Advanced Search

Ob-Gyn Coding Alert

You Be the Coder:

Straighten Out These Laboratory Issues

Published on Fri Dec 14, 2012

Question: When we are billing for a colposcopy with biopsy, we are billing 56820 and 88305. For the tray, we are using A4550. We send the specimen for pathology out to be processed. Should append modifier 90 to that lab code? California Subscriber Answer: First of all, if your ob-gyn is performing a biopsy with the colposcope, the correct code is 56821 (Colposcopy of the vulva; with biopsy[s]), not 56820 (Colposcopy of the vulva). You should consider the taking of the biopsy as included in 56821. Therefore, you should not be billing 88305 (Level IV - Surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination) -- unless your physician is personally doing the biopsy interpretation. You should include A4550 (Surgical trays) in all procedures that you do in your office as part of an increased site of service payment (assuming the payer is recognizing relative value units [RVUs] in making payments). You should not use modifier 90 [...]
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in your eNewsletter
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs*
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more
*CEUs available with select eNewsletters.

Other Articles in this issue of

Ob-Gyn Coding Alert

View All