CPT
80050 — General health panel; includes CBC w/diff, CMP, TSH
Lab — check for unbundling and duplicate billing.
Lab & pathology
80048 — Basic metabolic panel ; 8 components
A blood test that checks 8 basic chemicals including blood sugar, kidney markers (BUN, creatinine), electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate), and calcium.
- Typical setting: Hospital lab, reference lab, doctor's office
- National avg charge (illustrative): $10–$30 Medicare allowed (CMS CLFS); $20–$80 insured commercial; varies by region
- Most-disputed reason: Unbundling: billing individual component codes (82310, 82374, 82435, 82565, 84132, 84295, 84520, 82947) separately when 80048 covers all 8 — payers will deny the components
What it means
What 80048 actually means
A blood test that checks 8 basic chemicals including blood sugar, kidney markers (BUN, creatinine), electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate), and calcium. Doctors order it to get a quick snapshot of your metabolism, kidney function, and electrolyte balance.
Common errors with this code
What goes wrong on real bills.
Most bills that look correct still contain at least one of these issues. Up to 49% of medical bills contain errors (CFPB).
- Unbundling: billing individual component codes (82310, 82374, 82435, 82565, 84132, 84295, 84520, 82947) separately when 80048 covers all 8 — payers will deny the components
- Billing 80048 and 80053 (CMP) on the same date — 80053 includes all BMP components, so 80048 should not be separately billed
- Billing 80048 alongside 80051 (electrolyte panel) without documentation that distinct additional testing was performed
If you see 80048 on your bill
Three steps before paying.
1. Get the itemized bill. If your statement only shows a summary, request the CPT-level itemized bill before paying. Generate the request language →
2. Cross-check against the EOB. Compare what your insurer's Explanation of Benefits says you owe versus what the hospital is asking. They disagree more often than people think. Read the bill-vs-EOB guide →
3. Run a free Bill Scan. Upload the bill (and EOB if you have it) and BillBusted will flag the most likely issues with this specific code in your specific state. Run free scan →
Related codes
Other codes in this category.
People who land on 80048 often also see these adjacent codes on the same bill.
CPT
80051 — Electrolyte panel; CO2, chloride, potassium, sodium
Lab — check for unbundling and duplicate billing.
CPT
80053 — Comprehensive metabolic panel
If individual blood tests are also on your bill, you may have an unbundling error.
CPT
80055 — Obstetric panel; CBC w/diff, HBsAg, rubella Ab, syphilis, RBC Ab screen, ABO/Rh
Lab — check for unbundling and duplicate billing.
CPT
80061 — Lipid panel (cholesterol)
If you see HDL or LDL listed separately next to 80061, that's unbundling.
CPT
80069 — Renal function panel; albumin, creatinine, BUN, phosphorus, electrolytes, glucose, calcium
Lab — check for unbundling and duplicate billing.
Related BillBusted guides
Plain-English reads if you see 80048 on a bill.
80048 FAQ
Plain-English answers.
What does 80048 usually cost?
$10–$30 Medicare allowed (CMS CLFS); $20–$80 insured commercial; varies by region. Costs vary by region, payer contract, and whether the service was performed in a hospital outpatient department (which adds a facility fee) versus a free-standing clinic.
What's the most common billing error on 80048?
Unbundling: billing individual component codes (82310, 82374, 82435, 82565, 84132, 84295, 84520, 82947) separately when 80048 covers all 8 — payers will deny the components
What should I do if I see 80048 on my bill?
Request the itemized bill and the matching EOB from your insurer. Compare the units/quantity billed against what you actually received. Run a free BillBusted scan to flag the most likely errors specific to 80048 before paying.
Don't pay 80048 blindly.
The free scan tells you in under 60 seconds whether this charge looks reasonable for your situation.