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Official Description

Lipid panel
This panel must include the following:

  • Cholesterol, serum, total (82465)
  • Lipoprotein, direct measurement, high density cholesterol (HDL cholesterol) (83718)
  • Triglycerides (84478)

© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

A lipid panel is a comprehensive blood test designed to evaluate an individual's lipid levels, which are crucial indicators of cardiovascular health. This panel specifically measures various types of lipids, including total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides. Lipids, which consist of cholesterol and triglycerides, play essential roles in the body, including energy storage and cellular health. The lipid panel is particularly important for assessing the risk of cardiovascular disease and for monitoring the effectiveness of treatment strategies aimed at managing lipid levels. The test results provide valuable insights into the balance of different types of cholesterol in the bloodstream, including HDL, often referred to as 'good cholesterol' due to its role in transporting excess cholesterol to the liver for excretion, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), known as 'bad cholesterol' because it can lead to plaque buildup in the arteries. Additionally, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) is also measured, which is associated with high triglyceride levels and can convert to LDL, further contributing to cardiovascular risk. The lipid panel is performed using a blood sample obtained through venipuncture or a finger stick, and the serum or plasma is analyzed using a quantitative enzymatic method to ensure accurate measurement of lipid levels.

© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

1. Indications

The lipid panel is indicated for several clinical scenarios, primarily related to cardiovascular health assessment and management. The following conditions warrant the performance of a lipid panel:

  • Risk Assessment for Cardiovascular Disease The lipid panel is utilized to evaluate an individual's risk for developing cardiovascular diseases, including heart attack and stroke, by measuring lipid levels in the blood.
  • Monitoring Treatment Patients undergoing treatment for dyslipidemia or other lipid disorders require regular lipid panels to monitor the effectiveness of their treatment regimen and make necessary adjustments.
  • Screening for Dyslipidemia The lipid panel serves as a screening tool for dyslipidemia, which is characterized by abnormal lipid levels that can lead to cardiovascular complications.

2. Procedure

The procedure for obtaining a lipid panel involves several key steps to ensure accurate results. The following outlines the procedural steps:

  • Step 1: Patient Preparation Prior to the test, patients may be instructed to fast for a specific period, typically 9 to 12 hours, to ensure that triglyceride levels are not influenced by recent food intake. This fasting requirement is crucial for obtaining reliable measurements.
  • Step 2: Sample Collection A blood sample is collected from the patient, which can be done through venipuncture or a finger stick. Venipuncture involves inserting a needle into a vein, usually in the arm, to draw a sufficient volume of blood. Alternatively, a finger stick may be performed for smaller sample requirements.
  • Step 3: Laboratory Analysis The collected serum or plasma is then sent to a laboratory where it undergoes quantitative enzymatic testing. This method accurately measures the levels of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, providing essential data for the lipid panel.
  • Step 4: Result Interpretation Once the laboratory analysis is complete, the results are compiled and interpreted by healthcare professionals. The lipid levels are assessed against established reference ranges to determine the patient's cardiovascular risk and the need for any further intervention.

3. Post-Procedure

After the lipid panel procedure, patients may resume normal activities immediately unless otherwise instructed by their healthcare provider. It is important for patients to discuss their results with their physician, who will provide guidance on any necessary lifestyle changes or treatments based on the lipid levels obtained. Follow-up testing may be recommended to monitor changes in lipid levels over time, especially for those with elevated results or those undergoing treatment for lipid disorders.

Short Descr LIPID PANEL
Medium Descr LIPID PANEL
Long Descr Lipid panel This panel must include the following: Cholesterol, serum, total (82465) Lipoprotein, direct measurement, high density cholesterol (HDL cholesterol) (83718) Triglycerides (84478)
Status Code Statutory Exclusion (from MPFS, may be paid under other methodologies)
Global Days XXX - Global Concept Does Not Apply
PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) 9 - Not Applicable
Multiple Procedures (51) 9 - Concept does not apply.
Bilateral Surgery (50) 9 - Concept does not apply.
Physician Supervisions 09 - Concept does not apply.
Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) 9 - Concept does not apply.
Co-Surgeons (62) 9 - Concept does not apply.
Team Surgery (66) 9 - Concept does not apply.
Diagnostic Imaging Family 99 - Concept Does Not Apply
CLIA Waived (QW) Yes
APC Status Indicator Service Paid under Fee Schedule or Payment System other than OPPS
Type of Service (TOS) 5 - Diagnostic Laboratory
Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) T1H - Lab tests - other (non-Medicare fee schedule)
MUE 1
CCS Clinical Classification 235 - Other Laboratory
QW Clia waived test
GA Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, individual case
90 Reference (outside) laboratory: when laboratory procedures are performed by a party other than the treating or reporting physician or other qualified health care professional, the procedure may be identified by adding modifier 90 to the usual procedure number.
59 Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25.
GZ Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary
GY Item or service statutorily excluded, does not meet the definition of any medicare benefit or, for non-medicare insurers, is not a contract benefit
GW Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition
GV Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider
Q4 Service for ordering/referring physician qualifies as a service exemption
26 Professional component: certain procedures are a combination of a physician or other qualified health care professional component and a technical component. when the physician or other qualified health care professional component is reported separately, the service may be identified by adding modifier 26 to the usual procedure number.
91 Repeat clinical diagnostic laboratory test: in the course of treatment of the patient, it may be necessary to repeat the same laboratory test on the same day to obtain subsequent (multiple) test results. under these circumstances, the laboratory test performed can be identified by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 91. note: this modifier may not be used when tests are rerun to confirm initial results; due to testing problems with specimens or equipment; or for any other reason when a normal, one-time, reportable result is all that is required. this modifier may not be used when other code(s) describe a series of test results (eg, glucose tolerance tests, evocative/suppression testing). this modifier may only be used for laboratory test(s) performed more than once on the same day on the same patient.
GX Notice of liability issued, voluntary under payer policy
77 Repeat procedure by another physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a basic procedure or service was repeated by another physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 77 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service.
QJ Services/items provided to a prisoner or patient in state or local custody, however the state or local government, as applicable, meets the requirements in 42 cfr 411.4 (b)
CC Procedure code change (use 'cc' when the procedure code submitted was changed either for administrative reasons or because an incorrect code was filed)
CR Catastrophe/disaster related
X1 Continuous/broad services: for reporting services by clinicians, who provide the principal care for a patient, with no planned endpoint of the relationship; services in this category represent comprehensive care, dealing with the entire scope of patient problems, either directly or in a care coordination role; reporting clinician service examples include, but are not limited to: primary care, and clinicians providing comprehensive care to patients in addition to specialty care
25 Significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional on the same day of the procedure or other service: it may be necessary to indicate that on the day a procedure or service identified by a cpt code was performed, the patient's condition required a significant, separately identifiable e/m service above and beyond the other service provided or beyond the usual preoperative and postoperative care associated with the procedure that was performed. a significant, separately identifiable e/m service is defined or substantiated by documentation that satisfies the relevant criteria for the respective e/m service to be reported (see evaluation and management services guidelines for instructions on determining level of e/m service). the e/m service may be prompted by the symptom or condition for which the procedure and/or service was provided. as such, different diagnoses are not required for reporting of the e/m services on the same date. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 25 to the appropriate level of e/m service. note: this modifier is not used to report an e/m service that resulted in a decision to perform surgery. see modifier 57 for significant, separately identifiable non-e/m services, see modifier 59.
33 Preventive services: when the primary purpose of the service is the delivery of an evidence based service in accordance with a us preventive services task force a or b rating in effect and other preventive services identified in preventive services mandates (legislative or regulatory), the service may be identified by adding 33 to the procedure. for separately reported services specifically identified as preventive, the modifier should not be used.
55 Postoperative management only: when 1 physician or other qualified health care professional performed the postoperative management and another performed the surgical procedure, the postoperative component may be identified by adding modifier 55 to the usual procedure number.
74 Discontinued out-patient hospital/ambulatory surgery center (asc) procedure after administration of anesthesia: due to extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well being of the patient, the physician may terminate a surgical or diagnostic procedure after the administration of anesthesia (local, regional block(s), general) or after the procedure was started (incision made, intubation started, scope inserted, etc). under these circumstances, the procedure started but terminated can be reported by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 74. note: the elective cancellation of a service prior to the administration of anesthesia and/or surgical preparation of the patient should not be reported. for physician reporting of a discontinued procedure, see modifier 53.
76 Repeat procedure or service by same physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was repeated by the same physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 76 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service.
93 Synchronous telemedicine service rendered via telephone or other real-time interactive audio-only telecommunications system : synchronous telemedicine service is defined as a real-time interaction between a physician or other qualified health care professional and a patient who is located away at a distant site from the physician or other qualified health care professional. the totality of the communication of information exchanged between the physician or other qualified health care professional and the patient during the course of the synchronous telemedicine service must be of an amount and nature that is sufficient to meet the key components and/or requirements of the same service when rendered via a face-to-face interaction.
95 Synchronous telemedicine service rendered via a real-time interactive audio and video telecommunications system: synchronous telemedicine service is defined as a real-time interaction between a physician or other qualified health care professional and a patient who is located at a distant site from the physician or other qualified health care professional. the totality of the communication of information exchanged between the physician or other qualified health care professional and the patient during the course of the synchronous telemedicine service must be of an amount and nature that would be sufficient to meet the key components and/or requirements of the same service when rendered via a face-to-face interaction. modifier 95 may only be appended to the services listed in appendix p. appendix p is the list of cpt codes for services that are typically performed face-to-face, but may be rendered via a real-time (synchronous) interactive audio and video telecommunications system.
AQ Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa)
AY Item or service furnished to an esrd patient that is not for the treatment of esrd
CA Procedure payable only in the inpatient setting when performed emergently on an outpatient who expires prior to admission
CG Policy criteria applied
CS Cost-sharing waived for specified covid-19 testing-related services that result in and order for or administration of a covid-19 test and/or used for cost-sharing waived preventive services furnished via telehealth in rural health clinics and federally qualified health centers during the covid-19 public health emergency
GB Claim being re-submitted for payment because it is no longer covered under a global payment demonstration
GC This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician
GT Via interactive audio and video telecommunication systems
HO Masters degree level
KX Requirements specified in the medical policy have been met
KY Dmepos item subject to dmepos competitive bidding program number 5
LT Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body)
PD Diagnostic or related non diagnostic item or service provided in a wholly owned or operated entity to a patient who is admitted as an inpatient within 3 days
PN Non-excepted service provided at an off-campus, outpatient, provider-based department of a hospital
Q0 Investigational clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study
Q1 Routine clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study
Q3 Live kidney donor surgery and related services
Q5 Service furnished under a reciprocal billing arrangement by a substitute physician or by a substitute physical therapist furnishing outpatient physical therapy services in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area
Q6 Service furnished under a fee-for-time compensation arrangement by a substitute physician or by a substitute physical therapist furnishing outpatient physical therapy services in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area
QA Prescribed amounts of stationary oxygen for daytime use while at rest and nighttime use differ and the average of the two amounts is less than 1 liter per minute (lpm)
QP Documentation is on file showing that the laboratory test(s) was ordered individually or ordered as a cpt-recognized panel other than automated profile codes 80002-80019, g0058, g0059, and g0060.
QQ Ordering professional consulted a qualified clinical decision support mechanism for this service and the related data was provided to the furnishing professional
SA Nurse practitioner rendering service in collaboration with a physician
TC Technical component; under certain circumstances, a charge may be made for the technical component alone; under those circumstances the technical component charge is identified by adding modifier 'tc' to the usual procedure number; technical component charges are institutional charges and not billed separately by physicians; however, portable x-ray suppliers only bill for technical component and should utilize modifier tc; the charge data from portable x-ray suppliers will then be used to build customary and prevailing profiles
UA Medicaid level of care 10, as defined by each state
UD Medicaid level of care 13, as defined by each state
X5 Diagnostic services requested by another clinician: for reporting services by a clinician who furnishes care to the patient only as requested by another clinician or subsequent and related services requested by another clinician; this modifier is reported for patient relationships that may not be adequately captured by the above alternative categories; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to, the radiologist's interpretation of an imaging study requested by another clinician
XE Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter
XS Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure
XU Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service
Date
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2013-01-01 Changed Description Changed
2009-01-01 Changed Code description changed.
Pre-1990 Added Code added.
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