Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

Subtracting + from 88312 and 88313 means codes can stand alone. When pathologists perform special stains apart from a primary service, you often couldn't get paid - until now. CPT 2010 changes all that by removing the add-on status from codes 88312 (Special stains; Group I for microorganisms [e.g., Gridley, acid fast, methenamine silver], including interpretation and report, each) and 88313 (... Group II, all other [e.g., iron, trichrome], except immunocytochemistry and immunoperoxidase stains, including interpretation and report, each). The revised code definitions delete the text "[List separately in addition to code for primary service]" and add the text "including interpretation and report, each." Recognize Primary Service Restriction Because special stain codes had the + designation in CPT, most payers denied the claim if you didn't bill the stain with another procedure such as surgical pathology or cytopathology exam. "As long as special stains were add-on codes, you had to report [...]