CPT 80048: Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP)
CPT 80048 is the basic metabolic panel, a bundle of 8 defined chemistry tests covering glucose, electrolytes, and kidney function. It is a clinical laboratory service priced under the Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS), not the Physician Fee Schedule, so it carries no PFS RVUs or dollar amount.
- Code type
- Clinical laboratory panel (chemistry)
- Priced under
- Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS), not the PFS
- Components
- 8 defined tests, all required
- Frequency notes
- Diagnosis-driven; bundled into 80053 under NCCI
What is CPT 80048 used for?
CPT 80048 reports a basic metabolic panel (BMP) — a bundle of 8 blood chemistry tests that evaluate blood sugar, electrolyte and acid-base balance, and kidney function. It is a workhorse screening and monitoring panel, common for hydration status, renal follow-up, and medication management where liver enzymes are not needed.
Like all AMA panels, 80048 is defined by a fixed component list. When all 8 analytes are performed you bill the single panel code; if fewer are run, the panel definition is not met and you report only the components performed.
How much does Medicare pay for 80048?
On the Physician Fee Schedule, 80048 shows status indicator X — statutory exclusion, so there are no RVUs and no PFS dollar. That is correct: laboratory tests are not paid on the PFS.
Payment comes from the Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS), which prices lab codes with national limitation amounts and gapfill/crosswalk methodology set nationally rather than by locality RVUs. The Medicare fee calculator PFS lookup will not return a figure for 80048 — reference the current CLFS rate from your MAC or payer fee file instead.
What are the 8 components of a BMP?
All 8 analytes are required for 80048:
| Group | Tests |
|---|---|
| Glucose / minerals | Glucose, calcium |
| Electrolytes | Sodium, potassium, CO2, chloride |
| Kidney | BUN, creatinine |
How do CMP and BMP edits interact?
Example: a lab reports both 80048 and 80053 for the same encounter. Because the BMP is a subset of the CMP, NCCI bundles 80048 into 80053 and the payer denies the lower-valued code, with no modifier override.
- All 8 components performed → bill 80048 alone.
- Fewer than 8 performed → bill only the individual component codes.
- Never report 80048 together with 80053 or with its own unbundled component codes.
Coverage follows payer medical-necessity policy, so link the order to a supporting diagnosis and watch NCCI edits when a stray glucose (82947) is billed alongside the panel.
Frequently asked questions
Because 80048 is a clinical laboratory test, not a physician service. On the PFS it carries status indicator X (statutory exclusion) and is never paid from that schedule. Payment flows from the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS), which uses national limitation amounts and gapfill/crosswalk pricing. The $0 is expected behavior, not a denial.
Eight: glucose, calcium, sodium, potassium, CO2 (bicarbonate), chloride, BUN, and creatinine. All eight are required to bill 80048. If the lab runs fewer, you report the individual component codes performed rather than the panel code.
The comprehensive metabolic panel (80053) contains all 8 BMP analytes plus 6 liver and protein tests (albumin, total protein, alkaline phosphatase, ALT, AST, total bilirubin) for 14 total. NCCI treats 80048 as a component of 80053, so you cannot bill both on the same date of service.
Sources & further reading
Reviewed by the ImmediCare Solutions RCM team
Certified billers and coders handling claims across 50+ specialties nationwide. This entry is reviewed against current payer policy and CMS rules. Last review: Jul 5, 2026.
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