CPT 84460: ALT (SGPT)
What this code means, what it should cost, and how to dispute an overcharge.
Fair Price Reference
What is CPT 84460?
CPT 84460 (ALT (SGPT)) is a lab billing code defined by the American Medical Association. It's used to bill your insurance or you directly for this service.
What CPT 84460 should cost
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) pays approximately $6 for CPT 84460 under the 2025 Physician Fee Schedule. This is what the federal government has determined is a reasonable payment for this service.
Private insurance typically pays 1.2–1.8x Medicare rates ($7–$11). Hospital chargemaster prices for CPT 84460 often range from $15 to $80 — a markup of 2.5x to 13.3x over Medicare.
Common overcharges on CPT 84460
Billing for individual lab components that are included in a comprehensive panel (e.g., billing glucose (82947) separately when a CMP (80053) was performed). Duplicate charges for blood draws (36415) on the same encounter.
About Lab billing
Lab charges are the most commonly overbilled category on hospital bills, with routine tests marked up 10–50x over Medicare allowable.
Request the itemized lab bill. Compare each CPT code to Medicare allowable and flag any component codes billed alongside panel codes as improper unbundling.
How to dispute a CPT 84460 overcharge
- Request the itemized bill. You are entitled to a detailed line-by-line bill showing every CPT code billed. Ask in writing.
- Compare to Medicare allowable. If the charge exceeds 150% of Medicare ($9), you have grounds to dispute.
- Request documentation. For E&M codes, ask for the visit note. For procedures, ask for the operative report. The documentation must justify the code billed.
- Send a formal dispute letter. Cite the specific discrepancy between the documentation and the code. Reference Medicare rates and NCCI edits where applicable.
- Follow up in writing. Give the provider 30 days to respond. If they don't, escalate to the state attorney general and insurance commissioner.
Got CPT 84460 on your bill?
Upload your bill. We scan every line for overcharges, upcoding, and improper unbundling — then generate a dispute letter backed by federal law. Free for uninsured and veterans.