Epidural Anesthesia for Labor

What is CPT Code 01960?

Anesthesia for vaginal delivery — anesthesia services provided during childbirth, typically an epidural or spinal block for labor pain management. This is a time-based code paid under the Anesthesia Fee Schedule, not the standard Physician Fee Schedule.

The Medicare reimbursement rate shown above is the amount the federal government has determined is a reasonable payment for this service. Hospitals and providers that participate in Medicare have agreed to accept these rates from Medicare patients.

Who typically bills this:Anesthesiologist or CRNA (independent anesthesia group or hospital-employed)

Common Billing Errors for CPT 01960

• !Anesthesia time units billed in excess of the actual documented labor and delivery time
• !Both the anesthesiologist and CRNA billing separately at full rates for the same delivery
• !Epidural placement billed as a separate code in addition to the labor anesthesia global code

Red Flags on Your Bill

Negotiation Tips for CPT 01960

1. 1Anesthesia fees are time-based — review the start and end times on the anesthesia record
2. 2If both an anesthesiologist and CRNA were present, one should bill at a reduced direction rate
3. 3Anesthesia groups often have different network status than the hospital — check before delivery if possible

Codes That Often Appear With This One

These CPT codes commonly appear on the same bill. Review each one to spot potential bundling errors or duplicate charges.

Found CPT 01960 on Your Bill?

If you see CPT code 01960 on a hospital or medical bill, compare the charged amount to the Medicare rate above. If your bill shows a significantly higher charge, you may have grounds to negotiate.

1. Note the amount charged for CPT 01960 on your itemized bill
2. Compare it to the Medicare rate above — calculate the markup
3. Call the billing department and use the Medicare rate as your anchor:“I see CPT code 01960 billed at [amount]. The Medicare rate for this procedure is $350.00. I'd like to discuss a fair adjustment.”