Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
What it measures
A CMP includes glucose, calcium, sodium, potassium, chloride, CO2, BUN, creatinine, albumin, total protein, ALP, ALT, AST, and bilirubin. It's the standard panel for checking kidney function, liver function, and electrolyte balance.
When it’s ordered
Annual physicals, follow-up on chronic conditions (diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease), medication monitoring, anesthesia clearance.
Medicare coverage
Medicare does not publish a required diagnosis-code list for CMP — coverage is judged case-by-case under general medical-necessity rules. There IS a frequency limit (typically 4× per year for LCD purposes). Any code that reflects the patient's actual condition should be acceptable.
Typical price
Medicare allowable runs around $10–15. Commercial cash prices range from $30 to $150.