Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert
Include 'Validation' in Drug Screen
Question: Can we separately bill for validation when performing drug screening?
Answer: You should not separately bill for validation for a drug screening test. Validation involves testing to ensure that the specimen is urine, as well as using protocols to ensure that the urine specimen came from the patient. None of these services are separately billable — validation is included in test allowance for drug screens.
Common tests to ensure that the lab has a urine specimen might include urinalysis (81003, Urinalysis, by dip stick or tablet reagent for bilirubin, glucose, hemoglobin, ketones, leukocytes, nitrite, pH, protein, specific gravity, urobilinogen, any number of these constituents; automated, without microscopy) or creatinine (82570, Creatinine; other source) and pH (83986QW — pH; body fluid, not otherwise specified).
Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert
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