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Healthcare Insights

Top 25 physician procedures

Physicians are the backbone of any healthcare system. As the primary caregivers, they identify patient ailments and determine courses of treatment that define each episode of care. They also deliver those treatments, sometimes with the assistance of other healthcare professionals.

From an operational perspective, physicians also influence supply spending by requesting preferred medical devices and supplies. A physician’s preferred equipment will largely depend on the types of procedures they’re performing most often.

Using data from the Definitive Healthcare Atlas All-Payor Claims product, we’ve compiled a list of the top 25 physician procedures in 2025 ranked by their percentage of the total procedure volume nationwide. Data represents claims for the year 2025 through October.

Top-billed physician procedures by percentage of total volume in 2025

RankHCPCS/CPT codeHCPCS/CPT description% total procedures Avg charge/procedure Explore dataset
199214Outpatient visit w/ established patient, 30-39 min.4.50% 272.30 Explore
299213Outpatient visit w/ established patient, 20-29 min.3.88% 187.28 Explore
397110Therapeutic exercises3.46% 128.62 Explore
497530Therapeutic activities2.99% 118.36 Explore
597112Neuromuscular reeducation2.15% 104.87 Explore
697140Manual therapy, 1 or more regions1.72% 95.15 Explore
736415Collection of venous blood via venipuncture1.68% 24.61 Explore
8G0299Hhs/hospice of rn ea 15 min1.44% 160.01 Explore
985025Complete blood count w/ automated white blood cell count1.26% 78.56 Explore
103078FDiastolic blood pressure < 80 mm HG1.11% 0.86 Explore
1180053Comprehensive metabolic panel1.10% 153.49 Explore
1290999Unlisted dialysis procedure1.08% 5,253.58 Explore
133074FSystolic blood pressure < 130 mm Hg1.05% 0.89 Explore
14G2211Complex e/m visit add on1.05% 47.84 Explore
15G0156HHCP-svs of aide,ea 15 min0.95% 74.64 Explore
1699232Subsequent inpatient hospital vist, moderate complexity0.87% 206.40 Explore
1799204Outpatient visit w/ new patient, > 45 min.0.79% 400.38 Explore
181159FMedication list documented in medical record0.79% 0.56 Explore
191160FReview of all medications documented in record0.69% 0.64 Explore
203008FBody mass index documentation0.64% 1.15 Explore
21G0463Hospital outpatient clinic visit0.64% 165.47 Explore
2290837Psychotherapy session, 60 min.0.62% 238.47 Explore
23G0151HHCP-serv of pt,ea 15 min0.60% 181.73 Explore
2499284Emergency dept. visit, moderate complexity0.59% 1,283.19 Explore
2599203Outpatient visit w/ new patient, < 30 min.0.59% 269.74 Explore

Fig. 1 Data from the Definitive Healthcare’s Atlas All-Payor Claims product for the calendar year 2025 through October. Claims data is sourced from multiple medical claims clearinghouses in the United States and updated monthly. Accessed December 2025.

What are the most common physician procedures in 2024?

Routine office visits for established patients (CPT codes 99214 and 99213) accounted for 4.50% and 3.88% of all physician procedures last year. These codes both refer to a general visit to a physician for an established patient, with the differences between them being the duration of the visit and the level of clinical decision-making.

The first-place code refers to visits between 30-39 minutes and involve a moderate amount of care. The second refers to visits that are less than 29 minutes and require minimal care.

Following routine office visits, the second most common procedures billed by physicians in 2024 are therapeutic exercises and activities (CPT codes 97110 and 97530), accounting for 3.46% and 2.99% of total claims in 2025 through October. Patients may require physical therapy like this for a wide range of conditions and illnesses.

Physical therapy exercises may be needed after surgery, accidents, or other clinical events to prevent loss of motion, maintain or improve muscular strength, or increase flexibility, making it a common procedure. Therapeutic activities involve a wider range of dynamic movements designed to replicate real-life kinetics, such as bending over or walking up stairs.

Physician procedures vs inpatient surgeries: Key differences

The procedures examined in this analysis represent all billable medical activities performed by physicians, including office visits, educational interactions, and documentation of a patient’s medical record. While some of these may be performed in an inpatient or surgical setting, a “procedure” in medical terminology—as opposed to colloquial parlance—does not necessarily involve surgery or therapeutic treatment.

How physician procedure trends are changing over time

Since the start of 2024, physician procedure claims have remained relatively stable, with the most common procedures on our list retaining their spots year over year.

In broader terms, physicians are increasingly performing outpatient procedures in facilities such as ambulatory surgery centers, outpatient clinics, and other settings that support higher patient throughput at a lower cost per procedure.

What these trends mean for providers, payers, and life sciences companies

Understanding the most frequently performed physician procedures is critical for healthcare organizations looking to allocate resources, prioritize market opportunities, and align commercial strategies with real‑world care delivery. As procedure mix continues to shift toward outpatient and office‑based settings, updated insights into physician‑billed procedures help stakeholders identify growth areas, anticipate workforce needs, and understand utilization trends that impact revenue, access, and patient care.

What are physician CPT codes?

Medical procedure codes, or Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes, are numerical identifiers and descriptions used to report medical, surgical, and diagnostic services for reimbursement from Medicare and other payors.

Procedure codes give healthcare professionals a standardized language for reporting services, processing claims, and developing new guidelines for medical care review. Codes exist for nearly every point in a patient’s care journey, beginning with their initial contact with a physician’s office. Healthcare administrators must employ correct coding to receive the appropriate reimbursement for services rendered.

What physician procedures have the highest charges?

While charges for many of the top physician-billed procedures are relatively low, this list has one standout: CPT code 90999 for “unlisted dialysis procedures” ranks 12th by volume, but ranks first on the list by average charge per procedure.

Dialysis requires specialized equipment, single-use supplies, highly trained staff, and unique infrastructure, making the procedure a significant financial burden for care systems and patients alike.

Learn more

Healthcare Insights are created with data and analytics from the Definitive Healthcare platform. Want to see more about the most common physician procedures? Start a free trial now and get access to the latest healthcare data on IDNs, hospitals, physicians, and other healthcare providers.