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Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Organ and Disease Panel Codes

Published on Wed Mar 01, 2000

Question: I read in your January issue (CPT 2000 Revises Organ- or Disease-Oriented panels, page 1) that the new organ or disease panel codes in CPT 2000 should not be used until April 2000. Does this mean date of service or billing date?

Anonymous Florida Subscriber

Answer: According to Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) program memorandum AB-99-80, providers have two options. For services provided and billed before April 1, 2000, pathologists and laboratories should use the 1999 CPT codes 80058 (hepatic function panel), 80049 (basic metabolic panel) and 80054 (comprehensive metabolic panel). The second option for dates of service beginning Jan. 1, 2000, is for providers to use the new codes (80048, 80053, 80069 and 80076) and hold billing until April 1, 2000. All services provided and billed beginning April 1, 2000, must use the new panels.
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