Wiki 99000 documentation requirements

[tg]

Hello,

What are the documentation requirements for 99000 - specimen handling. Does the specimen handling have to actually be written out in the note or can it be automatically billed since the lab will be billing the insurance company for the actual lab tests.

Thank you for your help.

 

[rlh27]

Feb 1999 CPT Assistant: From a CPT coding perspective, code 99000, Handling and/or conveyance of specimen for transfer from the physicians office to a laboratory, is intended to be reported when the physician incurs costs to handle and/or transport a specimen to the laboratory (eg, via messenger service). If the specimen is picked up by laboratory staff at no additional cost to the physician, it would not be appropriate to report CPT code 99000.

If you are running your own lab test, then there would be no 99000 sending it out to a lab for testing.

In addition to the blood draw there must be supporting documentation of this procedure.

 

[tg]

Thank you.