Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

Question: Will Medicare pay for both CPT 83540 and 83550 on the same date of service?

Georgia Subscriber

Answer: Yes, you may report both 83540 (Iron) and 83550 (Iron binding capacity) for the same date.

The iron test (83540) measures iron associated with transferrin in the blood. The iron binding capacity test indirectly measures transferrin -- the glycoprotein that strongly bonds iron in the blood. By using both iron and iron binding capacity together, the lab can calculate the percent saturation of transferrin molecules, which is an indicator of iron deficiency anemia.

Tip: Because iron binding capacity (83550) and transferrin (84466, Transferrin) offer the treating clinician similar information, Medicare does not cover both tests at the same time. A Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) edit prevents you from reporting the two codes together under any circumstances.