Lab & pathology
84443 — TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone)
Single-test thyroid stimulating hormone level. Common screening test, often inexpensive.
- Typical setting: Lab or doctor's office
- National avg charge (illustrative): Insurance allowed $20-$45; cash reference lab $30-$80; hospital $80-$250.
- Most-disputed reason: Hospital lab markup.
What it means
What 84443 actually means
CPT 84443 is the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test, used for screening or monitoring thyroid function. It's an inexpensive single-test code at reference labs.
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).
- Hospital lab pricing 5-10x reference-lab rates.
- Coded as part of a larger thyroid panel when only TSH was ordered.
If you see 84443 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 84443 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 84443 on a bill.
84443 FAQ
Plain-English answers.
Don't pay 84443 blindly.
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