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Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

You Be the Coder:

Coding FNA With Multiple Specimens

Published on Tue Feb 01, 2000

Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the box below for the answer.

Question: When coding an FNA (fine needle aspiration) with multiple specimens, is it acceptable to code 88172 and 88173 for each pass if each specimen is evaluated and a diagnosis for each specimen is in the final report? e.g.:

A) FNA smears right thyroid 88172, 88173
B) FNA smears right thyroid 88172, 88173
C) FNA thyroid core biopsy 88305

Jennifer MacDonald

San Antonio Community Hospital Upland, Texas
  Answer: Guidance provided in the CPT Assistant Dec. 98:8 indicates that when 88172 and 88173 are performed, both should be billed. When a core biopsy is performed, it too, should be billed. If the specimens are treated as separate accessions and they are taken from distinctly different locations, they should be treated as separate specimens
 
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