial payers. Most denials trace back to a handful of recurring mistakes that are preventable with the right workflows. The list below covers the errors that generate the most denials for CPT 00796.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.pabau.com\/cdn\/attachments\/pulse\/content-engine\/billing_codes\/cpt-code-00796\/automate-claims-through-healthcode.webp\" alt=\"Pabau payments and invoicing dashboard\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Pabau&#8217;s payments dashboard shows completed invoices and itemized charges, giving practices a clear record of every billed service.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:35px;width:800px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Missing or wrong modifier:<\/strong> Submitting CPT 00796 without a modifier, or using the wrong modifier for the provider type (e.g. billing AA for a directed case), triggers automatic denial. The modifier is not optional.<\/li><li><strong>Incomplete time documentation:<\/strong> If start and stop times are missing from the anesthesia record, time units cannot be substantiated. Payers may either deny or reduce the claim to base units only.<\/li><li><strong>Incorrect ICD-10 pairing:<\/strong> Using a diagnosis code that does not establish medical necessity for liver transplant is a frequent cause of claim rejection. The same applies to a non-billable placeholder code. Confirm the active primary diagnosis maps to hepatic disease requiring transplant.<\/li><li><strong>Missing directed-case attestation:<\/strong> When QX\/QY are used, the directing anesthesiologist&#8217;s attestation of the seven CMS medical direction requirements must be in the record. Missing attestation voids the medical direction claim.<\/li><li><strong>Unbundling separate anesthesia services:<\/strong> Certain monitoring and management services are included (bundled) within the anesthesia global service. Billing separately for arterial line placement or invasive monitoring may constitute unbundling under National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) edits.<\/li><li><strong>Using 00790 instead of 00796:<\/strong> Some billing staff default to the general upper abdomen anesthesia code. This results in significant undercoding for a 30-base-unit service and potentially triggers a documentation mismatch if the record clearly states &#8222;liver transplant.&#8220;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Structured digital anesthesia forms can capture start and stop times and provider credentials within the clinical encounter. This can prevent several of these errors before the claim is ever generated. Connecting documentation to a practice management platform that supports billing workflows reduces the manual handoff steps where errors typically enter the process. Practices across specialties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.pabau.com\/cdn\/attachments\/pulse\/content-engine\/billing_codes\/cpt-code-00796\/digital-forms.webp\" alt=\"Pabau digital forms builder\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Pabau&#8217;s digital forms builder helps anesthesia teams create intake forms that capture start and stop times and provider credentials before a claim goes out.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:35px;width:800px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related CPT codes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/procedure-codes\/cpt-code-00731\/\">CPT code 00731 \u2014 Anesthesia billing for upper GI endoscopy<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/procedure-codes\/cpt-code-00797\/\">Anesthesia for Gastric Restrictive Procedure CPT 00797<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/procedure-codes\/cpt-code-00800\/\">CPT code 00800 \u2014 anesthesia for lower anterior abdominal wall<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/procedure-codes\/cpt-code-00802\/\">CPT Code 00802 \u2014 Anesthesia for panniculectomy on the lower abdomen<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Pabau supports anesthesia documentation for CPT 00796<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Anesthesia teams billing CPT 00796 often piece together start and stop times, provider credentials, and attestation notes from several sources. These include paper charts, EMR free-text fields, and separate scanned documents. That patchwork is where missing elements slip through before a claim reaches the payer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Practice management software like Pabau replaces that patchwork with structured digital forms built into the clinical encounter. Anesthesia providers can log exact start and stop times and record their credentials as the case happens. The pre- and post-anesthesia notes attach directly to the patient record, rather than surfacing later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The result is a documentation trail that is complete and time-stamped before billing staff ever touch the claim. That is exactly what a 00796 audit or payer review expects to see.<\/p>\n\n\n        <div id=\"book_a_demo\">\n            <div class=\"left-side\">\n                <div class=\"logo\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\"\n                        src=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Logo.svg\"\n                        alt=\"Logo\"\n                        loading=\"lazy\"\n                    \/>\n                <\/div>\n\n                <h3 class=\"heading\">\n                    Capture complete anesthesia documentation as it happens                <\/h3>\n\n                <p class=\"description\">\n                    Pabau&#8217;s digital forms let anesthesia teams record start and stop times, provider credentials, and case notes directly in the patient record, so documentation is complete before billing starts.                <\/p>\n\n                <div class=\"button-group\">\n                    <a href=\"\/book-demo\/\" class=\"btn btn-scale-effect btn-cta-color btn-md\">\n                        <span class=\"btn-text\">Book a demo<\/span>\n                        <div class=\"btn-icon btn-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                            <svg\n                                width=\"14\"\n                                height=\"12\"\n                                viewBox=\"0 0 14 12\"\n                                fill=\"none\"\n                                xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"\n                            >\n                                <path\n                                    d=\"M0.75 4.77295C0.335786 4.77295 0 5.10874 0 5.52295C0 5.93716 0.335786 6.27295 0.75 6.27295V5.52295V4.77295ZM13.2803 6.05328C13.5732 5.76039 13.5732 5.28551 13.2803 4.99262L8.50736 0.219648C8.21447 -0.073245 7.73959 -0.073245 7.4467 0.219648C7.15381 0.512542 7.15381 0.987415 7.4467 1.28031L11.6893 5.52295L7.4467 9.76559C7.15381 10.0585 7.15381 10.5334 7.4467 10.8263C7.73959 11.1191 8.21447 11.1191 8.50736 10.8263L13.2803 6.05328ZM0.75 5.52295V6.27295L12.75 6.27295V5.52295V4.77295L0.75 4.77295V5.52295Z\"\n                                    fill=\"currentColor\"\n                                ><\/path>\n                            <\/svg>\n                        <\/div>\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n\n            <div class=\"right-side\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\"\n                    src=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Home-Page-Concept-4.webp\"\n                    alt=\"Pabau clinic management dashboard\"\n                    loading=\"lazy\"\n                \/>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        \n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">CPT code 00796 carries enough base units that a single denial is a meaningful revenue loss, not a rounding error. The safer approach treats every documentation element as non-negotiable before submission, rather than fixing it after a payer rejects the claim. That discipline costs less time than an appeal, and it protects the practice&#8217;s audit position for every high-acuity code that follows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Getting there does not require new staff. Digital forms that capture start and stop times and provider credentials remove much of that reconstruction work. <a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/book-demo\/\">Book a demo<\/a> to see how Pabau supports anesthesia documentation for high-acuity procedure codes like 00796.<\/p>\n\n\n        <div id=\"expert_picks\">\n            <div class=\"header\">\n                                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Expert-Picks.svg\" alt=\"Continue your research\" height=\"42\" width=\"42\">\n                                <h3>Continue your research<\/h3>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"content\">\n                                                            <div class=\"item\">\n                            <div>\n                                <svg width=\"20\" height=\"27\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 27\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                                    <path\n                                        d=\"M18.6223 14.3857C19.1246 13.8975 19.1246 13.1045 18.6223 12.6162L12.1938 6.36621C11.6915 5.87793 10.8759 5.87793 10.3737 6.36621C9.87143 6.85449 9.87143 7.64746 10.3737 8.13574L14.6125 12.2529H2.28571C1.57455 12.2529 1 12.8115 1 13.5029C1 14.1943 1.57455 14.7529 2.28571 14.7529H14.6085L10.3777 18.8701C9.87545 19.3584 9.87545 20.1514 10.3777 20.6396C10.8799 21.1279 11.6955 21.1279 12.1978 20.6396L18.6263 14.3896L18.6223 14.3857Z\"\n                                        fill=\"#54B2D3\" \/>\n                                <\/svg>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <p><strong>Need to bill central venous access placed during major surgery?<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/procedure-codes\/cpt-code-00532\/\">CPT code 00532<\/a> covers anesthesia for central venous access, a common companion code in complex transplant cases.<\/p>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                                                <div class=\"item\">\n                            <div>\n                                <svg width=\"20\" height=\"27\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 27\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                                    <path\n                                        d=\"M18.6223 14.3857C19.1246 13.8975 19.1246 13.1045 18.6223 12.6162L12.1938 6.36621C11.6915 5.87793 10.8759 5.87793 10.3737 6.36621C9.87143 6.85449 9.87143 7.64746 10.3737 8.13574L14.6125 12.2529H2.28571C1.57455 12.2529 1 12.8115 1 13.5029C1 14.1943 1.57455 14.7529 2.28571 14.7529H14.6085L10.3777 18.8701C9.87545 19.3584 9.87545 20.1514 10.3777 20.6396C10.8799 21.1279 11.6955 21.1279 12.1978 20.6396L18.6263 14.3896L18.6223 14.3857Z\"\n                                        fill=\"#54B2D3\" \/>\n                                <\/svg>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <p><strong>Looking for another high-acuity anesthesia code?<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/procedure-codes\/cpt-code-00500\/\">CPT code 00500<\/a> covers anesthesia for esophageal procedures, a code anesthesia billers frequently encounter alongside 00796.<\/p>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                                                <div class=\"item\">\n                            <div>\n                                <svg width=\"20\" height=\"27\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 27\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                                    <path\n                                        d=\"M18.6223 14.3857C19.1246 13.8975 19.1246 13.1045 18.6223 12.6162L12.1938 6.36621C11.6915 5.87793 10.8759 5.87793 10.3737 6.36621C9.87143 6.85449 9.87143 7.64746 10.3737 8.13574L14.6125 12.2529H2.28571C1.57455 12.2529 1 12.8115 1 13.5029C1 14.1943 1.57455 14.7529 2.28571 14.7529H14.6085L10.3777 18.8701C9.87545 19.3584 9.87545 20.1514 10.3777 20.6396C10.8799 21.1279 11.6955 21.1279 12.1978 20.6396L18.6263 14.3896L18.6223 14.3857Z\"\n                                        fill=\"#54B2D3\" \/>\n                                <\/svg>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <p><strong>Billing anesthesia for major thoracic surgery?<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/procedure-codes\/cpt-code-00546\/\">CPT code 00546<\/a> covers anesthesia for pulmonary resection with thoracoplasty, a similarly high base-unit procedure.<\/p>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    \n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1785234749637\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">What is CPT code 00796 used for?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">CPT code 00796 is used to bill anesthesia services for intraperitoneal procedures in the upper abdomen, specifically liver transplant in the recipient patient. It carries 30 base units and applies only to the transplant recipient, not the donor. The code falls within the 00700-00797 upper abdomen anesthesia section of the AMA CPT code set.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1785234749638\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">How many base units does CPT 00796 have?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">CPT 00796 has 30 base units, as assigned by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Relative Value Guide. This is one of the highest base unit values in the upper abdomen anesthesia section, reflecting the complexity and risk of liver transplant anesthesia.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1785234749639\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">What modifiers apply to CPT code 00796?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Five modifiers apply: AA (anesthesiologist performs), QZ (independent CRNA), QX (directed CRNA), QY (anesthesiologist directs one CRNA), and QK (anesthesiologist directs 2-4 cases). AA and QZ pay at 100% of the allowable. QX, QY, and QK pay at 50% each, with both the directing physician and the CRNA submitting separate claims in directed cases.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1785234749640\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">How do you calculate anesthesia time units for CPT 00796?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">One time unit equals 15 minutes of anesthesia time under Medicare&#8217;s standard. Divide total anesthesia minutes by 15 to get time units, then add the 30 base units, and multiply by the locality-specific conversion factor. For a 360-minute case: 24 time units + 30 base units = 54 total units x the applicable conversion factor. Some commercial payers use 10- or 12-minute intervals instead of 15 minutes, so verify each payer&#8217;s contract.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1785234749641\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">What is the difference between CPT 00796 and CPT 00790?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">CPT 00790 covers general anesthesia for intraperitoneal upper abdominal procedures not otherwise specified, carrying only 7 base units. CPT 00796 is specific to liver transplant (recipient) and carries 30 base units. Using 00790 for a liver transplant case results in significant undercoding; using 00796 for a routine upper abdominal case constitutes upcoding. Always match the code to the documented procedure.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1785234749642\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">What documentation is required to bill CPT 00796?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Required documentation includes a pre-anesthesia evaluation, exact start and stop times, and a continuous intraoperative monitoring record. It also includes the anesthesia provider&#8217;s identity and a post-anesthesia note. For directed cases, the directing anesthesiologist must give written attestation confirming all seven CMS medical direction requirements were met. Missing any of these elements, particularly start\/stop times or the directed-case attestation, will result in claim denial or reduction.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>CPT code 00796 is the anesthesia code for liver transplant in the recipient patient, carrying 30 base units within the 00700-00797 upper abdomen anesthesia section. Billing it correctly requires one of five specific modifiers and a narrow set of ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes, each documented precisely to avoid a stalled claim. This reference covers everything billing [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":81,"featured_media":168455,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_linkdex":"","_yoast_wpseo_content_score":"","_yoast_wpseo_is_cornerstone":"","_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":"","_yoast_wpseo_focuskw_text_input":"","_seo_original_html":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1433,1546],"tags":[4162,2387,1162,1602,4164],"class_list":["post-168459","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-billing-codes","category-cpt-codes","tag-anesthesia-billing","tag-claim-denials","tag-cpt-codes","tag-cpt-modifiers","tag-crna"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.3 (Yoast SEO v28.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>CPT Code 00796: Anesthesia for liver transplant (recipient)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"CPT code 00796 covers anesthesia for liver transplant recipients, worth 30 base units, plus modifier and ICD-10 rules.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/de\/procedure-codes\/cpt-code-00796\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"de_DE\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"CPT Code 00796: Anesthesia for liver transplant (recipient)\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"CPT code 00796 covers anesthesia for liver transplant recipients, worth 30 base units, plus modifier and ICD-10 rules.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/de\/procedure-codes\/cpt-code-00796\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Pabau\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Pabau\/\" 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is an all-in-one healthcare practice management software platform designed for clinics, medspas, therapists, and medical professionals. It combines scheduling, electronic health records, clinical forms, payments, marketing automation, reporting, and patient engagement tools into one secure cloud system to help practices streamline operations and grow their business.\",\"foundingDate\":\"2011-10-20\",\"numberOfEmployees\":{\"@type\":\"QuantitativeValue\",\"minValue\":\"201\",\"maxValue\":\"500\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pabau.com\\\/de\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/73b672a49e20bfba8161e3c17ee3dda2\",\"name\":\"Aleksandar Kochovski\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"de\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pabau.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/cropped-aleksandar-kochovski-profile-picture-96x96.jpeg\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pabau.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/cropped-aleksandar-kochovski-profile-picture-96x96.jpeg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pabau.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/cropped-aleksandar-kochovski-profile-picture-96x96.jpeg\",\"caption\":\"Aleksandar Kochovski\"},\"description\":\"Aleksandar is a content strategist and editor working in tech publishing, with a background in higher education. He specializes in topics around compliance in software solutions. When he's not writing at Pabau, you can find him tending to his bonsai collection or hitting the gym.\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pabau.com\\\/de\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/aleksandar-kochovski\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pabau.com\\\/de\\\/procedure-codes\\\/cpt-code-00796\\\/#faq-question-1785234749637\",\"position\":1,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pabau.com\\\/de\\\/procedure-codes\\\/cpt-code-00796\\\/#faq-question-1785234749637\",\"name\":\"What is CPT code 00796 used for?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"CPT code 00796 is used to bill anesthesia services for intraperitoneal procedures in the upper abdomen, specifically liver transplant in the recipient patient. It carries 30 base units and applies only to the transplant recipient, not the donor. The code falls within the 00700-00797 upper abdomen anesthesia section of the AMA CPT code set.\",\"inLanguage\":\"de\"},\"inLanguage\":\"de\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pabau.com\\\/de\\\/procedure-codes\\\/cpt-code-00796\\\/#faq-question-1785234749638\",\"position\":2,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pabau.com\\\/de\\\/procedure-codes\\\/cpt-code-00796\\\/#faq-question-1785234749638\",\"name\":\"How many base units does CPT 00796 have?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"CPT 00796 has 30 base units, as assigned by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Relative Value Guide. This is one of the highest base unit values in the upper abdomen anesthesia section, reflecting the complexity and risk of liver transplant anesthesia.\",\"inLanguage\":\"de\"},\"inLanguage\":\"de\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pabau.com\\\/de\\\/procedure-codes\\\/cpt-code-00796\\\/#faq-question-1785234749639\",\"position\":3,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pabau.com\\\/de\\\/procedure-codes\\\/cpt-code-00796\\\/#faq-question-1785234749639\",\"name\":\"What modifiers apply to CPT code 00796?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Five modifiers apply: AA (anesthesiologist performs), QZ (independent CRNA), QX (directed CRNA), QY (anesthesiologist directs one CRNA), and QK (anesthesiologist directs 2-4 cases). AA and QZ pay at 100% of the allowable. QX, QY, and QK pay at 50% each, with both the directing physician and the CRNA submitting separate claims in directed cases.\",\"inLanguage\":\"de\"},\"inLanguage\":\"de\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pabau.com\\\/de\\\/procedure-codes\\\/cpt-code-00796\\\/#faq-question-1785234749640\",\"position\":4,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pabau.com\\\/de\\\/procedure-codes\\\/cpt-code-00796\\\/#faq-question-1785234749640\",\"name\":\"How do you calculate anesthesia time units for CPT 00796?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"One time unit equals 15 minutes of anesthesia time under Medicare's standard. Divide total anesthesia minutes by 15 to get time units, then add the 30 base units, and multiply by the locality-specific conversion factor. For a 360-minute case: 24 time units + 30 base units = 54 total units x the applicable conversion factor. Some commercial payers use 10- or 12-minute intervals instead of 15 minutes, so verify each payer's contract.\",\"inLanguage\":\"de\"},\"inLanguage\":\"de\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pabau.com\\\/de\\\/procedure-codes\\\/cpt-code-00796\\\/#faq-question-1785234749641\",\"position\":5,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pabau.com\\\/de\\\/procedure-codes\\\/cpt-code-00796\\\/#faq-question-1785234749641\",\"name\":\"What is the difference between CPT 00796 and CPT 00790?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"CPT 00790 covers general anesthesia for intraperitoneal upper abdominal procedures not otherwise specified, carrying only 7 base units. CPT 00796 is specific to liver transplant (recipient) and carries 30 base units. Using 00790 for a liver transplant case results in significant undercoding; using 00796 for a routine upper abdominal case constitutes upcoding. Always match the code to the documented procedure.\",\"inLanguage\":\"de\"},\"inLanguage\":\"de\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pabau.com\\\/de\\\/procedure-codes\\\/cpt-code-00796\\\/#faq-question-1785234749642\",\"position\":6,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pabau.com\\\/de\\\/procedure-codes\\\/cpt-code-00796\\\/#faq-question-1785234749642\",\"name\":\"What documentation is required to bill CPT 00796?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Required documentation includes a pre-anesthesia evaluation, exact start and stop times, and a continuous intraoperative monitoring record. It also includes the anesthesia provider's identity and a post-anesthesia note. For directed cases, the directing anesthesiologist must give written attestation confirming all seven CMS medical direction requirements were met. 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is an all-in-one healthcare practice management software platform designed for clinics, medspas, therapists, and medical professionals. It combines scheduling, electronic health records, clinical forms, payments, marketing automation, reporting, and patient engagement tools into one secure cloud system to help practices streamline operations and grow their business.","foundingDate":"2011-10-20","numberOfEmployees":{"@type":"QuantitativeValue","minValue":"201","maxValue":"500"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/de\/#\/schema\/person\/73b672a49e20bfba8161e3c17ee3dda2","name":"Aleksandar Kochovski","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"de","@id":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/cropped-aleksandar-kochovski-profile-picture-96x96.jpeg","url":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/cropped-aleksandar-kochovski-profile-picture-96x96.jpeg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/cropped-aleksandar-kochovski-profile-picture-96x96.jpeg","caption":"Aleksandar Kochovski"},"description":"Aleksandar is a content strategist and editor working in tech publishing, with a background in higher education. He specializes in topics around compliance in software solutions. When he's not writing at Pabau, you can find him tending to his bonsai collection or hitting the gym.","url":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/de\/blog\/author\/aleksandar-kochovski\/"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/de\/procedure-codes\/cpt-code-00796\/#faq-question-1785234749637","position":1,"url":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/de\/procedure-codes\/cpt-code-00796\/#faq-question-1785234749637","name":"What is CPT code 00796 used for?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"CPT code 00796 is used to bill anesthesia services for intraperitoneal procedures in the upper abdomen, specifically liver transplant in the recipient patient. It carries 30 base units and applies only to the transplant recipient, not the donor. The code falls within the 00700-00797 upper abdomen anesthesia section of the AMA CPT code set.","inLanguage":"de"},"inLanguage":"de"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/de\/procedure-codes\/cpt-code-00796\/#faq-question-1785234749638","position":2,"url":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/de\/procedure-codes\/cpt-code-00796\/#faq-question-1785234749638","name":"How many base units does CPT 00796 have?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"CPT 00796 has 30 base units, as assigned by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Relative Value Guide. This is one of the highest base unit values in the upper abdomen anesthesia section, reflecting the complexity and risk of liver transplant anesthesia.","inLanguage":"de"},"inLanguage":"de"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/de\/procedure-codes\/cpt-code-00796\/#faq-question-1785234749639","position":3,"url":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/de\/procedure-codes\/cpt-code-00796\/#faq-question-1785234749639","name":"What modifiers apply to CPT code 00796?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Five modifiers apply: AA (anesthesiologist performs), QZ (independent CRNA), QX (directed CRNA), QY (anesthesiologist directs one CRNA), and QK (anesthesiologist directs 2-4 cases). AA and QZ pay at 100% of the allowable. QX, QY, and QK pay at 50% each, with both the directing physician and the CRNA submitting separate claims in directed cases.","inLanguage":"de"},"inLanguage":"de"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/de\/procedure-codes\/cpt-code-00796\/#faq-question-1785234749640","position":4,"url":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/de\/procedure-codes\/cpt-code-00796\/#faq-question-1785234749640","name":"How do you calculate anesthesia time units for CPT 00796?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"One time unit equals 15 minutes of anesthesia time under Medicare's standard. Divide total anesthesia minutes by 15 to get time units, then add the 30 base units, and multiply by the locality-specific conversion factor. For a 360-minute case: 24 time units + 30 base units = 54 total units x the applicable conversion factor. Some commercial payers use 10- or 12-minute intervals instead of 15 minutes, so verify each payer's contract.","inLanguage":"de"},"inLanguage":"de"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/de\/procedure-codes\/cpt-code-00796\/#faq-question-1785234749641","position":5,"url":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/de\/procedure-codes\/cpt-code-00796\/#faq-question-1785234749641","name":"What is the difference between CPT 00796 and CPT 00790?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"CPT 00790 covers general anesthesia for intraperitoneal upper abdominal procedures not otherwise specified, carrying only 7 base units. CPT 00796 is specific to liver transplant (recipient) and carries 30 base units. Using 00790 for a liver transplant case results in significant undercoding; using 00796 for a routine upper abdominal case constitutes upcoding. Always match the code to the documented procedure.","inLanguage":"de"},"inLanguage":"de"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/de\/procedure-codes\/cpt-code-00796\/#faq-question-1785234749642","position":6,"url":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/de\/procedure-codes\/cpt-code-00796\/#faq-question-1785234749642","name":"What documentation is required to bill CPT 00796?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Required documentation includes a pre-anesthesia evaluation, exact start and stop times, and a continuous intraoperative monitoring record. It also includes the anesthesia provider's identity and a post-anesthesia note. For directed cases, the directing anesthesiologist must give written attestation confirming all seven CMS medical direction requirements were met. Missing any of these elements, particularly start\/stop times or the directed-case attestation, will result in claim denial or reduction.","inLanguage":"de"},"inLanguage":"de"}]}},"yoast":{"focus_keyword":"CPT code 00796","seo_title":"CPT Code 00796: Anesthesia for liver transplant (recipient)","meta_description":"CPT code 00796 covers anesthesia for liver transplant recipients, worth 30 base units, plus modifier and ICD-10 rules.","content_score":"","is_cornerstone":"","related_keyphrases":[{"keyword":"anesthesia base units","synonyms":["CPT 00796","00796 anesthesia code","CPT code 00796 description","CPT 00796 modifiers"]},{"keyword":"Medicare anesthesia reimbursement","synonyms":["CPT 00796","00796 anesthesia code","CPT code 00796 description","CPT 00796 modifiers"]},{"keyword":"anesthesia modifier AA","synonyms":["CPT 00796","00796 anesthesia code","CPT code 00796 description","CPT 00796 modifiers"]},{"keyword":"liver transplant anesthesia billing","synonyms":["CPT 00796","00796 anesthesia code","CPT code 00796 description","CPT 00796 modifiers"]}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168459","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/81"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=168459"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168459\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":182096,"href":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168459\/revisions\/182096"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/168455"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=168459"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=168459"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=168459"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}