Lab & pathology
80061 — Lipid panel (cholesterol)
Standard cholesterol panel: total, HDL, LDL, triglycerides. Often duplicated or unbundled.
- Typical setting: Lab or doctor's office
- National avg charge (illustrative): Insurance allowed $10-$30; cash reference lab $20-$50; hospital $80-$300.
- Most-disputed reason: Component tests (HDL, LDL, triglycerides) billed separately on top of the panel.
What it means
What 80061 actually means
CPT 80061 is the lipid panel — a bundled set of four cholesterol tests (total, HDL, LDL, triglycerides) from a single blood draw. Because it's a bundled code, none of those individual tests should be separately billed.
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).
- Components billed separately (83718 HDL, 83721 LDL direct, 84478 triglycerides).
- Hospital lab pricing 10x reference-lab pricing for the same test.
- Coded with non-preventive diagnosis under ACA preventive coverage age-bands.
If you see 80061 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 80061 often also see these adjacent codes on the same bill.
CPT
80050 — General health panel; includes CBC w/diff, CMP, TSH
Lab — check for unbundling and duplicate billing.
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
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 80061 on a bill.
80061 FAQ
Plain-English answers.
Should my lipid panel be free under ACA?
Yes for most adults — preventive cardiovascular screening is covered at $0 cost-share when coded with a preventive diagnosis code. If you got a copay, the lab may have used a diagnostic code instead.
Don't pay 80061 blindly.
The free scan tells you in under 60 seconds whether this charge looks reasonable for your situation.