Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

UroVysion® finds its code niche.If you've been confused about how to report urine specimen in situ hybridization (ISH) for bladder cancer, you're not alone. But CPT 2011 has the answer --" two new codes that save you from an unlisted code or ISH code family confusion.Distinguish Urinary Tract SpecimensBefore CPT 2011, you didn't have specific codes for urinary tract specimen fluorescence ISH (FISH) tests.Problem: A quick survey of labs and payers shows four different recommended ways to code for urine-based recurrent bladder cancer FISH testing prior to 2011:88299 -- Unlisted cytogenetic study88367 x 4 -- Morphometric analysis, in situ hybridization (quantitative or semiquantitative), each probe; using computer assisted technology88368 x 4-- ... manual88271 x 4 -- Molecular cytogenetics; DNA probe, each [e.g., FISH] plus 88274 (Molecular cytogenetics; interphase in situ hybridization, analyze 25-99 cells).Solution: CPT 2011 introduces two new codes to describe the test:88120 -- Cytopathology, in situ hybridization (e.g., FISH), urinary tract specimen [...]