Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert

Question: A physician orders blood electrolytes potassium, sodium, calcium, chloride, magnesium, and phosphate for a patient. Should we code one of the panels that includes many of these elements for performing the test?

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Answer: No, you should not report one of the organ and disease-oriented panel codes from 80047-80076 for performing these tests. None of the CPT^® listed panels contain the precise blood tests requested by the physician in your case. For instance, 80051 (Electrolyte panel; This panel must include the following: Carbon dioxide [bicarbonate] [82374]; Chloride [82435]; Potassium [84132]; Sodium [84295]) includes chloride, potassium, and sodium, but it also includes carbon dioxide, which the physician didn’t order.

Regarding the panels, CPT^® states, “These panels were developed for coding purposes only and should not be interpreted as clinical parameters.” If the ordering physician requests a group of tests not identified by a panel code, based on the patient’s specific clinical condition, you should code each ordered test.

For this case, use the following codes:

• 84132 (Potassium; serum, plasma or whole blood)
• 84295 (Sodium; serum, plasma or whole blood)
• 82310 (Calcium; total)
• 82435 (Chloride; blood)
• 83735 (Magnesium)
• 84100 (Phosphorus inorganic (phosphate)).