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How to code Medicare Part B claims for reimbursement. These past few months have been a whirlwind for everyone, but it’s fair to say medical coders have been hit with a category 5 hurricane. New codes and revised guidelines have been whirring about, making our heads spin. And now we have another new CPT® code […]
The post COVID-19 Specimen Collection and Testing appeared first on AAPC Knowledge Center.
Clinical diagnostic laboratories can identify specimen collection for COVID-19 testing using two new HCPCS Level II codes, effective March 1, 2020. Check Patient Location Before Coding Medicare posted these new specimen collection codes in a March 31, 2020, special edition MLN Connects and in a last-minute revision to the April 2020 HCPCS Level II quarterly […]
The post COVID-19 Specimen Collection Codes appeared first on AAPC Knowledge Center.
Clinical diagnostic laboratories can identify specimen collection for COVID-19 testing using two new HCPCS Level II codes, effective March 1, 2020. Check Patient Location Before Coding Medicare posted these new specimen collection codes in a March 31, 2020, special edition MLN Connects and in a last-minute revision to the April 2020 HCPCS Level II quarterly […]
The post COVID-19 Specimen Collection Codes Now Available for Labs appeared first on AAPC Knowledge Center.
We’re having some arguments over this w the path dept on how to count them based on how they accessioned the specimens as a single specimen (submitted), yet the gross supports that the tubes were id’d separately and in separate cassettes. Most of the coders and audit managers think this is ONE unit, as the specimen is written up as a single specimen (not Spec A. tube L, Spec B. tube R) so it doesn’t qualify as separately submitted, despite the gross noting separate identification.
SPECIMEN:
FALLOPIAN TUBES, BILATERAL, TUBAL LIGATION WITH ID, RIGHT TIED
GROSS DESCRIPTION:
The specimen is received in one part labeled XX-19-xxxx; Txxxx, Xxxx and medical record number xxxx.
Received in formalin labeled "bilateral fallopian tube segments" are two tan-pink, cylindrical, grossly unremarkable fallopian tube segments, each measuring
2.0 cm in length x 0.5 cm in diameter. The right segment shows a portion of fimbria and is indicated with a suture. The specimen is serially sectioned and entirely submitted in two cassettes as follows: cassette 1 – right segment; cassette 2 – left segment.
While processing Lab & Pathology services, I find the provider billing CPT "82542" with multi-units for only 1 specimen(Urine). Whereas, multiple drugs/metabolites analysis was done. So the question is:
Can we bill multiple units for single specimen? As the code description says "Column chromatography, includes mass spectrometry, if performed (eg, HPLC, LC, LC/MS, LC/MS-MS, GC, GC/MS-MS, GC/MS, HPLC/MS), non-drug analyte(s) not elsewhere specified, qualitative or quantitative, EACH SPECIMEN"
Thanks
MA
A specimen validity test performed on the same day as a urine drug test for the same person should be a rare occurrence because specimen validity testing is included in the description of HCPCS Level II codes for urine drug tests. Billing both tests separately is like double-dipping. And yet, Medicare paid 4,180 clinical laboratories and physician offices […]
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Thanks!