CPT Code 84443 — What It Means and What Medicare Pays
CPT code · Lab test · Typically billed in: Lab
Seeing CPT code 84443 on your medical bill?
This code is only one part of the picture — your bill, EOB, insurance adjustments, units, and other charges may affect what you actually owe. MD Bill Check reads the codes on your document, checks the bill in context, and flags items that may be worth reviewing.
What Medicare pays for CPT code 84443
Medicare national average (2025): $16.80 (Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule)
Treat this as a reference point, not a ceiling. It is what Medicare pays nationally before any local adjustment — private insurers negotiate their own rates, and a hospital's list price for the same code is often several times higher. A charge far above this number is not automatically an error, but it is a fair thing to ask about.
How many units of CPT code 84443 should appear on one day
If your bill shows more units of CPT code 84443 for a single date of service than that, it is worth asking the billing office to explain the count — duplicate lines and unit-entry mistakes are among the most common medical-billing errors.
Related codes
Keep reviewing your bill
- How to Check a Medical Bill for Errors Before You Pay
- Medical Bill vs EOB: What Is the Difference?
- What Is an Itemized Medical Bill? How to Request One
- Denial and remark codes explained (CARC & RARC)
Frequently asked questions about CPT code 84443
What does CPT code 84443 mean on a medical bill?
A thyroid function (TSH) blood test. Bills group it under "Lab test", and it is typically provided in this setting: Lab.
How much does CPT code 84443 cost?
Medicare's 2025 Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule pays a national rate of $16.80 for CPT code 84443. That figure is a public Medicare benchmark, not a cap on what a provider may charge you — commercial insurers negotiate their own rates and hospital list prices are often several times higher.
How many units of CPT code 84443 can be billed per day?
Medicare's Medically Unlikely Edits normally expect at most 4 units of CPT code 84443 per patient per day. This is an absolute policy limit — more than 4 units a day is not payable under any circumstances.
Not sure this charge belongs on your bill?
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