Lab & pathology
83036 — Hemoglobin A1c ; glycosylated hemoglobin test
A blood test that measures the percentage of hemoglobin coated with sugar, reflecting average blood glucose levels over the past two to three months.
- Typical setting: Hospital lab, reference lab, doctor's office
- National avg charge (illustrative): $11–$20 Medicare allowed (CMS CLFS); $15–$60 commercial; varies by region
- Most-disputed reason: Billing 83036 more frequently than medically supported — Medicare and most payers cover A1c quarterly (or twice yearly if stable); excess frequency triggers denials
What it means
What 83036 actually means
A blood test that measures the percentage of hemoglobin coated with sugar, reflecting average blood glucose levels over the past two to three months. It is the primary tool for diagnosing diabetes and monitoring how well a diabetic patient's blood sugar is controlled over time.
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).
- Billing 83036 more frequently than medically supported — Medicare and most payers cover A1c quarterly (or twice yearly if stable); excess frequency triggers denials
- Billing 83036 alongside 83037 (HbA1c by home monitoring device) on the same date, which creates a duplicate claim
- Professional/technical component billing errors: when performed at an outside reference lab, only the ordering physician's supervision may be separately billable under certain circumstances
If you see 83036 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 83036 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
80061 — Lipid panel (cholesterol)
If you see HDL or LDL listed separately next to 80061, that's unbundling.
Related BillBusted guides
Plain-English reads if you see 83036 on a bill.
83036 FAQ
Plain-English answers.
What does 83036 usually cost?
$11–$20 Medicare allowed (CMS CLFS); $15–$60 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 83036?
Billing 83036 more frequently than medically supported — Medicare and most payers cover A1c quarterly (or twice yearly if stable); excess frequency triggers denials
What should I do if I see 83036 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 83036 before paying.
Don't pay 83036 blindly.
The free scan tells you in under 60 seconds whether this charge looks reasonable for your situation.