Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

But you can break bundles when testing separate constituents. You'll need to be on your toes when you're reporting certain CPT 2010 codes for analytes such as procalcitonin with lab method codes for unspecified components. That's because the Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) recently released version 16.1, revealing 2,054 new active pairs and 1,947 modifier changes, according to Frank D.Cohen, MPA, MBB, senior analyst with MIT Solutions, Inc., in an announcement concerning the changes that are effective April 1. Some of those many changes affect your 2010 pathology codes. Dealing with these new code pairs and modifier changes will require you to brush off your modifier skills to make sure your lab doesn't lose legitimate pay when performing separate tests for the same patient on the same day. Choose Transcutaneous or Lab for Hemoglobin Components CCI 16.1 added four mutually exclusive edit pairs to restrict how you report carboxyhemoglobin and methemoglobin. [...]