Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

Question: The pathologist performed a colon biopsy exam. Three weeks later, the oncologist requested that our pathologist review the slides and send out tissue to test for the KRAS mutation. Can we code 88321 or 88323 for the service?

Idaho Subscriber

Answer: No, you should not code a consultation in this case. You cannot report either 88321 (Consultation and report on referred slides prepared elsewhere) or 88323 (Consultation and report on referred material requiring preparation of slides).

Key: These codes are for slides or material referred to your pathologist from an outside source. You cannot report a consultation when your pathologist reviews his own slides.

Bottom line: Pulling your own slides from storage and reviewing them to select material to send for KRAS testing is not a billable service.

Reader Questions and You Be the Coder were prepared with the assistance of R.M. Stainton Jr., MD, president of Doctors' Anatomic Pathology Services in Jonesboro, Ark.