Gastroenterology Coding Alert

Question: Our doctor saw a patient who has a history of hepatitis A. To monitor the patient, he ordered a hepatitis lab test. Which one do I code?
North Dakota SubscriberAnswer: If your physician is monitoring the progress of an existing patient, he most likely ordered the test 86709 (Hepatitis A antibody [HAAb]; IgM antibody) describes.Watch out: Make sure your physician is not ordering a full hepatitis panel, 80074 (Acute hepatitis panel). The panel combines several tests: 87340 (Infectious agent antigen detection by enzyme immunoassay technique, qualitative or semiquantitative, multiple-step method; hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg]), 86803 (Hepatitis C antibody), 86705 (Hepatitis B core antibody [HBcAb]; IgM antibody), and 86709.You would use the full panel to detect viral hepatitis infection when there are abnormal liver function test results, or before and after liver transplantation.Monitoring: But since the physician has established a hepatitis diagnosis, you may report only individual tests, as necessary, rather than the entire 80074 panel. In other words, the physician should not repetitively order this test panel for a single patient when monitoring progress or changes after he has identified the initial specific cause of hepatitis.Reminder: Lab codes (80047-89356) are normally for labs, so if your office didn't actually perform the test, the lab would report these codes.