Primary Care Coding Alert

Question: May I perform the total bilirubin test in  the office?


Florida Subscriber
 

Answer: Yes, if your office has a certificate of Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) waived status. The federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted CLIA-waived status to the Abaxis Piccolo Point of Care Chemistry Analyzer (Liver Panel Plus Reagent Disc) (whole blood). You should report in-office use of the test with 82247-QW (Bilirubin; total; CLIA waived test).

Don't forget: You may also report the finger or heel stick performed to obtain the specimen with 36416 (Collection of capillary blood specimen [e.g., finger, heel, ear stick]). Medicare does not pay for this code, but some private carriers might.