Extend 99000 to Specimen Prep, Regardless of Shipping Fee
Published on Fri Mar 13, 2009
Think you can use 99000 only when your practice incurs a transportation charge? Truth: Start collecting from private payers for pre-transport prep work to an outside lab after you check out the code's CPT guidelines. Count Specimen Preparation Under 99000 You can report 99000 (Handling and/or conveyance of specimen for transfer from the physician's office to a laboratory) for the preparation of a specimen for lab transport to an outside lab, even when there is no cost incurred for pickup and transport of the specimen for processing, assures Maggie Mac, CPC, CEMC, CHC, CMM, ICCE, manager at Pershing Yoakley & Associates, P.C. in Clearwater, Fla. Specifics: "The work involved by the staff/physician in preparing the specimen (centrifuge, labeling, packaging, completing lab slip, etc.) meets the requirements for appropriate reporting of this handling code," Mac says. Check Out the AMA's Clarified View If you scream, "But, wait! I've been told I [...]
