Pediatric Coding Alert

Question: If our office collects samples to send to the lab to test for human papillomavirus (HPV), or chlamydia or gonorrhea, can we bill codes such as 87624 or 87800 for the collection?

Louisiana Subscriber

Answer: No, you cannot bill 87624 (Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); Human Papillomavirus (HPV), high-risk types …) or 87800 (Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA), multiple organisms; direct probe(s) technique). These are lab codes and can only be billed by the lab performing the tests.

You can be reimbursed for the work involved in the collection, however, by including it in the work involved in the other services your pediatrician performs for the patient, such as the appropriate evaluation and management (E/M) service from 99201-99215 (Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of a new/established patient …).