Internal Medicine Coding Alert

Definition: CLIA-waived means that the internist is certified to conduct simple lab services in-house, says Sean M. Weiss, CPC, CPC-P, CMPE, CCA-P, CCP-P, senior partner at The CMC Group LLC in Atlanta. "If a provider's office does not have a CLIA certification or other lab certification, they are not able to provide the [waived] service or bill for it," Weiss says.

Interested? Practices that are interested in applying for a CLIA waiver can download the application form at www.cms.hhs.gov/cmsforms/downloads/cms116.pdf.

• 81002 -- Urinalysis, by dip stick or tablet reagent for bilirubin, glucose, hemoglobin, ketones, leukocytes, nitrate, pH, protein, specific gravity, urobilinogen, any number of these constituents; non- automated, without microscopy
• 82270 -- Blood, occult, by peroxidase activity (e.g., guaiac), qualitative; feces, consecutive collected specimens with single determination, for colorectal neoplasm screening (i.e., patient was provided three cards or single triple card for consecutive collection)
• 84830 -- Ovulation tests, by visual color comparison methods for human luteinizing hormone
• 81025 -- Urine pregnancy test, by visual color comparison methods
• 85651 -- Sedimentation rate, erythrocyte; non- automated
• 83026 -- Hemoglobin; by copper sulfate method, non-automated
• 82962 -- Glucose, blood by glucose monitoring device(s) cleared by the FDA specifically for home use
• 85013 -- Blood count; spun microhematocrit.