Lab & pathology
83880 — Natriuretic peptide ; quantitative
A blood test measuring B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), a hormone released by the heart when it is under stress from heart failure.
- Typical setting: Hospital lab, reference lab, doctor's office
- National avg charge (illustrative): $17–$35 Medicare allowed (CMS CLFS); $30–$100 commercial; varies by region
- Most-disputed reason: Confusing 83880 (BNP) with NT-proBNP testing — NT-proBNP uses a different code (83880 for BNP; some payers use unlisted codes for NT-proBNP) — verify which analyte was tested
What it means
What 83880 actually means
A blood test measuring B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), a hormone released by the heart when it is under stress from heart failure. Elevated BNP levels help diagnose or rule out congestive heart failure as the cause of shortness of breath.
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).
- Confusing 83880 (BNP) with NT-proBNP testing — NT-proBNP uses a different code (83880 for BNP; some payers use unlisted codes for NT-proBNP) — verify which analyte was tested
- Billing 83880 without a payable diagnosis — the test requires documented clinical indication such as suspected or known heart failure; routine preventive ordering is not covered
- Duplicate billing when both the ordering physician and a cardiology group bill for the same BNP result interpretation
If you see 83880 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 83880 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 83880 on a bill.
83880 FAQ
Plain-English answers.
What does 83880 usually cost?
$17–$35 Medicare allowed (CMS CLFS); $30–$100 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 83880?
Confusing 83880 (BNP) with NT-proBNP testing — NT-proBNP uses a different code (83880 for BNP; some payers use unlisted codes for NT-proBNP) — verify which analyte was tested
What should I do if I see 83880 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 83880 before paying.
Don't pay 83880 blindly.
The free scan tells you in under 60 seconds whether this charge looks reasonable for your situation.