CPT 80061: Lipid Panel
CPT 80061 is the lipid panel, a bundle of three required tests: total cholesterol (82465), HDL cholesterol (83718), and triglycerides (84478). 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 dollar amount.
- Code type
- Clinical laboratory panel (chemistry)
- Priced under
- Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS), not the PFS
- Components
- 82465, 83718, 84478 (all three required)
- Frequency notes
- Diagnosis-driven; components bundle under NCCI
What is CPT 80061 used for?
CPT 80061 reports a lipid panel — a bundled blood test that measures total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides in one order. It is a core cardiovascular risk assessment, used for screening, statin monitoring, and follow-up of dyslipidemia.
The panel is defined by three required components. When all three 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 80061?
On the Physician Fee Schedule, 80061 shows status indicator X — statutory exclusion, so there are no RVUs and no PFS dollar. That is correct: lab 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. The Medicare fee calculator PFS lookup will not return a figure — use the current CLFS rate from your MAC or payer fee file.
What are the components of 80061?
All three of these are required to bill the panel:
| Component code | Test |
|---|---|
| 82465 | Total cholesterol, serum |
| 83718 | HDL cholesterol (lipoprotein, direct) |
| 84478 | Triglycerides |
How do bundling rules apply to 80061?
Example: a lab performs a full lipid panel and also separately bills 82465, 83718, and 84478 on the same date. That is unbundling — the components collapse into 80061 under NCCI edits and the extra lines deny.
- All three components performed → bill 80061 alone.
- Fewer than three performed → bill only the individual component codes.
- Directly measured LDL (83721) is separate and only billed when actually performed and medically necessary.
Coverage follows payer medical-necessity policy and screening frequency limits, so tie the order to a supporting diagnosis. Related panels include 80053 and glucose monitoring codes such as 82947.
Frequently asked questions
Because 80061 is a clinical laboratory test, not a physician service. On the PFS it carries status indicator X (statutory exclusion) and is never paid there. Payment comes from the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS), priced with national limitation amounts and gapfill/crosswalk methodology. The PFS $0 is expected, not a denial.
Three are required by the AMA panel definition: total cholesterol (82465), HDL cholesterol (83718), and triglycerides (84478). All three must be performed to bill 80061. If fewer are run, you report the individual component codes actually performed.
LDL is not one of the three required measured components. It is usually calculated from the panel results at no separate charge. A directly measured LDL (83721) is a distinct test and is only reported separately when medically necessary and actually performed — not as a routine add-on to the panel.
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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