Priced using anesthesia methodology
00546 · PFS Q2 2018 · Historical
Illustrative example
~$597.51
Formula (base_units + time_units) × anesthesia_cf Localis calculated this from CMS’s published inputs. Select an underlined value to see where it comes from. time_units = time_minutes / 15, rounded to one decimal place. The anesthesia conversion factor is CMS's published locality-adjusted value. Citations 00546’s RVUs, PFS status and conversion factor Physician relative value file (PPRRVU)CMS RVU18BApril 1 – June 30, 2018
PPRRVU18_APR.csv
row 4,660
in rvu18b.zip
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File fingerprint The GPCIs Geographic practice cost indices (GPCI)CMS RVU18BApril 1 – June 30, 2018
GPCI2018.csv
row 102
in rvu18b.zip
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File fingerprint Anesthesia conversion factors (ANES) CMS RVU18BApril 1 – June 30, 2018
ANES2018.csv
row 100
in rvu18b.zip
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File fingerprint
Source
In the CMS file
6a692625dad07579d7e9946e9b59265acc1cff8c6ed48d4391949735be04024b
In the CMS file
21ed101a0289138276ab9d441fb44c691a40d34de8f7bd58c7b57b0d0f28d3d2
In the CMS file
dba50a279321bc58d93e608c4d1f8e18b3a674f12b2a91e2bedeba0b8e33c6c1
180-minute example case in Dallas, TX
Anesthesia has no single national rate—payment is (base units + time units) × the locality's anesthesia conversion factor. This example is before sequestration. Enter the service-location ZIP and case length for a local estimate.
Base units 15—set by CMS for this code and the same in every locality. One time unit is 15 minutes, rounded to one decimal, so a 180-minute case adds 12 time units.
CPT 00546 is an anesthesia code, so Medicare has no single national rate: payment is (base units + time units) × the locality's anesthesia conversion factor—for example, about $597.51 for a 180-minute case in Dallas, TX under the Q2 2018 release, before sequestration.
Amount evidence: base units, time units, and the locality conversion factor, shown in the estimate. The PFS row shows this code is priced as anesthesia.
Inspect PFS status evidence
- Code
- 00546
- Release
- Q2 2018, revision 1
- Result
- Priced using anesthesia methodology
Citations
-
Shows this code’s PFS status (J). Result: Priced using anesthesia methodology.
Physician relative value file (PPRRVU)CMS RVU18BApril 1 – June 30, 2018
This PFS record alone does not establish a $0 allowance or a coverage determination. Any amount from another schedule needs its own evidence.
PPRRVU18_APR.csv row 4,660 in rvu18b.zip
In the CMS file
Loading rows 4,658–4,662 of PPRRVU18_APR.csv…
Download rvu18b.zip from CMS File fingerprint
6a692625dad07579d7e9946e9b59265acc1cff8c6ed48d4391949735be04024b
Why is there no national PFS amount for 00546?
Its status indicator is J (anesthesia). Medicare prices this under the anesthesia formula—(base units + time units) × the locality anesthesia conversion factor—not the standard RVU formula. Choose a locality to see that factor.
Payment considerations Copy link
Here are the inputs and payment rules that apply to this code. Each link takes you to the detail below.
Other payment indicators (10)
Facility/non-facility: Not determined, Professional/technical component: Does not apply, Bilateral adjustment: Does not apply, Multiple-procedure reduction: Does not apply, Assistant/co-surgeon treatment: Does not apply, Global surgery: Does not apply, NCCI same-day edits: Not determined, MUE behavior: Not determined, Other fee-schedule routing: Does not apply, Contractor pricing: Does not apply.
Can you bill it with another code? Copy link
Check a pair of codes Copy link
Enter a second CPT or HCPCS code billed on the same date of service. We'll check the current NCCI procedure-to-procedure edit for the pair.
How has it changed? Copy link
When does this rate change?
CMS publishes a fee schedule release every quarter (January, April, July, October), and each is versioned here. See what changed each release, or get an email when a new release moves rates.
Sources: CMS Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Relative Value Files.
Usage and related codes Copy link
How often 00546 is billed Copy link
Across Original Medicare in CY2024, 00546 ranked #7,476 of the 7,879 CPT codes billed to Medicare that year, by patients served or total allowed dollars.
2024 Medicare fee-for-service national totals. They exclude Medicare Advantage, Medicaid and commercial volume, so real-world use runs higher. This is a calendar-year snapshot from the CMS Physician & Other Practitioners dataset, on a different cycle from the Q2 2018 fee schedule above.
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Source & method
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The anesthesia estimate uses the base units, case length, and locality conversion factor shown beside it. The PFS file shows this code is priced as anesthesia. Past releases are never edited, so these sources stay valid after CMS publishes a newer one. Our methodology explains sourcing, parsing, versioning, and how we cross-check claims before we publish them.
Cite this rate
The citation names the release, so anyone can check it even after CMS publishes a newer one.
CPT 00546 National PFS baseline: No national PFS rate (Q2 2018; participating; whole service; GPCI 1.000; sequestration excluded). CMS RVU18B, PPRRVU18_APR.csv row 4,660. Localis. https://localishealth.com/cpt/00546/2018/B