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80061Laboratory

Lipid panel

Prior authorization
Not commonly required

What this is, in plain language

A blood test that measures total cholesterol, HDL, LDL (calculated), and triglycerides.

Why a clinician orders it

Cardiovascular risk assessment, statin monitoring, or follow-up of known lipid disorders.

Medical necessity — what insurers usually look at

Often covered as preventive once every 5 years for adults under ACA preventive guidelines; covered more frequently when used to monitor a diagnosed lipid disorder or cardiovascular disease (Medicare NCD 190.23).

Documentation to ask about

  • Risk-assessment or monitoring indication
  • Date of last lipid panel

Questions for your provider

  • ?Is this being billed as preventive (no cost-share) or diagnostic?
  • ?Which lab will run the test, and is it in my network?

Why this code is in our seed set

Top-5 on the CMS Top 100 Lab Procedures Ranked by Services (~18 million allowed services).

Validated against

  • CMS Top 100 Lab Procedures Ranked by Services
  • CMS NCD 190.23 (Lipid Testing)
  • USPSTF Statin Use for Primary Prevention recommendation

Terms you'll see

Medical NecessityRead more →

The insurer is reviewing whether the service is clinically appropriate for your situation.

Important: AuraCode is an educational tool. It does not provide medical, legal, or insurance advice, claims decisions, or approval guarantees. Final coverage depends on your specific plan, eligibility, diagnosis, submitted documentation, and your insurer's review.