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New Molecular Pathology guidelines in UHC effective Sept 1, 2019


The new Molecular Pathology changes will be effective from dates of service on and after Sept. 1, 2019.

American Medical Association (AMA) guidance provides Claim Designation codes in the Molecular Pathology Gene Table that represent specific genes that are being tested.

UnitedHealthcare will require care providers to append the AMA Claim Designation to identify the specific gene when submitting a Tier 2 Molecular Pathology code. If there is not a Claim Designation assigned, the provider should submit the abbreviated gene name. This information can be found in the CPT Molecular Pathology Gene Table or the specific analyte is listed after each Tier 2 code descriptor.

Genomic Sequencing Procedures (GSP) panel codes account for specific combinations of genes for testing.

Individual Molecular Pathology Tier 1 and Tier 2 codes should not be submitted separately in addition to a GSP code. If Tier 1 or Tier 2 codes are submitted separately they will be denied.

UnitedHealthcare may deny Tier 1 and Tier 2 codes when there is a more appropriate GSP code available.

Unlisted code, 81479, should only be submitted when the unique procedure is not adequately addressed by another CPT code. It should only be submitted once per patient, per specimen and date of service.

UnitedHealthcare will require the submission of a unique test ID provided through the National Institutes of Health Genetic Testing Registry (GTR) when 81479 is submitted to identify the test and validate the unlisted code is the appropriate code to submit for the test performed.

The AMA Claim Designation code and the GTR unique test ID should be reported in Loop 2400 or SV101-7 field for electronic claims and in Box 19 for paper claims.

Claims that have complied with notification or prior authorization requirements in UnitedHealthcare’s Genetic Testing and Molecular Prior Authorization Program satisfy the policy’s requirements without further provider action if they meet UnitedHealthcare’s Genetic Test Lab Registry requirements.

Source:https://www.uhcprovider.com/content/dam/provider/docs/public/resources/news/2019/network-bulletin/June-Network-Bulletin-2019.pdf


Coding Ahead

Bone marrow reports pathology

PLEASE ADVISE ON HOW TO BILL BONE MARROW REPORTS FOR PATHOLOGY.

Can all of these CPT codes be billed if stated on the report?
[*]85097 – Bone marrow; smear interpretation only, with or without[*]differential cell count[*]85060 – Blood smear, peripheral, interpretation by physician with[*]written report[*]88305 – Surgical pathology; gross and microscopic[*]88311 – Decalcification[*]88189 – Flow Cytometry[*]88313/88312/88342/88341- Special/Immuno Stains

Graciela Lopez-Villa, NCICS, CPB
Coding & Reimbursement Specialist | Department of Pathology

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

X modifier for multiple units of surgical pathology code

Good afternoon everyone,

When I was hired at my current job at a hospital many, many years ago I was instructed not to append -59 to multiple counts of the pathology codes [eg. 88300-26 x2]. We have never had any issues…now our billing department is wanting the "X" modifiers appended to them.

My question:
Is it appropriate to code 88300-26-XU for the gross description of two separate specimen? Or any other surgical pathology code with multiple counts of the same code, gross was just an example?

Thanks

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

description for pathology codes

Can someone tell me if it is a requirement for pathology codes 88300 thru 88309 to have a description of the type of biopsy in the claim note? We have been adding the claim line note for years (ex liver bx) and now we are wondering if with the ICD 10 system is this still required. Thanks for any direction on this.

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Pathology Consultation of outside slides 88321

Discussion among the pathologists is 88321 x1 for the patient OR 88321 for each surgical case submitted. Can someone help clarify this?

EX: Patient A – slides submitted from outside facility: endometrial case from 2017, hysterectomy from 2017, a second endometrial later in 2017 and vaginal biopsy 2018. Some of us say 88321 x1 but a some say we should be able to do 88321 x4 for the different surgical cases. 😮

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Pathology Coding

Hi fellow CODERS! I hope this message finds you well. I am in need of some clarification around lab billing. I am not very familiar and would like to get some feedback.

our office is billing multiple CPT codes in the Microbiome area. One being 87798, as we know this is an unlisted code therefore causing request for records, denials etc. We are considering moving to 87801. This code is the same except it is for MULTIPLE strains as 87798 is for each strain. The question is, we also bill with other codes on the same claim to describe other strains tested for using the same sample. EX: 87653, 87491. These codes are incidental to 87801 so a modifier 59 would need to be added, however since CPT 87801 is for multiple strains, should it replace the other codes on the claim or be billed in addition to? to sum it up I am wondering if we can bill 87801, 87653, 87491 with the appropriate modifiers together when there was 1 test done, but multiple results yielded OR would the 87801 replace the other codes?

We also test for strains NOT listed in the CPT manual which is why the 87798 is being used.

Thanks in advance for ANY advise you can provide. It would be very helpful!

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Looking for remote position-7 years Pathology experience

I am currently looking for a remote position. I have 7 years of Pathology coding experience and I am currently the lead coder over 8 coders in our independent lab. Please feel free to contact me.

Thank you.

Attached Files

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Re-Excisions of Skin- Pathology coding

Hello

My facility is in a argument about re-excisions of neoplasms

I bill the Pathology end of things only so the dermatology end of things does not pertain to me. I bill off the Pathology report

My question is on Diagnosis codes

Ex: Re-excision of Basal cell carcinoma or R arm, No residual tumor identified, reparative changes present, Incidental Sk

Do I bill the C44.612

Or do I bill L821, with Z code secondary to show that patient had a history of skin Ca at the site?

Thanks

Renae G

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Hernia Repair and Cord Lipoma excision with no pathology

Hello everyone, any guidance will be appreciated.

Surgeon performed bilateral inguinal hernias and documented removal of part of cord lipoma on each side but only submitted a specimen for one side. Do I need pathology to code for bilateral? Should the right lipoma bundle since it was "incorporated" in the hernia? I was taught that if the surgeon didn’t sent a specimen to pathology we could not code it.
Thank you in advance.

49505-50
55520-59-50

** right side
** dissection of the cord structures and what appeared to be a cord lipoma incorporated within an indirect inguinal hernia
** further isolated the presumed cord lipoma
** were able to transect a portion of this cord lipoma while reducing the vast majority of it back within the peritoneal cavity.
** indirect inguinal defect
** mesh plug
** incision on the right side was subsequently closed

** attention to the left side
** fat-containing structure
** We separated these 2 structures,
** identified this as a cord lipoma, transecting a small portion of this cord lipoma and subsequently reducing the remainder through
the deep inguinal ring into the peritoneal cavity.
** large indirect defect was noted
** placed 1 large plug and 1 patch

Gross description:
SOFT TISSUE, LEFT CORD LIPOMA, REPAIR:Received in formalin and labeled
with the patient’s name, social security number, and "left cord lipoma"

Microscopic exam/diagnosis:
DIAGNOSIS:

SOFT TISSUE, LEFT SPERMATIC CORD, INGUINAL HERNIA REPAIR: LIPOMA.

Medical Billing and Coding Forum