CPT 80061: lipid panel (cholesterol test). What Medicare pays and what to ask
The lipid panel is a routine blood test billed as a single code. Here is what 80061 covers and the Medicare lab rate.
What this code means
CPT 80061 is a lipid panel: total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides, with a calculated LDL.
It is a routine screening and monitoring test, often ordered with an A1C or a metabolic panel.
Why the bill can be much higher than the Medicare rate
Because it is a panel, its tests should not also be billed one by one for the same draw.
The Medicare lab rate is small, so large multiples on hospital bills are common.
| If a line is billed at | It would be |
|---|---|
| 5x the Medicare rate | $66.95 |
| 10x the Medicare rate | $133.90 |
| 20x the Medicare rate | $267.80 |
The Medicare rate is a published benchmark, not a legal ceiling on what a provider may charge. Our free scan flags a line as worth a closer look when it is billed at more than 10 times the Medicare rate.
Questions worth asking before you pay
- Were individual tests, such as cholesterol or triglycerides, also billed separately?
- Was the panel billed only once?
- Is the blood draw (36415) listed once?
Check every line against the official Medicare rates in about a minute. The scan is free.
Related codes
Source: Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CMS, 2026), national payment limit. Last updated October 2026. This page is general information, not legal or medical advice. Rates change each year and a hospital bill can include charges that the benchmark does not cover.