Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

Question: We used to report our gastric acid analysis using 82926 and 83986 for free and total gastric acid plus pH. How should we report the same testing now that CPT deleted 82926?

Answer: Beginning Jan. 1, you should report the testing you describe using 82930 (Gastric acid analysis, includes pH if performed, each specimen). CPT introduced this new code to replace two deleted codes:

• 82926 -- Gastric acid, free and total, each specimen
• 82928 -- Gastric acid, free or total, each specimen.

Nix pH code: Although you still perform the pH test, you should not report 83986 (pH; body fluid, not otherwise specified) in addition to new code 82930 as you did with 82926. That's because the 82930 code definition specifies, "includes pH if performed."

In fact, Medicare's latest Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) editscreates a new edit pair for 82930 and 83986, meaning that you should not report the two codes together for the same specimen -- gastric acid, in your case.

Watch for separate specimens: On the other hand, if your lab performs gastric acid analysis and pH on a separate body fluid specimen on the same day, you can report the two codes together by appending modifier 59 (Distinct procedural service) to 83986, which is the column 2 code.